How to Choose a Bankruptcy Attorney?

 

Federal bankruptcy laws continue to change. It is more complicated to file bankruptcy than before. To understand all of the intricacies of the new laws, it is extremely important that you carefully choose an Aurora bankruptcy lawyer who can help you address your individual situation. Do not put your finances at further risk by filing bankruptcy on your own.

 

Trust your case to an experienced law firm that can help you best resolve your situation and regain control of your financial situation. Illini Legal Services concentrates its practice in the area of bankruptcy law. 

 

How to Choose a Bankruptcy Attorney

 

Once you have decided that you need to seek professional advice concerning your financial situation, your next daunting task is to choose a bankruptcy lawyer. Choosing a competent bankruptcy attorney can be difficult since Illinois does not recognize legal specialization or certify that lawyers are competent to practice in a certain area of the law such as bankruptcy. How then do you choose an attorneywho concentrates his or her practice in the area of bankruptcy law?

 

You can of course ask others who have filed bankruptcy; you can seek out advertisements in the paper or telephone book; you can ask other lawyers whom they would suggest; you can call the local bar association and ask for a list of lawyers who deal in bankruptcy law; or you can seek out information on the Internet.

 

Once you have found a bankruptcy attorney or firm that concentrates its practice solely in the bankruptcy law area, how do you choose? We would suggest that you meet with the attorney personally to see:

 

• If you think he or she knows the law

• If he or she has handled other cases like yours

• If he or she is willing to listen to your concerns

• If he or she explains the bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy options to your satisfaction

• If he or she explains the types of bankruptcies available to you

• If he or she explains the bankruptcy process and your involvement in the process so that you understand it

• If he or she explains the costs, expenses, attorneys' fees and payment to your satisfaction

 

Fortunately, the decision as to which attorney to use is yours. We feel that you must be comfortable with the bankruptcy lawyer you choose. We would of course hope that you would choose Illini Legal Services to represent you. At Illini Legal Services, we have the knowledge and the skill required to efficiently determine if Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is right for your situation. From this point, we can stand by you throughout the entirety of your bankruptcy case and provide guidance whenever necessary.

 

How does of firm operate?

 

Many people want to know how our firm operates and how we deal with our most important asset, our customers. Our office procedures are designed to try to allow our customers full access with their case; where it is in our system; what information we may need from you; what will happen next; when the case will be filed; when the 341 meeting will be; when the discharge will issue; and when the case will be closed. 

 

The following people are involved in almost every case we file:

 

FIRST, you will undoubtedly talk to a Debt Relief Counselor. The person may or may not be an attorney. In all cases they will be well versed in finding out what your financial situation is and help you start formulating your debt relief financial plan. This may or may not include bankruptcy. The Debt Relief Counselors job is to start gathering information concerning your finances, to see what your most pressing financial concerns are and to see if bankruptcy is really necessary in your situation. This will include what actions we need to take to get you the relief you need to sleeping again at night.

 

SECOND, Once we are retained your file moves to our "Case Analyst Section". Here the information you give us is processed and analyzed to prepare the necessary documentation so that your case can be filed. You may have to meet with a case analyst, especially if there are concerns about what type of bankruptcy you need to file. It is critical that you get us the information we need in a timely fashion so we can process your file. The case analysts are available to answer your questions and to assist you. The case analyst will also tell if you question is a legal matter so that an attorney can respond to your question in a timely fashion.

 

THIRD, Prior to your case being filed you will meet with the attorney in charge of your file and go over the file to make sure that you understand everything and that the information is correct. While we prefer to do this in person, this can also be done over the phone.

 

FOUR, Once the case is filed it moves to our post filing department. Here your file is monitored by paralegals and your attorney. They will inform you about the 341 meeting; where the meeting is; what you need to bring to the meeting; what you need to do about the final credit counseling course; when the discharge will issue; and other matters with occur after the case is filed.

 

Once you have received your discharge and the case is closed, our office is still available to you should any questions come up concerning your file or other action that may have to be taken.

 

At Illini Legal Services, we offer a free in person consultation to each of our clients. During your consultation, we will take the time to listen to your financial concerns and assess your case and individual situation. We have four locations to serve you. Contact us today for help!

 

Illini Legal Services is engaged in the private practice of law and is not a public legal aid agency. We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.