Average time for an attorney to respond

[kmattin]

For me, I paid $1650.00 up front and the rest is paid through the trustee. The total cost was $3600.00. I thought this was fairly common that the large part of attorney fees were paid in the BK. I have not always been very successful in getting answers to my question once my BK was confirmed. I think I retained a good attorney, but I learned quickly that if I had questions, I was on my own to research for my answer. I have been most successful getting answers on this forum. Don't let a harsh answer discourage you. Calm down, take a deep breath and relax. I don't frustrate myself calling my attorney anymore, I am on my own and am okay with that. Good luck with your CH13, I hope you find peace.

[kmattin]

I understand your frustration, but as harsh as the one individuals answers were, they were basically true. I am paying the bulk of my attorney through the BK and figured that was pretty much normal. I tried to call my attorney with questions and either did not get a call back or was given vague answers from someone that works for the attorney. I don't call anymore, I am on my own and okay with that. I pay my trustee each month and take care of my obligations. My life financially isn't easy, but I knew that going in. Maybe try getting answers here on this forum. The answers are free and questions come fairly fast. The one poster that came across so harsh was telling the truth, but just being a bit over the top with an in your face attitude. Not all posters are like that one. Relax, take a deep breath and if your BK has been confirmed, my opinion is, unless something is really going wrong, your attorney would contact, or should contact you, to let you know. Don't worry what others think, make your payments on time and enjoy the ride as best you can. There is plenty of help here and not all will beat you up like that fellow.

[AZNoName]

I asked which method of communication my atty prefers (email in his case), and I communicate in that way. If it's something fairly urgent, I get a reponse within a couple hours. If it's not urgent, I may not get one at all!

[BKAttyMI]

I understand it's frustrating, my fee agreement clearly outlines that my fees are through confirmation of your case. It's my job to get your case confirmed and up and running. Should a crisis happen during the life of the plan, I'm there too. Day to day questions are not part of the package. There's no way I can be someone's attorney for 5 years and answer questions for them every other month for free. Either you have what it takes to make the 13 work, or you don't. The information for your case can all be accessed via 13network or PACER. Otherwise it's my clients' jobs to make what we've set up work for them. I have told parents of some of my clients that are confused about what's going on that I will be happy to offer them a 1 hour primer course on Chapter 13 bankruptcy for my hourly fee, I've yet to have anyone take me up on it.

Just another perspective, I'm not criticizing you. Unless you've been calling incessantly, all calls should be answered within 1 business day, 2 if it's a court day, I think that's a standard response.

[mountanddo]

The jist of it was I sent my attorney a very short email asking if the fact that I got a permanant job with free benefits and contributions to a 403b from the company and with me making .60 more an hour if that would affect my payment at all. It was a very simple question and it was the ONLY time I ever contacted her outside of the consultation and the meeting that I had when I gave her my paperwork. So I wasn't sending email after email with questions about general bankrupcy. I can get all the information about that on here or on google. The fact is that I never did get a response and she called at 9:30pm on Wednesday and said she was going to file my case today. I then asked her the question and got my answer. Basically I realized that she is just going to file my case and that will be the end of what she will do for me. I really don't think that It would of mattered whether or not I paid her upfront or not. She is going to get her $2500 no matter what because basically they pay her first. There are quite a few attorney's in MN that wrap their fees into the Chapter 13. Like I said I hired one of the top firms to represent me. I just think that my case is so basic and they represent so many people that they don't have time to respond to questions that don't alter what they are doing with your case. Not fair but I still have to disagree that I should get different representation because I didn't pay up front. It's not like when you go into the ER that the doctor says "opps, sorry you didn't pay up front so too bad we amputated the wrong leg." Anyway, the question I asked was blown into a whole other topic for no reason except for someone to get their opinion out there.

[BKAttyMI]

Her response time is not acceptable, you are correct. Have to think about what "top firm" means though, does that mean that they have the top number of filings? Or the highest rate of confirmations? Or the top level of service?

Also, off topic again, but a LOT more work goes into a case than "just filing" it. I spend about 2 hours preparing a petition, reviewing all documents, then another hour meeting with the client, an hour to file, hour+ for 341 meeting, Trustee objections (unlimited time), confirmation hearing. Most 13 cases add up to far more than the standard "no look fee" attorneys can charge in cases.

[mountanddo]

Nevertheless I didn't sign a contract stating that because I am agreeing to pay her through the plan that I accept less representation than if I paid up front. The bottom line is that she is getting paid for her service through the plan which obviously is an acceptable way to pay or they wouldn't have attorneys be the first ones the trustee pays. I signed the same contract everyone signs and I deserve the same representation that she would give other clients. Perhaps she is this way with all her clients and she is just a bad attorney all around. Honestly if I had the funds to have $2,500 in a savings account I wouldn't be in this situation in the first place. To chastise someone in a bankrupcy forum for not having the funds to pay an attorney up front, especially from a moderator of said forum, is not helpful at all.

[kmattin]

I agree. I did not know that a moderator was coming across so hard and unfeeling. Telling someone the truth is fine, but kicking them in the teeth while doing it is unnecessary. We all have bad days and I hope that "moderator" got his out of the way. Filing BK was not the easiest decision I ever had to make. This forum helped make that decision much easier. The knowledge and experience here runs very deep. Maybe that "moderator" was just constipated that day. Hope he drinks some juice and feels better.