Back from first consultation...

[JEM]

Consultation with attorney #2 today.

I liked him. It was very different than attorney #1 though. How much do you take into consideration things like the "fanciness" of the office? Attorney #1 had a very "attorney-ish" office--very nice. Attorney #2 (today) had a very BASIC office. Are these things indicative of anything? I'm leaning towards no...but.....

The attorney today gave me packets to look over for figuring income, assets, debts etc....

He also seemed to think we'd be an easy Ch. 7. He seemed to think (as the 1st attorney did) that being barely over the median shouldn't be an issue for us if we wanted to file right now. I'd rather wait it out, to be safe, and he said that was fine too.

One thing I noticed....that the more I research and know from reading here, how redundant the first part of the consults are. The explaining the different between a Ch. 7 and Ch. 13. The means test etc....

I understand that not everyone knows this stuff going in...but wow, I feel like they are spending half of the meeting telling me stuff I already know!!

This attorney is $2400. So $400 less than the first.

I really wouldn't think that it would cost so much for this area for Ch. 7's.

I will probably interview at LEAST 2 more, since I feel like we have some time.

[Shawshank]

I am using an attorney in Austin, and I'm paying $1900 for a Ch7.
I'm under median (unemployed) and surrendering my vehicle.
Pretty simple case since I sold my house earlier in the year, no reaffirmations, etc...
I figured I would pay around $1500, but I liked the attorney.
Will hopefully be filed this week or early next week.

If you interview 3-4 and they are close in price, just go with your gut feeling.
I look at it this way...what's the cost of attorney compared to amount of debt discharged?

[jlybean]

I am in MN and I am paying $2600 for a Chapter 7. The paralegal I had my consultation with seemed to think we would have an easy time of it being that we are a family of 6 living on on income and are well below the median. I went with the first attorney I had the consult with because they made me feel like I wasn't a loser for having to file and this attorney does only bankruptcy and has been doing it for a very long time. Plus I liked the fact the office was small. Maybe I should have interviewed more but the fact that I was comfortable with them and they seemed to know what they were doing plus the fact that I just really want to put this behind me as soon as possible helped make my decision. I too was shocked by the price but compared to our debt and just having a new start it is worth it.

[BKInLA]

Just OOC what are your BK stats (secured debt/unsecured debt/assets/income)? I'm starting to wonder if they base their rates on your info that you give them. Did they start off the bat with a set rate before you gave them any info about yourself?

Maybe they figure if you've got $50k in debt to wipe out and you're making decent money, charge you a higher fee than someone coming in with $15k in CC debt and only making half of the median. Just wondering...

[Overmihead]

Consultation with attorney #2 today.

This attorney is $2400. So $400 less than the first.

I really wouldn't think that it would cost so much for this area for Ch. 7's.

This sounds higher than what I was thinking for our area. Makes me wonder what we will be quoted, since we have the complication of part ownership of a small business. I talked to a BK atty on the phone on Monday. He was straightforward, easy to talk to....I got his VM when I first called and he returned my call within 30 minutes. He likes to work directly with his clients, which I appreciate. Gave us a list of what he would need to look at and we are getting that together before we schedule the free consult. I was thinking 3K would be the most, but I don't know...if you are being quoted 2,400 - 2,800! Keep us posted on who you pick, JEM!

[JEM]

This sounds higher than what I was thinking for our area. Makes me wonder what we will be quoted, since we have the complication of part ownership of a small business. I talked to a BK atty on the phone on Monday. He was straightforward, easy to talk to....I got his VM when I first called and he returned my call within 30 minutes. He likes to work directly with his clients, which I appreciate. Gave us a list of what he would need to look at and we are getting that together before we schedule the free consult. I was thinking 3K would be the most, but I don't know...if you are being quoted 2,400 - 2,800! Keep us posted on who you pick, JEM!

i'm definitely going to try to interview one or two more in the next week or two before I make a decision. I'm so afraid of picking the WRONG attorney.

