Utah Bankruptcy Hotline

Finding a run-of-the-mill bankruptcy lawyer in your city is not difficult. A simple Internet search reveals an abundance of lawyers spread throughout Salt Lake County and Utah County, with dozens of bankruptcy attorneys in the Salt Lake and Provo metropolitan areas alone. With so many options, it is important to understand how to find the best Utah bankruptcy lawyer to assist you with your particular case. 

How complicated is your bankruptcy case?

If you are considering bankruptcy because you have an extensive amount of unsecured debt, such as credit card debt or medical bills, or are late on your house payments, you probably have a pretty typical case and will have lots of options. However, if you own one or more businesses, have a high net worth, or are currently involved in a pending lawsuit, you likely have a relatively complex case and should speak to a lawyer with ample experience handling complex bankruptcy cases in Utah courts. This lawyer should be particularly well-versed in Utah state law in addition to the federal bankruptcy laws. If you think you might have a complex case, it is important to disclose this to your attorney during the initial consultation.

Take advantage of the free initial consultation

In the state of Utah, it is customary for bankruptcy lawyers to offer a free initial consultation. To get the most out of your initial consultation you should have notes outlining all of your debts, assets and income sources ready for the lawyer to review. Your attorney will want to understand your complete financial picture, and you should hold nothing back. Make sure your lawyer knows all of your debt, including items such as student loans, tax debt, alimony, intra-family loans and other types of debt that you may not naturally think to disclose. It is typically appropriate to disclose all debt even if you do not believe that it can be discharged in bankruptcy. Your bankruptcy lawyer will want to understand your entire financial picture, and failing to disclose certain pieces of information may prevent him from offering the best advice.

Does the bankruptcy lawyer have good experience?

The free initial consultation is a great opportunity to get a sense of whether the attorney has sufficient experience to handle your case. Even if your case is very straightforward, it is important to know that your lawyer is sufficiently experienced. You do not want to find out after the engagement letter is signed, for example, that your Chapter 13 case is the first case your bankruptcy lawyer ever filed. Ask questions, gauge how well your bankruptcy lawyer responds, and get a sense for how comfortable he is with the particular circumstances of your case.

Do you like the bankruptcy lawyer’s personality?

Each lawyer has a different personality and it is important that you like the lawyer you hire. Do not make up your mind about hiring a lawyer until you have met the lawyer, discussed your case, and decided that you feel comfortable working with him or her. During the course of the bankruptcy case, you will need to discuss personal financial information with your lawyer, and it is important that you feel comfortable doing so. Trust your instincts and go with a bankruptcy lawyer whose personality is compatible with your own.

Ignore Location

It is always more convenient if your bankruptcy lawyer lives near your home, but do not focus too much on location. Even if an attorney lives right around the corner, you will regret hiring him if he is difficult to work with or incompetent. The reality is that much of the work to be done will be handled over the telephone, except for the initial consultation, a few follow-up appointments, and the bankruptcy hearing (which will take place at court no matter who you hire). You will not regret driving into Salt Lake City from West Valley or Riverton, for example, to find the right lawyer for the job.

Personal Referrals

Finding a bankruptcy attorney is particularly sensitive because a lot of people in need of bankruptcy advice do not feel comfortable asking friends and family for a referral due to fear of revealing too much about their financial troubles. A personal referral is always a great first choice, but this page shows you that there are other ways you can make sure you are hiring the right lawyer for the job. If you are able to get a referral, make sure it is from someone who used that attorney for a bankruptcy case similar to yours. One attorney might have done a great job helping your friend draft a will, but that does not mean he will do a great job on your consumer bankruptcy case.

Communication

During your free initial consultation, you should ask your bankruptcy lawyer how you will be able to contact them and how long it will take them to return your communications. Do not overlook this issue. It has been reported that the most frequent complaint clients have about their attorneys is that they are bad communicators. The most obvious step you can take to tell whether your lawyer is a good communicator is to gauge how easily it was to get your initial consultation scheduled. Did your attorney promptly return your call and schedule the appointment? Did you have to sit around and wait while your attorney was running late even though the office did not look very busy? These might be warning signs. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting days for your attorney to return an email or a phone call, so do your best to get a sense of the bankruptcy lawyer’s style before you engage him.

If you have any questions about how to find a qualified Utah bankruptcy lawyer, call the Utah Bankruptcy Hotline at 801-896-3328.