Confused

[melissae]

My husband and I met with a bankruptcy attorney Monday of this week and have an appointment to meet with a second this coming Monday. After meeting with the first attorney, I'm left even more confused and unsure as to what our options really are at this point.

I'm not sure if we're able to file chapter 7 or if we have to go with chapter 13. My worries with chapter 13 is that the judge will take all of the money that's not going to bills for 60 months....

the attorney will not answer any further questions until we retain him and pay in full

He did instruct me to the MEANS test, where I know our income is over the limit for a 3 person family in New York State....however when I fill in all the information, it tells me we would qualify...I'm so confused!!!

[blessed]

If you're more confused after talking to the attorney, please don't hire him. Talk to someone else, or even 2 more attorneys.

The first one we met with didn't explain a thing, just said "yep, you can file, do this this and this" When we got home I was really uncomfortable so I made a few more phone calls from the yellow pages. The second attorney explained everything. I understand the process now.

So, read all the stickies on this forum and talk to the other attorney. GL!

[FLBK7]

Do not retain an attorney until all your questions have been answered satisfactorily and until you feel comfortable with the attorney AND with his staff. You'll be dealing with the attorney's paralegals and secretaries and receptionists a lot during the process.

That's the advice I wish someone had given me when I filed. I didn't know about this forum back then, and maybe it didn't even exist. I was sued by a CC company and since I was totally terrified I retained the first attorney I saw. My case happened to be a simple clear-cut chapter 7, but my experience with this big-shot attorney and his staff was just horrible. I'll just say that at my 341 meeting, the attorney sent one of his associates who I had never even met! I was frantically looking for my attorney and when the trustee called my name/case, this stranger moves up and says he's my legal counsel. Unbelievable.