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Many businesses during the coronavirus pandemic have entered a situation where their debts are higher than their assets. Some of these businesses will make the difficult decision to declare bankruptcy. However, many small and mid-level businesses do not have a corporate attorney on speed dial. They will need to find a good lawyer to guide them through the bankruptcy process. If you are going through bankruptcy, hiring bankruptcy lawyers in Scottsdale can benefit you greatly. Here are some of the qualities you should look for when selecting a business bankruptcy lawyer.
1. Trustworthy and Morally Sound
Bankruptcy is a serious issue; you have to disclose all your financial details to your lawyer. It is important to hire a lawyer who is trustworthy and morally sound. If you are not comfortable disclosing sensitive information to this person, then the whole practice is lost. Always search for and hire an attorney who takes his or her job extremely seriously and would never do anything that crosses the line legally or ethically.
2. Good Standing With the Public
If this is your first time hiring an attorney, then you should gather a lot of information before making your final decision. Successful attorneys are expensive. You should only hire an attorney if he or she is in good standing with the public and has a long list of current and former clients who will testify to that effect. It is important to make sure that anyone you choose to represent your case will do a good job and make your life easier.
3. Stays Up-to-Date with Bankruptcy Law
Before hiring an attorney, make sure to check whether they are up-to-date on the latest changes in bankruptcy law. During the coronavirus pandemic, many changes have been made to the bankruptcy code. These changes could affect your bankruptcy filing. The attorney handling your bankruptcy case should have all the relevant information readily available at his or her fingertips.
4. Reasonable Attorney Fees
If you are filing for bankruptcy, then you already have a shortage of money. Paying a huge amount of attorney fees is probably not the best idea for you at the moment. Luckily, in some states and cities, the bankruptcy rates are fixed when filing for both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Also, both the chapters come with some predefined services that are included in the fee. If an attorney demands an extra sum for any of these services, then you should look elsewhere.
5. Highly Experienced
If you want your bankruptcy to run smoothly and successfully, then you need to hire an attorney with many years of experience handling cases similar to your own. If a lawyer is new to bankruptcy law, then he or she could put your case in serious jeopardy. While less experienced attorneys may be cheaper, they also carry more risk, potentially putting your bankruptcy case at risk of failure.
6. Familiar With Bankruptcy Courts in Your Area
While bankruptcy law remains the same in its principality, it is important to hire an attorney who has experience dealing with bankruptcy courts in your area. He or she will probably be familiar with the people presiding over your case and may have some insight that could help you tremendously.
While the above tips are not the only things you should consider when hiring a bankruptcy attorney, they are a good start. You cannot go wrong by following our advice and hiring an attorney with experience who is trustworthy and knowledgeable about the law.