What is happening between discharge and closing?

[IamOld]

I checked and he doesn't carry insurance. I wonder what that means?

I can't speak for CO, but I don't think you can practice w/out malpractice ins in many states - if he does, he truly is.....

[tobee43]

Thanks tobee43. I have asked my attorney directly the questions I have. I'll see how he responds. I expect him to tell me how stupid and difficult I am to deal with, as he has in the past.

do NOT let anyone make you feel that way...most people with a bit of knowledge, an atty may feel they should just listen to them period. well, you have to make decisions for yourself and need to let the firm know that. now...i'm a person who believes strongly in atty's, so don't get me wrong here, however, one needs to make their own final decisions about their lives. listen to what they have to say on a LEGAL basis only is what i can say, but do what you know is right for you.

[2manybills]

I have been in the legal field for 35 years and I always get so upset when I hear how many attorneys don't respond to their clients and don't give proper information. It's unfortunate for sure because to the attorney (and I would presume most of these are "mill firms") it might just be another case, but to the client, it is their entire life. I certainly wouldn't let an attorney tell me that I was stupid and difficult to deal with. He is supposed to be an "officer of the court" representing your interests. You can always consider filing a complaint with the State Bar.

I can tell you depending on your district, closing and discharges can be at the same time and sometimes they take a while. We just had a case where the discharge was 184 days in Orange County. The courts are for sure overwhelmed.

[IamOld]

Thanks tobee43. I have asked my attorney directly the questions I have. I'll see how he responds. I expect him to tell me how stupid and difficult I am to deal with, as he has in the past.

SKIBUM - you and I have had the same talk then with our respective legal representatives!!!!

[tobee43]

I have been in the legal field for 35 years and I always get so upset when I hear how many attorneys don't respond to their clients and don't give proper information. It's unfortunate for sure because to the attorney (and I would presume most of these are "mill firms") it might just be another case, but to the client, it is their entire life. I certainly wouldn't let an attorney tell me that I was stupid and difficult to deal with. He is supposed to be an "officer of the court" representing your interests. You can always consider filing a complaint with the State Bar.

I can tell you depending on your district, closing and discharges can be at the same time and sometimes they take a while. We just had a case where the discharge was 184 days in Orange County. The courts are for sure overwhelmed.

isn't just killing you..i haven't been in the legal field that long...but got my national paralegal cert and worked in the field over 13 years...and i'm discussed with some of these fly by night atty's.

[tobee43]

Thanks tobee43. I have asked my attorney directly the questions I have. I'll see how he responds. I expect him to tell me how stupid and difficult I am to deal with, as he has in the past.

SKIBUM - you and I have had the same talk then with our respective legal representatives!!!!

well, you just ask the RIGHT questions and they, the atty's sometimes feel uncomfortable. but, the important thing is this. i can do closings, i can do deeds, but i want someone with a sword in hand when going into battle, so, although we can bash the atty situation...it's still BEST, at least from my personal experience to have one..

[2manybills]

isn't just killing you..i haven't been in the legal field that long...but got my national paralegal cert and worked in the field over 13 years...and i'm discussed with some of these fly by night atty's.

Sadly, I think because so many people are filing for bankrutpcy, there are attorneys that are looking to take advantage and make a quick buck.

[tobee43]

Sadly, I think because so many people are filing for bankruptcy, there are attorneys that are looking to take advantage and make a quick buck.

you are soooooo correct. everyone and their mother is haning our their shingle as bk atty's or foreclosure experts. it's just terrible for the field in general terms.

[2manybills]

It makes me crazy. Even as far as paralegals prepping documents. I do that on the side, but I see the folks all the through their BK. These other doc prep agencies just the documents and then the people are on their own. It's like no one cares about people and what their are going through. Oh well, there are still great attorneys out there.

[skibum]

When I trained as an accountant, over 30 years ago, I was taught to always have the clients interests' first, ahead of your own. That was part of what being a "professional" meant. Not to say you have to bend over backwards, but I know what good service is, and what it isn't, and while my guy did a great job protecting me he did give me bad advice and treats me like a jerk. I know he has depression, and I know he drinks, so that may be part of the problem. I almost didn't use him and now I wish I hadn't. First instincts are so damn often the right ones.

I still haven't gotten answers to my questions. I can see the email now: I will answer your question for $325 an hour, additional.

[tobee43]

with us, we hired a young firm. and it was the "paralegal" that filled out our paperwork. oh...i knew we were knee high in trouble when i saw she was using an address that was over 35 years old!!

i had to finally have the firm send the petition via pdf and i completed it myself....i emailed a copy and then brought a copy with attached documents to their office i was so fed up. however, i must say this, it was a young smart atty, just out of law school...showed up for our 341 with his zipper down and his wrinkled suit...looking more like a phat boy than a yale educated atty. but he knew his stuff...that's all i can say. his office staff, that was a whole different story.

we found out the "paralegal" was in fact a 19 year old $8 an hour person. shoot i had 4 years at bu with some of the best law professors there was, (i think..except for the one that wouldn't lift my A- in family law), and still bk was as foreign to me as attempting to speak another language at that point. but i sure learned quickly to protect ourselves!

[tobee43]

When I trained as an accountant, over 30 years ago, I was taught to always have the clients interests' first, ahead of your own. That was part of what being a "professional" meant. Not to say you have to bend over backwards, but I know what good service is, and what it isn't, and while my guy did a great job protecting me he did give me bad advice and treats me like a jerk. I know he has depression, and I know he drinks, so that may be part of the problem. I almost didn't use him and now I wish I hadn't. First instincts are so damn often the right ones.

I still haven't gotten answers to my questions. I can see the email now: I will answer your question for $325 an hour, additional.

LOL!!! only $325???

[IamOld]

well, you just ask the RIGHT questions and they, the atty's sometimes feel uncomfortable. but, the important thing is this. i can do closings, i can do deeds, but i want someone with a sword in hand when going into battle, so, although we can bash the atty situation...it's still BEST, at least from my personal experience to have one..

I couldn't agree with you more - I have no idea how pro se folks do this - I take my hat off to them - I'd be more of a basketcase than I already am!!!

And but - I know that the atty's handle these cases over and over and over - BUT - to the client, this is their ONLY case, and I think sometimes we forget that we - the client - is not rational at this point, and some of us (probably more so than others) need more reassurance, communication, and frankly the understanding that everyone's case has its own...wrinkles...

[tobee43]

I couldn't agree with you more - I have no idea how pro se folks do this - I take my hat off to them - I'd be more of a basketcase than I already am!!!

And but - I know that the atty's handle these cases over and over and over - BUT - to the client, this is their ONLY case, and I think sometimes we forget that we - the client - is not rational at this point, and some of us (probably more so than others) need more reassurance, communication, and frankly the understanding that everyone's case has its own...wrinkles...

i don't either. even working in the field as long as i did, i knew when to be smart enough FOR ME...that is, to know we needed an atty. sure, i could do the paperwork, but i needed an objective perspective by my side.

we have some of the most excellent pro-er's here on this forum. they have been successful and made through with flying kudos! it just wasn't for me.

[mlsj2009]

skibum

I checked and he doesn't carry insurance. I wonder what that means?

What it means is that your lawyer has probably been in the bankruptcy discipline way too long- he thinks he is collection proof.