Is Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer Really Necessary?

A bankruptcy lawyer can advise you on your financial situation, tell you whether or not you are eligible to file for the appropriate chapter, and take you through the steps necessary to do just that. Of course, the argument is: can't you do these things on your own? It is true, you are not required to hire an attorney to file for bankruptcy. To do so or not to do so is entirely left to the individual's discretion. But you wouldn't want to go into a criminal case representing yourself, even though it is legally allowed. A wise man once said that anyone who represents themselves has a fool for a client. This is just as true in financial matters as it is in criminal proceedings. Don't be the fool.

The trouble for most people is that hiring a bankruptcy lawyer can get expensive. And money is typically something that people interested in filing don't have a lot of. So there is a little bit of a paradox when it comes to the question of hiring someone. But what is the alternative? You could do it yourself, even though you likely have absolutely no knowledge or experience. How do you think that's going to work out for you? Filing is a complicated (some might argue it is needlessly so) procedure, and those who don't know what they're doing are likely to make a mistake. Just one mistake could get your filing rejected, which you may not know until months down the road. Then you've wasted time and money and you're still no further along. If you'd hired a lawyer from the start, you would be well on your way back from the financial brink by now.

Keep in mind that a bankruptcy attorney is accustomed to dealing with people in your very situation, so they understand that you are having monetary difficulties. It is not in their interests to make this situation worse for you. They get paid to help people out of these situations, not make them worse. Granted, they will expect payment, but look at the situation you're in now. Many people are paying hundreds of dollars a month in interest fees and late payments just to keep their heads above water. Hiring a good lawyer could only cost a few months of these payments, and then you would be through! Think about how good that would feel to finally be out from under the crushing weight of all that debt.

A good bankruptcy attorney can advise you and represent you as you find a way back to a responsible, manageable financial situation. Don't hesitate to hire one if you need help.