I'll keep updating!

[SleeplessMI]

I'm paying $2,400 for a personal no asset Chapter 7 with four reaffirmations and two incorporated businesses to shut down and roll into the estate. I'd say I'm getting a bargain.

[munchkn813]

Glad your consultations are going well so far! I would keep meeting with more if you have the time. I met with one a month ago and heard good things and was going to settle and go with him but started to have doubts and was getting nervous again. So I called a couple others and set up appts. for next week and stopped again. Called back to on to ask another question and when I was looking at my list again I kept calling. 2 more didn't answer their phones (like the 3rd one that didn't a couple days before when I started calling again) so I was going to give one more a chnce (it was like 4:59 pm) and the actual lawyer himself answered and chatted with me for like 10 mins and was wonderful and I am so ecited and hopeful about him! I have a mtg. on Mon morning, Tuesday afternoon and Thurs morning. I m going to stop calling anymore for now until I meet with these 3 new ones, but am hoping the one on Thurs goes well!
Good luck and keep updating us!

[bkpain]

The atty. I'm leaning towards quoted $1350 inc. filing fee & class. I think he'll change his mind once he realizes just how much crap I have in my case. I'm waiting on Tax return and then having another consultation with him. The other one I spoke with said $2500 plus plus plus but I guess that's the difference in Metro area vs small town, high rise vs small office. Price was NOT the deciding factor in my choice but overall feel. When I call the office I get answers right then and speak to a real person with the larger office it was voicemail and calls return 2-3 days later and a bunch of calls where I knew more than the person I was talking with, Thanks to this forum and the internet!

[OhioFiler]

The atty. I'm leaning towards quoted $1350 inc. filing fee & class. I think he'll change his mind once he realizes just how much crap I have in my case. I'm waiting on Tax return and then having another consultation with him. The other one I spoke with said $2500 plus plus plus but I guess that's the difference in Metro area vs small town, high rise vs small office. Price was NOT the deciding factor in my choice but overall feel. When I call the office I get answers right then and speak to a real person with the larger office it was voicemail and calls return 2-3 days later and a bunch of calls where I knew more than the person I was talking with, Thanks to this forum and the internet!

I sure hope price was a deciding factor!

[JEM]

I figure I'd just keep updating this thread.

Consult #3 tomorrow morning.

I did ask what their fees are for Ch7 over the phone and they wouldn't tell me. Well, it's not that they *wouldn't* I guess, but I got the "Well, it depends on a few factors blah blah".

Is that typical?

*I* don't think we're a difficult case...no liens, no back taxes, no lawsuits, we should be a no asset, we're keeping the house and auto...but...

Anyway, we'll see how this one goes. I'd really like to find an attorney SOON so we can pay the retainer and get these phones calls to minimize.

[jdcat]

I think that is typical. I called the office of the attorney that we'll be hiring just yesterday to verify the amount for our filing and the secretary had to pull our file to get that info. So I do think it does depend upon each case individually.

[JEM]

I think that is typical. I called the office of the attorney that we'll be hiring just yesterday to verify the amount for our filing and the secretary had to pull our file to get that info. So I do think it does depend upon each case individually.

I guess that makes it even more frustrating! LOL.

If they are quoting me $2400-$2800 for what I perceive to be a fairly straightforward case...I can't imagine what they'd quote a a CH7 that was even more complicated.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

I guess that makes it even more frustrating! LOL.

If they are quoting me $2400-$2800 for what I perceive to be a fairly straightforward case...I can't imagine what they'd quote a a CH7 that was even more complicated.

I think if you know your case is pretty strait forward I would call and tell them you have met with 3 attorneys who say your case is strait forward and you need a quote from them so you don't waste their time or yours. See what they say.

[jdcat]

Yeah, that's sad. I don't know what people are supposed to do in a situation like that. Save, save, and save for months I guess.