Do you keep in contact with your attorney

[James H]

This question is for the people that are well into their plan. I just started a 5 year plan and from the sounds of it I will not be speaking to my lawyer anytime soon unless something bad happens.

Just kinda wondering what will happen if I have a question or something in a couple years, I'm positive my lawyer will have no idea who I am.

[Minnymouth]

The lawyer that handles your case will have updates on your status and payments. He should always be aware of who you are and about your case.

If questions arise or you need an admendment to your payment plan becasue of an emergency feel free to call him...... that's what he is there for. He will be in charge of your case till its discharged.

Hope this helps.

[$$only4ever]

Your attorney is the attorney of record on your bankruptcy. When the trustee sends his distribution report your attorney also gets a copy of it.

I am almost to the halfway point in a 5 year plan and I had to contact him 3x. I found that if I e-mail him, he generally responds within 24 hours.

[JRTLover]

In 3 years, I spoke with him 3 times, and met in his office once after confirmation. The one meeting was what to do after Hurricane Katrina wiped me clean. I was hoping for a hardship discharge, but apparently unless you are dead, you don't qualify for one in this district.

You would think the trustee would have had a little sympathy after his office was wiped out also.

[Elf]

I did a 3 year Ch. 13. I spoke to my lawyer once during that time.

I suspect that if they do a good job for you upfront, then you end up with a lot fewer headaches down the road. I knew that he was in the background, on retainer, if I had an issue.

I never needed him.

Elf

[BKOnce]

Sure, anytime welcome... he gonna "bill" hours spent on anything... from write letter to phone calls... to interview ... to amendments... to court papers + mailings + postage + etc... what a sucker he is...

[cso5@]

Sure, anytime welcome... he gonna "bill" hours spent on anything... from write letter to phone calls... to interview ... to amendments... to court papers + mailings + postage + etc... what a sucker he is...

That's not been my experience.

I haven't had to contact mine often, but more than 2 or 3 times, too. I am a year and a half into an almost 5 year plan.

And everytime I've called, they have been helpful and responsive, and there's never been any additional charge.

I've called about -- I've got a refund coming on my income tax returns, will the trustee take it? I think I need to get a different car, how does that work? What happens if I take a part time job, can I do that?

I agree, if you do the research and get a good attorney up front, it makes life during your Chapter 13 a lot easier.

[wayne-o]

ive spoken to my attorney once in my 3 year plan. Im expectin to be finished any day now. I only had to speak to him then because car finance people would not talk to me.

[Peevee]

I actually have my lawyers email address and if I got a question, I email him and usually get a response it my be a day or two later.

[lrprn]

We're a year and a half into a 5 year plan. Since we had a creditor and two trustee objections to deal with, we've had frequent contact with our lawyer. He has been great! He kicked our mortgage company's groundless objection to the curb and resolved the two trustee objections, and he didn't charge us a penny for the extra work.

We were finally confirmed just last month - a big relief! We'll contact our lawyer if something comes up that needs his advice - he encouraged us to do that any time - but otherwise I don't expect to talk with him through the end of our plan.

Agree with everyone who said that finding the right Ch 13 lawyer definitely makes the difference between a miserable Ch 13 experience and one that's tolerable.

[tater71]

We are in a pickle. Been in our repayment plan for 41 months (13 to go !!) and dh was in a car wreck which totaled our vehicle which is in the bk. so I emailed our lawyer to get A)advice and B)direction on what to do. He emailed back and said that he is no longer doing bk. So now what ?! Do we have to pay those prices again ?? and retain another lawyer ? Is he bound to us until we are discharged ??