Question called for a consultation

[santadawg]

Hi everyone this forum is great. Just starting out, been reading for a few weeks. We probably can't file for a little while because did some balance transfers last month and been living off of cards the last couple of months. I know you guys know the drill. Anyways I called a lawyer (Jed) in my area for a appointment and consultation and he wants $100.00 consultation fee. Is that normal? It"s for next Tuesday. I keep wondering is it better to go with someone that is a trustee. He is not, but this is all he does. We don't know what to expect, we make over the means (100 between us both & 70 unsecured). We would like to do a 7. Thanks for reading.

[liz417]

Hi Santadawg,

Welcome to this forum. You don't need to go with a attorney that is a trustee per se, but you DO NEED to arrange for a few FREE consultation with local attorneys. There are few posters that were over the median income and still qualified for a ch 7.

Good Luck,
P.S. If I were you, I would cancel that Tuesday appointment.

[Never_Again]

My lawyer charged for an initial consultation. He also had the reputation of being one of the best lawyers in the area.

Sometimes, free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it! A free consultation is many times simply a sales pitch, to tell you that you need to file. I figured that it was better to pay for the best advice I could get.

[HHM]

It depends on the area, but generally in the BK context consultations are free; but at the same time, for a free consultation, the lawyer is under no obligation to give you "true" legal advice. You may want to reschedule this consultation and go visit a few lawyers that charge a free consult before shelling out $100 for this lawyers advice.

Keep in mind, the "free" consultation is more an issue of market competitiveness than anything else. Its a way to get you in the door and give you the "pitch".