There are so many lawyers throughout the city, how in the world do you go about finding a qualified Chicago bankruptcy lawyer? The answer is not as difficult as it may seem. Before there was the internet, it was really hard to research the skills of a particular lawyer.
Today, there is so much information published on the internet. You can see what they’ve written. You can often see videos that will give you a feel of what the lawyer is all about. You can also read reviews given by past clients. If you see 10 reviews all panning the attorney and stating he was rude, you would be best to avoid that attorney.
Remember that location is important, but only in certain products or services. For example, I would drive great distances if I knew that the provider was an authority. Some people make the mistake of hiring an attorney simply because he or she is close in distance.
To do so is simply being short-sighted. What good is a local attorney if that attorney is not qualified to serve that area of law? Perhaps that attorney is not truly experienced and you suffer as a result. Do yourself a favor; go with the better attorney even if you have to travel a greater distance. You are likely only going to claim bankruptcy once, make sure that you hire the right attorney.
Some people think that they can handle the bankruptcy matter without an attorney. If you are someone who wants to file bankruptcy yourself, please keep this in mind. The bankruptcy laws were revised in 2005 and the cases have become more difficult to negotiate.
It used to be that you could buy forms at the local office supply store, fill them out by hand, walk into the clerk’s office and get a final court date. Those days are long gone and they are never coming back. Today, you have to be aware of so many deadlines and pre-requisites. You have to time everything properly or your case will get automatically dismissed.
If you live in Illinois, you need to consult with an Illinois bankruptcy attorney. If you border a state with Illinois, keep in mind that the laws of the states are different. Some states allow you to protect higher equity amounts than others.
The state that you live in governs your filing. In the northern section of Illinois, I often receive calls from people who live in Wisconsin and work in Illinois. Those people have to file in Wisconsin and must be governed by the bankruptcy laws of that jurisdiction.
There are great differences in trustees when it comes to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 as well. You will find that Chapter 7 is a much more simplified process as opposed to Chapter 13.
