Can I email him??

[coolmom04]

Is it okay to email the attorney directly? I've tried emailing the legal assistant and I've called. Of course they ask who is calling and I tell them, so I get routed to her VM. She won't return my call.

All I want to know is if it is safe for us to start saving money!!! Why is it so hard to get an answer? The attorney is extremely nice. He has never said I CANT email or talk with him directly... but he never said I could either (except the one time when I had to email him a form).

WWYD?

[anime-chicka]

Send an e-mail. Preface it with "I hope I'm not bothering you, I've been trying to get in contact with you." Then ask your questions.

The worst he can say is for you not to e-mail him any more. The best would be that you'd get your answers.

If you have to, go down in person and get your questions answered, but that's only if it's a convenient option for you.

[momofthree]

My attorney's office staff always encouraged me to email him directly, they said it was the fastest way to get a response...

[Mensa1]

You really don't need your Atty to tell you it is OK.
It is OK to start accumulating $$$ after your filing date.

[nickifan]

I haven't even retained mine yet but she responds to emails VERY promptly! She gave me her card with all her contact info on it so it never occurred to me that I "couldn't" email. It's not a huge office (just three attys) and I think one paralegal, so it may be that she prefers to answer questions herself.

When you do finally get a hold of this guy (gal? you used both pronouns he/she ) just ASK -- "do you mind if I email you directly when I have questions?"

It's great that you like the atty, but non-responsiveness would be a huge red flag for me. Just sayin'.

[coolmom04]

You really don't need your Atty to tell you it is OK.
It is OK to start accumulating $$$ after your filing date.

This is one of those situations where I KNOW that, but I don't BELIEVE it? KWIM? I guess I just want to hear it straight from my own attorney's mouth/keyboard!

I haven't even retained mine yet but she responds to emails VERY promptly! She gave me her card with all her contact info on it so it never occurred to me that I "couldn't" email. It's not a huge office (just three attys) and I think one paralegal, so it may be that she prefers to answer questions herself.

When you do finally get a hold of this guy (gal? you used both pronouns he/she ) just ASK -- "do you mind if I email you directly when I have questions?"

It's great that you like the atty, but non-responsiveness would be a huge red flag for me. Just sayin'.

You're right. I have talked with him directly on the phone before when I couldn't get in touch with the legal assistant, which surprised me. That made me very happy. I kind of get the feeling that if the attorney did know I had questions, he'd be happy to answer them. I HATE confrontation and I hate bothering people... so I tend to back down when I shouldn't. I think I'll take the "I hope I am not bothering you, but..." approach and then also as "do you mind if I email you directly when I have questions in the future?"

Thank you for your responses

[SMinGA]

I say yes to email, and don't assume you're bothering him. You are the customer, he works for you. Don't feel you need his permission about how to contact him - it should be the other way around. (He should contact you in the manner in which you prefer.)

I do sometimes think my atty dreads hearing from me, I email often as I figure that is easier than calling since he can respond as its convenient to do so. (Within a reasonable time, of course.) I imagine getting interrupted constantly with phonecalls makes everything take longer.

[coolmom04]

Thanks so much everyone for your advice. I did go ahead and email the attorney and cc'd the assistant. The assistant called me this morning and said the attorney was in court and it was definitely okay that I emailed them both.

So, I got the reassurance I needed!!!

First, I was told to definitely go ahead and start saving money! Okay.. yeah I knew I could, but feel better about it now

Second, even though we are using a legal plan, the fee does cover them fighting for our case up until discharge! Woo hoo!

Third, my attorney has never had a ch7 case converted to a 13 or dismissed... he has always won anytime the BK administrator has filed a presumption of abuse...

So... I will sit back and try to relax!!