Right now I'm pretty steamed about what my lawyer is charging, and I told him today. He is charging me $1500 plus the filing fee. I checked on Pacer, and none of his other clients are paying anywhere near that. One, an "exotic dancer," is paying $600. The most anyone else is paying him is $1,000 -- and most of the other lawyers are charging $750-$1000.
So I called him today and I told him I would like to revisit the fee.
He said my case was more complicated. I asked him in what way. He said it was because i was a "high income filer." I am not a high income filer. I work as a University instructor and I make about $30,000 a year. I also sell real estate part time, which I started doing last year to help make things work; it hasn't helped. In fact, it has moved me to desperation, because you are out all kinds of expenses waiting for deals to close.
My husband, who is not filing, is on social security and is retired.
Our combined income is about $3,600 a month. Expenses are more than that.
He also brought up the part about my husband not filing, and that the trustee was going to look harder at that.
The only peep I've had from the trustee is that I need to bring the deed of trust, my car and truck titles, my TIAA-Cref pension, and personal property and property tax statements for the last year.
I gather it was a form letter.
Anyway, after our discussion, he said he would look at the fees again and get back with me.
I told him I saw what others were paying on Pacer. I told him that should this become complicated, I was willing to pay more.
I think he had me in some "rich *****" category.
Most of his clients are rather low-heeled. I should have chosen another lawyer. I really should have.
I chose him after going online and checking with FindLaw, where he is advertised. He was the only one in our area on that site, I believe. Now I know several lawyers in the area who do bankruptcies; I could have even chosen this guy who is my trustee, if I had known.
His office is small and seedy, he has no decor to speak of. His personal space is littered with various files and stuff, and he has the smallest conference room I've ever seen.
I'll bet he hangs around bars after work. He looks like one who would. Why didn't I ask around???
I'm starting to get really nervous.
So I called him today and I told him I would like to revisit the fee.
He said my case was more complicated. I asked him in what way. He said it was because i was a "high income filer." I am not a high income filer. I work as a University instructor and I make about $30,000 a year. I also sell real estate part time, which I started doing last year to help make things work; it hasn't helped. In fact, it has moved me to desperation, because you are out all kinds of expenses waiting for deals to close.
My husband, who is not filing, is on social security and is retired.
Our combined income is about $3,600 a month. Expenses are more than that.
He also brought up the part about my husband not filing, and that the trustee was going to look harder at that.
The only peep I've had from the trustee is that I need to bring the deed of trust, my car and truck titles, my TIAA-Cref pension, and personal property and property tax statements for the last year.
I gather it was a form letter.
Anyway, after our discussion, he said he would look at the fees again and get back with me.
I told him I saw what others were paying on Pacer. I told him that should this become complicated, I was willing to pay more.
I think he had me in some "rich *****" category.
Most of his clients are rather low-heeled. I should have chosen another lawyer. I really should have.
I chose him after going online and checking with FindLaw, where he is advertised. He was the only one in our area on that site, I believe. Now I know several lawyers in the area who do bankruptcies; I could have even chosen this guy who is my trustee, if I had known.
His office is small and seedy, he has no decor to speak of. His personal space is littered with various files and stuff, and he has the smallest conference room I've ever seen.
I'll bet he hangs around bars after work. He looks like one who would. Why didn't I ask around???
I'm starting to get really nervous.
Comment