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How To Choose A Bankruptcy Lawyer

Filing bankruptcy is a complex process that will have a dramatic effect on your life for years to come. Many lawyers know their way around bankruptcy cases, but only a handful of attorneys live and breathe them. Read on for some simple questions you should ask yourself before selecting a bankruptcy lawyer to represent you.

1. Do they specialize in bankruptcy law?

Don’t settle for a jack-of-all-trades. Some lawyers focus on a specific area of the law - you’ll want to make sure whomever you select is focused on bankruptcy. Take the time to look for an attorney with the following qualifications:

  • Thorough knowledge of the Bankruptcy Code, and applicable state laws
  • Familiarity with the local Trustee and court’s stance on relevant issues
  • Solid reputation and earned respect within the bankruptcy community

It takes special dedication to remain sharp on bankruptcy laws. At Lincoln Law, we staff three bankruptcy attorneys and two attorneys of counsel that specialize in serving clients across California and Utah.

2. Are they a full-time bankruptcy lawyer?

Finding this information can be tricky. Many lawyers advertise years of experience in dealing with bankruptcy cases, but it’s important to determine exactly how many years a lawyer has spent practicing exclusively bankruptcy law. Lincoln Law has honed their practice to filing bankruptcies since 2001—that’s over a decade of successful cases.

3. How many bankruptcy cases have they filed?

When navigating through a bankruptcy, the going is often rough—so it’s in your best interests to find a professional who is seasoned in filing bankruptcy-specific cases. The volume of bankruptcy cases handled by a law office is a good indicator of the value of their services. At the Lincoln Law, we file between 50 and 100 cases per month, and have filed well over 3000 cases since opening our doors.

4. Do they handle Chapter 13 and other complex cases?

This can be a defining quality of a top-notch bankruptcy lawyer—do they have experience filing Chapter 13 cases? Many lawyers specialize in bankruptcy and practice bankruptcy law full-time, but have only ever filed Chapter 7 cases. In most cases, a Chapter 7 is much less complicated than a Chapter 13. To obtain the best results, a Chapter 13 requires a lawyer that is amply experienced in their field and highly attentive to small details. At Lincoln Law, our lawyers have filed hundreds of Chapter 13 cases and are often referred for complex cases from other bankruptcy attorneys!

Don’t settle for less than the best

Many people don’t realize a bankruptcy case can last for up to 5 years, and there can even be related work beyond that. When filing bankruptcy, you can’t afford to take any chances. Find an attorney you can trust with the immense responsibility of your financial future. Lincoln Law deals exclusively in bankruptcy cases, and wipes out millions of dollars in client debt on a monthly basis. Our core mission is to help our clients cope with bankruptcy by making the process stress and error-free. The more expertise a firm can bring to your case the better the result will be for you and your family’s future.