Talk to attorney today (if anyone is interested)

[Spartan]

I got a referral from Miss Puff, and went to spend a rather pleasant 30 minutee with a very pleasant, no-nonsense attorney from a rather large firm.

The 2 private trustees that I first contacted, 1 never bothered to return my call. The other contacted me via email. But I have yet to heard back from the private trustee again. I got tired of waiting. So I went to talk to this firm that Miss Puff PMed me. I talked to the same partner Miss Puff talked to. Could be he is the designated rainmaker for the firm. A very pleasant and straight forward guy. Made me feel like I was in the principal's office..

For those who may be in similar situation as I am, it is not a problem if you don't have bankstatements, or tax returns, or pay stub, provided that you actually DON'T have any of those. The attorney said all that is needed would be a swon affidavit stating that I am not employed, have not made enough to file taxes and do not own a bankaccount. Of course, I still need to fill out the rest of the forms....

Since there is no fraud nor complicated twist involved, my case will be pretty straight forward.

The only thing I don't like about, is the fees..

[lrprn]

Of course we're interested, Spartan! Thanks for sharing what happened with Miss Puff's lawyer today - sounds like it was an effective visit.

The only thing I don't like about, is the fees..

It's a few thousand now to erase many, many thousands just 60 days or so later....seeems like a pretty good deal all-in-all!

[9877donna]

That's great Spartan. Your taking your first step to financial freedom.I hope all goes well and you get discharged and closed real soon.
Good Luck!
Donna

[Spartan]

Of course we're interested, Spartan! Thanks for sharing what happened with Miss Puff's lawyer today - sounds like it was an effective visit.

It's a few thousand now to erase many, many thousands just 60 days or so later....seeems like a pretty good deal all-in-all!

Yeah, you are correct. With over $100k, and no asset and no income, if you go pro se, the trustee will want to rattle things a bit to see what falls out. If you have a well known law firm representing you, then it would be clear to the trustee that there is no easy picking left hanging.

It looks deep, but it comes down to the equivalent of settling the whole thing for penny on the dollar.

I wish I have found this forum years ago.

The people here are some of the nicest folks.

[Spartan]

That's great Spartan. Your taking your first step to financial freedom.I hope all goes well and you get discharged and closed real soon.
Good Luck!
Donna

Well, can't wait to be just like you!

It will be filed in Jan. This will be a very nice Spring indeed...

[Spartan]

I have a hypothesis here. See if it makes sense to you folks.

If you go with a one person law firm, your case will get prioritized anyway the attorney sees fit. Thus, we hear about people getting non-responsive attorneys. (BTW, the 2 private trustees I contacted, are 1 person operation. I haven't heard back from them yet...) Now, if you go with a larger firm, then the attorney who gets your case, will have to be concerned about you whinning or complaining to the partners IF your case get neglected. That wouldn't be good to the attorney's share of year end bonus and chance of making partner.

Granted, not all single person operation is to be avoided, and not all large firms are kosher. But the built in accountability in larger firm, is just something to consider.

What do you think?

[ChainSmokin]

[InLimbo]

Good luck hun...it's a long road but proving itself day by day to be well worth it!

[Spartan]

Thanks everyone.

I went to meet with a private trustee/bk attorney today. She is very thorough and ran throught every question that a trustee would ask. Everything about my case is kosher, in her opinion.

I have cancelled another consult scheduled tomorrow. I don't see the need to waste gas and time for the trip to the otherside of the city. With 2 consults and this forum, I got everything covered. The only decision now is which attorney to hire. The private trustee costs $100 more than the larger firm.

I learnt something new today (which I will post again in a separate thread).

If you can use Federal exemption, and you do not use up the homestead exemption, you can exempt up to $10,000 in any asset, including cash in the bank ( and under the mattress or in the shoe box ), stocks, mutual funds, cars, jewelry etc. That's the wildcard exemption, under federal rules.

For some of us who would like to protect the sum in their bankaccounts, this may be something to explore, if it applies.

[Spartan]

I chose a private trustee as attorney. She has been very pleasant to work with, very thorough, punctuate, and she also inserted several pre-emptive CYA's to make my case stealthy and under the radar.

She didn't just treat the case as a boiler-plate, standard issue case.

While the fee is steep, it is worth it. The attorney is very attentive to every little detail. If i were to go pro se, i would have been scrambling and tumbling along the way... Yike...


If someone's case is straight forward, with every answer can be found in NOLO book, yeah, I would say go pro se then. Else, get a competent lawyer.


P.S. I pray that no rich relative dies within the next 180 days...

[Spartan]

I was whinning about how I should have done this sooner. The lawyer said, filing BK is like filing for divorce. We all kick ourselves as to why we didn't do it sooner.. lol As it turned out, she has just gotten rid of her loser hubby.

[lrprn]

While the fee is steep, it is worth it.

I'm so glad to see that you aren't feeling so bummed any more about having to pay so much for your lawyer, Spartan. The good ones are so worth every single dollar we pay them and more! Great yours is doing such a good job for you!

[Spartan]

She was very detail in our consult. I also checked her bio. She has extensive experience at big law firms and banks prior to setting up her own shop. Not that my case is that complicated as to warrant such background and experience. I just wanted to besure that my case didn't get worked on by some young associate fresh out of the local law college.

I have used dirt cheap lawyers that got the job done. I have also seen people go to big firms and then ended up having their cases handle by young associates fresh out of law schools. Shopping for lawyer is not a walk in the park. You have to do your homework. The good ones don't come cheap. But the expensive ones are not always good.

[Spartan]

Time goes by....

Creditor OBjection due day has come and gone... No objection filed..

I am now waiting for the Court Clerk to update my file, issue me my discharge paper and close my case.


As soon as I receive that, I will go to the court house and have that judgement set aside.


Now, I owe nothing. And I own nothing. Except that I am wiser and in better shape than I have ever been.

And this happened on an Easter. A new meaning to resurrection....



To those who struggle, I have this clip to share with...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEMdXhfO-Wk

It is my favourite clip in Lord of the Rings......

[lrprn]

Congratulations, Spartan! Indeed a resurrection after dark financial times. We couldn't be happier for you!