Washington Bankruptcy Lawyer

The Best Washington Bankruptcy Lawyer

Without a doubt, bankruptcy is a serious issue for many in the United States, and in this case the state of Washington, for one important reason: the skills of a qualified Washington bankruptcy lawyer are essential to a client being able to file for it.

It happens from time to time that debt can accumulate at such a terrible rate that there’s no chance any individual or even corporation can be able to recover from the debt to the point that they’re in good financial standing. It just so happens that Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy is a valid option. But establishing the process is important. And the law matters. Because the truth is there is always a chance that filing for bankruptcy may be denied in a court of law for several reasons.

So here’s the important question: how does one find the best Washington bankruptcy lawyer available to ensure success?

There Are Important Steps to Successfully Filing With the Best Washington Bankruptcy Lawyer Possible

It’s a complex niche within the legal field, so the appropriate steps are of the utmost importance. And this type of law practice not only falls under individual means, but also corporate means.

Here are the steps:

• Do the Appropriate Research
• Schedule Free Consultations
• Consider All Rates and Fees in the Decision
• And Then, Finally, Make the Decision

Follow these steps to the letter, and a client will have the best chance possible in finding the right Washington bankruptcy lawyer for the job. It won’t be as easy as it looks, though. To start off, there’s research. And that always takes a certain amount of time….

Getting the Research Done Right

It’s not as simple as looking in a phone book for a few numbers from random Washington bankruptcy lawyers. There’s much more to it.

To make sure that a client finds the best Washington bankruptcy lawyer possible, getting a “shortlist” going is crucial.

Typically, a client wants to get at least five Washington bankruptcy lawyers on the list. But not just any lawyers. A client’s going to want to look at ads very carefully and determine which ones are the right ones to put on the list.

For starters, stay away from ads that over-sell the services. Ways of identifying those ads from firms and offices can include capital letters, 1-800 numbers, “salesy” language, and too many exclamation points! Experienced Washington bankruptcy lawyers really won’t need to ‘sell’ their services at all.

The important thing about the legal field is that there’s no lack of demand (or lack of supply for that matter). It’s such a rich field of work that competition between Washington bankruptcy lawyers – any lawyers, for that matter – really isn’t even an issue.

So, really, the only ads for Washington bankruptcy lawyers a client will want to jot down on the shortlist are the ones that list the valid, necessary, simple information –

• Full Name of the Office or Firm
• Location
• Valid Phone Number
• E-Mail
• Web Site URL

That’s where the research starts…. From there, though, comes the next step:

The Free Consultation

Once the shortlist has been compiled, a client needs to contact all those Washington bankruptcy lawyers on the list for one reason:

To schedule the free consultation.

This is especially important, because it gives both the client and the lawyer a chance to get a feel both for the case and whether or not the attorney’s suitable for it.

Common questions a client can ask include:

• How many years of experience do you have in the field?
• How many clients have you represented?
• How many clients do you currently represent?
• What kind of clients do you normally represent?
• How many cases have you tried?
• Can you take my case?

An experienced attorney in bankruptcy law will tell you right away if a client’s case is viable or not. But don’t settle for the first opinion; get more. That’s what the shortlist is for.

Once all the consultations are done, chances are a client’s shortlist may have been whittled down to two or three, in which case a client has one more step to make before coming to the final decision….

How Much Does the Attorney Charge?

Chances are a client will know the rates and fees during each consultation. So by the time a client’s done meeting with each Washington attorney, considering the decision should be based on finances.

There’s no doubt about it: attorneys are expensive. So recognizing the possible fees and rates are important:

• “Retainer” Fee
• Hourly Rate

Know these two terms, and a client can make the best decision possible. Some lawyers may charge both while others may charge one or the other, but it’s important to know that a “retainer” is basically a lump sum of money paid before work is done on the case. Typically it’s a sign of experience. But recognize the amount of money necessary to pay it. The hourly rate, of course, is the charge per hour in the court room that the lawyer works. And that may or may not add up, depending on the complexity and severity of the bankruptcy case.

If a client has a lawyer only charging that hourly rate, that lawyer might be the definitive choice as it’s less money paid out on behalf of the client. However, considering the experience is essential. So a smart client will weigh the options.

Knowing the finances, though, will definitely lead a client to the final choice….

So the Immediate Action Is to Make It

Make it immediately. A client shouldn’t hesitate. Nothing hurts worse financially than overwhelming debt. And sometimes bankruptcy is the only way out. No client, obviously, should handle the case alone.

So the only way to ensure that all the proper steps are taken and Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy is filed properly is to hire the right Washington lawyer for the job.