Archive for the ‘Attorney’ Category

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Lemon Grove Bankruptcy Attorney – First Step in Bankruptcy Filing

Monday, November 16th, 2009

If you are planning to file for bankruptcy protection, the first step that you need to take is to look for a Lemon Grove bankruptcy attorney, if you live in Lemon Grove and the nearby areas. It is a common misconception that lawyers will just siphon off money from their clients. Remember that in the law profession, experience and track record are the two things that people should look for. More often than not, lawyers like me get new clients through referral systems. This means that we have to make the people we represent happy and contented with the outcome of their court proceedings.

Once you have found the perfect Lemon Grove bankruptcy attorney for you, the next step is to arrange a meeting with him. There are many law firms, including us at Shanner and Associates that do not charge for the first consultation. At this point, it would be a good idea to be honest with your lawyer. You have to lay everything on the table so that your legal representative can come up with the best option for you. Remember that your bankruptcy attorney will only be effective in representing you if you are forthright at the very beginning.

Some of the things that you should bring during your first meeting with your Lemon Grove bankruptcy attorney include the income taxes that you haven’t paid, outstanding balances on your mortgage, and other debts. You should also provide a monthly breakdown of your monthly bills, which should include credit cards, utilities, club memberships, Internet purchases, and other types of bills and subscriptions. When filing for bankruptcy, you really need to be thorough and honest with your lawyer. You should also furnish your lawyer with copies of important documents, including pay slips for the last two months, court papers in connection with any lawsuits or legal actions that you are currently involved in, divorce papers, and any other pertinent papers that can affect your case.

What you can do, in order to help your Lemon Grove bankruptcy attorney in representing your case, is to be open with your lawyer. Even if the questions that he asks could sometimes sound too personal, for as long as they are related to your financial problems, then you really have to answer honestly. Some of the things that your attorney may ask could be related to your marital status, the length of your stay in the state, and your debt payment practices.

Posted in Attorney, Bankruptcy | 1 Comment »

San Diego Bankruptcy Law Firms – Heroes for a Dark Financial Period

Tuesday, October 13th, 2009

It’s an unfortunate truth, but San Diego bankruptcy law is one of the fastest growing types of practice in the country right now. Quickly swelling beyond personal injury and family practice, more and more people and families are finding themselves in the unhappy position of seeking out a bankruptcy attorney every day. With our country in the throes of a recession, it seems that the only ones making any money are the people that are helping those who have lost all of their money. Though this is not entirely true, I know it sure feels that way if you are the one filing for bankruptcy.

Lawyers often get a bad rap. They are portrayed as “ambulance chasers”, or slick and sneaky criminal defense lawyers who are just as interested in getting their fifteen minutes of fame as they are in actually helping their clients. While I am sure that there are some attorneys out there that do live up to their bad reputation, I truly believe that most people that practice law actually seek to help people. This is especially true of San Diego bankruptcy law firms.

San Diego bankruptcy law firms are there to help people when the chips are about as down as they can possibly get. At a time when their clients are finding themselves at absolute financial rock bottom, bankruptcy attorneys are hard at work, trying to help their clients navigate the process with as much ease and dignity as possible. I think it is an admirable thing that they do, helping people get out from suffocating amounts of debt and onto a more constructive path, where they have the chance to become financially solvent once more.

With our economy in the shambles that it is in right now, we can expect the number of bankruptcies being filed to continue to rise. Even once the economy begins to turn around, there will be many people that will still need to seek out the aid of San Diego bankruptcy law firms. The damage done to people’s financial situation will take longer to improve, as jobs need to be created and secured and while looking for work, many people are being forced to amass large amounts of debt. The bankruptcy attorneys will be the ones that are ultimately steering people back to financial freedom, and should be praised for their efforts, not vilified for a preconceived misconception.

Posted in Attorney, Bankruptcy | 2 Comments »

Your San Diego Attorney

Friday, August 7th, 2009

So you need an Attorney, how do you begin? There are so many places to look, so many listings, and so many choices for your San Diego attorney. Here, I’m going to review the things you want to consider when you are choosing an attorney to handle whatever matter you need an attorney to work with. First and foremost for most everyone is a personal recommendation. If you have a family member or friend who can recommend an attorney who has done a fantastic job for them then that is a great place to start. Word of mouth is often the most dependable form of referral around today.

If you don’t have a San Diego attorney recommendation from a friend or family member, a good place to seek assistance is your local Bar Association. The local Bar Association will be able to provide you with a good recommendation and referral after speaking with them briefly. They will get a general idea of the case involved and then provide you with several suggestions. It’s never a bad idea to speak with a couple of attorneys before deciding who to hire for your specific case.

When you do meet with an attorney for the first time, you should first feel comfortable around that attorney. If you are uncomfortable, you may want to consider following your gut feeling. You should be comfortable with the level of expertise the attorney demonstrates in your meeting with them. Any San Diego attorney who is reputable and trustworthy should be able to also outline their schedule of fees for you when you meet with them. Most attorneys charge a retainer to take on your case, it is like a deposit. You should also find out if the attorney has an idea on how many hours will be required to handle your case.

One final way to acquire a San Diego Attorney is to look in the yellow pages, but keep in mind that people pay for certain advertising spots. That is why I recommend that you always start by looking for recommendations through a family member, friend, or your local Bar Association. If an attorney can’t make you feel comfortable, tell you his or her fees, or there’s anything else going on that makes you just wonder what’s going on, you may want to check with another attorney before you decide to hire that one. You should feel 100% comfortable with your choice.

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San Diego Attorney – How Do We Choose One?

Friday, July 17th, 2009

During this unfortunate economic climate, many more people are forced to file for bankruptcy than only a few years ago.  There are different means by which we can do this.  Different situations call for different filing methods.  We are not expected to come up with this on our own, fortunately.  For individuals living in California filing bankruptcy is sadly getting more and more common.  Hiring a San Diego attorney that specializes in bankruptcy can be your best option if you find yourself in a financial choke hold.

The state economy of California specifically is largely the cause for the extreme rise in bankruptcy in recent years.  This in combination with the 1990s idea that it was fashionable to live outside our means has made for a catastrophic combination.  Many of us received a sharp slap in the face once the economy plummeted after the booming economy of the 90s.  Now is the time to make the necessary repairs to get out of debt and increase credit scores to what they once were.  Bankruptcy “chapters” exist to simplify the process.  Chapters 7 and 13 are the most valid for individual situations.  This is really simply for our consideration, as a San Diego attorney would know all about this and be able to assist us in choosing the right method to file.

When considering a San Diego attorney, we can narrow our search to focus on ones that have specific knowledge and experience working in either chapter 7 or 13, assuming the file is for an individual situation.  (Corporation filings tend to fall under chapter 7 or 11.)  To narrow the search even more, we should conduct our own personal background checks.  What are their licensing statuses and qualifications?  How long have they been practicing law?  An experienced lawyer who is not only confident in our personal case but also in himself will make the best lawyer.  Each one of us should take advantage of a free consultation.  This will help us feel less pressured as we make the decision of which San Diego attorney may be best for us.

The last important thing we should have on the forefront of our minds is to be aware of San Diego attorney’s fees, upfront and court costs.  Filing bankruptcy is a stressful process, and unforeseen fees only add to the anxiety.  We all know making this decision takes plenty of consideration and careful choosing, but hopefully these tips come in handy for choosing the best way to file for bankruptcy in San Diego.

Posted in Attorney | 21 Comments »

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