How to Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer

Should You File Alone or with a Lawyer?

• Knowledge and experience: Bankruptcy lawyers know the Code inside and out, including up-to-the-minute changes, and have usually worked on hundreds of bankruptcy cases.
• Petition preparation: The process of completing and submitting all the forms required to file a bankruptcy petition is perhaps the most difficult and time-consuming part of the process. A lawyer will handle all of this for you, including filing your forms. If you can’t afford a lawyer but still need help with this service, consider hiring a bankruptcy petition preparer (BPP), a professional trained to complete bankruptcy forms. BPPs charge $150 or so but are prohibited from offering any bankruptcy-related advice—they just do the forms.
• Representation in court: Many bankruptcy filers have little or no experience with the legal system and don’t feel comfortable representing themselves in court. If you work with a lawyer, you’ll be required to appear in court only once—the lawyer will attend this session with you and will then attend all other required court proceedings in your place. Without a lawyer, you must attend every court proceeding for your case.
• Negotiation with creditors: Before you file, you can refer all calls from creditors directly to your lawyer.

Where to Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer

• Specializes in personal bankruptcy law
• Has a reputation for honesty and integrity