Bankruptcy filing requires a good relationship with ones bankruptcy attorney and filing bankruptcy is a team sport that requires everyone to work together like a well oiled machine. The law office staff is very important running interference for the attorney and their client. Prior to filing bankruptcy, creditors are very aggressive in their attempt to collect on a debt, but having a professional staff to handle those calls will make the process go a lot smoother and less stressful for the client. Just like with the football team if one person doesn't do their job then the damage can be endless. That's why when someone is hiring a bankruptcy lawyer they need to use their gut feeling on how they feel about the person they are hiring. When going in for a free consultation, it's best to look around and talk to the paralegals and the office staff to see what kind of dynamic is going on. If everyone's unhappy and stressed out, this probably isn't the office that someone will want to spend much time in. Nothing is worse than being stressed out by a creditor that is threatening the client only to have a staff member minimalize it or give them lip. While considering Chapter 7 bankruptcy will take 4 to 6 months and a Chapter 13 will take 3 to 5 years, it would be a good idea to find someone you trust and don't mind confiding in with him and your entire personal life. When someone hires an attorney they definitely won't want it to turn into a nightmare. Remember, the bankruptcy attorney the person hires won't care if the individual leaves because they've already been paid. Try squeezing blood out of that turnip, it's like trying to beat the odds at a Las Vegas casino, eventually no matter how lucky you are you will lose. In most situations, before a bankruptcy attorney will even file a bankruptcy petition, the entire fee must be paid. If someone bails out early with only paying half of the fee, the bankruptcy attorney will send an itemized list of expenses incurred and will return any overage that was previously paid. After talking to people in this exact situation, rarely do they get anything back. This means they kind of have you over a barrel and if you leave you might not get anything back. A new counsel will be starting from scratch again and for someone that is filing bankruptcy; money is scarce and usually not available to hire another law firm. It's a much better idea to take the time and consult a few lawyers so they can see the difference of personalities and staffing.
About the Company:
Stephen Labiak was serving his clients in California Central Valley with offices in Fresno and Visalia. He has a casual manner and when you call or come to his office to speak to him, you can definitely speak to him as he believes an attorney should be accessible to solve your problems. He ensures you in providing the best solution for your debts.