Can You Get The Price Of A Bankruptcy Over The Phone?

Sometimes it is hard to sort through all the attorneys in your area once you've decided to file bankruptcy. Many people make their decision based on price--however, picking an attorney is not like picking a new shampoo. Choosing a bankruptcy attorney solely based on price could leave you in big trouble.

Still, many people who are thinking of filing bankruptcy think the best way to choose an attorney is to ask one their price over the phone. I can tell you from my 16 years experience as a bankruptcy lawyer, giving someone a quote over the phone without knowing the details of their financial situation is simply irresponsible.

Why? First of all, without knowing all the ins and outs of someone's financial situation, you don't know what it will cost you to file their bankruptcy case. Second of all, you are also giving a bankruptcy attorney the opportunity to lure you in with a cheap price and surprise you with hidden fees later on in your case. One of the most important reasons attorneys offer free consultations is to be able to give you a fair and accurate price for their services.

Am I trying to get you to choose the most expensive attorney? No. Most attorneys charge about the same price anyway, as bankruptcy fees are controlled by the bankruptcy court. I want to help you understand why price shopping for attorneys is such a huge mistake: Picking a bankruptcy attorney based on their price.

There a lot of other factors that should go into the choice of an attorney. How much experience does he or she have? Do they offer free information to help you make an educated decision, regardless of advertising? Can you find positive testimonials from their clients? Has the attorney had any substantial bar complaints? Choose an attorney you feel comfortable with and confident in, not one who is liable to surprise you with hidden fees or skip out on doing work for you.

The answer is no, an attorney who is responsible and ethical will not tell you what your bankruptcy will cost without really knowing. However, he or she may offer free materials to help you make an educated decision. Don't pass them up. The more you know, the more likely you'll be to have a great experience getting out of debt.