How long did your lawyer take

[HHM]

It's not a matter of how long is too long, its whether the attorney set the proper expectations. If you have a complex case, sometimes even 12 weeks is not enough. The lawyer should tell the client approximately how long it takes, up front. If some firms take 5 weeks, others 2 weeks, it really doesn't matter so long as it is explained at the beginning.

MSbklawyer is right, a client's definition of turning "everything" in and what the lawyer actually needs are very different.

[Juls]

I think we are most frustrated because they will not call us back and let us know the status.

If they would just call us back and give us an update on our file we would feel ok instead of leaving us hanging with out any information.

I will just continue to try and get a hold of them.

Thank you for all your input.

Juls

[imoverit]

It's not a matter of how long is too long, its whether the attorney set the proper expectations. If you have a complex case, sometimes even 12 weeks is not enough. The lawyer should tell the client approximately how long it takes, up front. If some firms take 5 weeks, others 2 weeks, it really doesn't matter so long as it is explained at the beginning.

MSbklawyer is right, a client's definition of turning "everything" in and what the lawyer actually needs are very different.

I couldn't agree more!! Our lawyers secretary told us it will be filed within the week...2 months later it still wasn't filed! If she told me up front, "we are backed up, it won't be filed for 2 months," I wouldn't have bothered them at all... Its all about the expectations!

Good luck to the OP on getting it filed!

[OhioFiler]

We've been running longer than usual in my office due to a recent spate of 'emergency' filings. If someone comes in and their wages are about to be garnished or the repo man is circling around their house or they're facing an imminent foreclosure, we move them to the front of the line. By filing a bare-bones 'emergency' petition, we can forestall those things and then put them back at the back of the line.

We usually average 3 weeks from the time all the counseling is done and the paperwork is in. But clients have a different definition of "all the paperwork being in" than we do, sometimes.

But 8 weeks does seem a bit long.

I find the concept of line jumping because one waited too long distasteful unless you are charging them a significant additional fee which is considered in your pricing structure and leads to those who planned accordingly being able to pay a lesser charge.


I don't think there are emergencies in bankruptcy. Everyone knows what is coming. Some just want to wait until the last second to deal with it and expect all others to step aside.

[HHM]

unless you are charging them a significant additional fee

That is exactly what is happening. But nowadays, the lawyers I speak too, they barely have time to do emergency cases.

[MSbklawyer]

Some just want to wait until the last second to deal with it and expect all others to step aside.

Some people are just scared so witless, they don't know what to do. So they ignore everything hoping it will go away. Then, on Friday afternoon about 4:30, reality sets in for them and the call comes wanting to know if we can stop that foreclosure sale on Monday at 10am. Since emergencies are usually 13s, we don't charge extra -- we just make them pay the entire fee in advance.

They don't stay at the front of the line long. Just long enough to file the bare-bones petition. Once the heat is off, as in the foreclosure / repo / garnishment being forestalled, they go back to the back of the line.

[justplaintired]

Some people are just scared so witless, they don't know what to do. So they ignore everything hoping it will go away. Then, on Friday afternoon about 4:30, reality sets in for them and the call comes wanting to know if we can stop that foreclosure sale on Monday at 10am. Since emergencies are usually 13s, we don't charge extra -- we just make them pay the entire fee in advance.

They don't stay at the front of the line long. Just long enough to file the bare-bones petition. Once the heat is off, as in the foreclosure / repo / garnishment being forestalled, they go back to the back of the line.

That is pretty much us. Although our attorney was paid in full long before we filed. It took threat of a garnishment to finally push us to go ahead with it. I think it was mostly me, I was scared to death to go ahead with it. I know now it was stupid to put it off for 1 1/2 yrs, but I just needed that push to get it done. It is a scary thing to lots of us and thank goodness there are attorneys who understand that fear and push us on ahead of others. I do feel in our case however that sense we had paid in full it was fair to expect to get filed quickly once I called and said it's time. The paralegal had us done is about 2-3 weeks and we filed.

[TroubleinCalif]

10 day's from when my attorney had everything he needed, i had a 341 date 30 days later. everything fell with in a 90 day schedule. Went like butter thank God.........

[Juls]

I heard from my lawyer (by email) last night that my papers will be ready on Wednesday. I let them know (by email) that I will pick them up on Wednesday to look them over but that my husband is out of town this week so I will have to bring them back next week with the signatures.

I have made a list of a few questions to ask when I pick them up since it is so hard to get a hold of them I figure it would be the best time to ask.

Juls

[Flowers]

Juls - good to hear, go through the paperwork with a fine tooth comb as they say, best to you . . .

[Juls]

Our attorney finally filed our paper work yesterday. Our 341 meeting will be on 10/28/2009.

What are your thoughts on using pacer? Since I have a lawyer do you think I need it?

Thank you,
Juls

[backtoschool]

Our attorney finally filed our paper work yesterday. Our 341 meeting will be on 10/28/2009.

What are your thoughts on using pacer? Since I have a lawyer do you think I need it?

Thank you,
Juls

Given your lawyer's response time, I would definitely get pacer.

[Juls]

Thank you backtoschool, I have signed up for pacer but am not sure what I should be looking for.

Can we take our pre-discharge class now or do we need to wait until after our 341?

Thank you,
Juls

[Tbornetun]

You can take the class anytime now as long as it is before the deadline.