Although the personal bankruptcy process can present many challenges, perhaps the biggest challenge is finding a reputable and affordable bankruptcy attorney to assist with your case. While there certainly aren’t any laws requiring you to seek legal representation, there are some very good reasons to hire a lawyer to assist you with your bankruptcy claim. If you are like most people then you probably don’t have a lot of spare cash laying around to use for bankruptcy attorney  fees, and you most definitely don’t want to spend up to $3,000 for a “traditional” bankruptcy attorney. Fortunately we have just the information you need to save you some serious cash on your claim.

Why You Should Consider An Attorney

So, why hire a bankruptcy attorney in the first place? Well, for starters, an attorney can offer legal advice and explain how to go bankrupt responsibly. They can tell you the difference between Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, and they can also help you make a decision between the two types of bankruptcy. Apart from this, an attorney can assist you in the often time-consuming process of preparing documents and submitting paperwork. After all, do you really want to spend days collecting documents related to your assets, debts and income? We didn’t think so. Besides, you want the information that’s collected to be as thorough and accurate as possible, since it will have some bearing on whether or not your claim is approved. Perhaps the biggest reason to work with an attorney is peace of mind and knowing that you have someone with experience to see you through the process.

Now that we’ve made a strong case for hiring an attorney, it’s time to talk about some ways to find a reputable cheap bankruptcy lawyer. Regardless of what you might have heard, cheap bankruptcy lawyers do exist, though it might take some additional work on your part to find one. Once you do, however, the payoff is huge. Not only will you have someone that can assist you in all aspects of your case, but you can also save up to 50% off the fees that a traditional bankruptcy attorney would charge.

Cheap Bankruptcy Lawyers Do Exist

So, how do you go about finding a cheap bankruptcy attorney that’s worth doing business with. Consider some of the following tips –

• Local Law Schools – although most people would never consider contacting a school to located an attorney, many law schools offer public clinics that are operated by legal experts. The great thing about these clinics is that their goal is to provide free advice to the public while allowing students to gain real life experience. The best way to find out whether a law school in your area offers public services is to contact them and ask.

• Initial Consultations – many law firms offer initial consultations free of charge and these can be a great way to learn a bit about how the bankruptcy process works. It’s important to come prepared to a consultation with specific information related to your finances.

• Legal Assistants – a legal assistant often works for an attorney and offers legal advice on their own at a greatly reduced priced. An assistant will be able to walk you through the entire bankruptcy process while providing you with pertinent information related to filing bankruptcy in the state in which you reside. One thing you need to be careful with is the fact that legal advice provided by assistants or legal technicians is often not governed by state bar associations. In other words, it may be necessary to hire a qualified attorney that can provide with current and accurate information.

In addition to the information provided above, a simple way to find a cheap bankruptcy lawyer is to contact a local state bar certified referral service. These services can connect you with reputable bankruptcy attorneys in your area, allowing you to avoid the hassle of searching for an attorney on your own.

Because claiming bankruptcy isn’t for everyone, it’s important to understand the process in its entirety before making the decision to move forward with a claim. We offer an extensive guide on how to claim bankruptcy and also offer a free bankruptcy evaluation to see if bankruptcy is truly your best option.