Choose Your Bankruptcy Attorney Wisely

Best Bankruptcy Attorney In San Diego – Bankruptcy Lawyer

We have advised, on numerous occasions, that when contemplating filing bankruptcy in San Diego, it is better not to do it on your own. Hiring the best bankruptcy attorney in San Diego may be a little costly, but this cost could be the difference in your obtaining a full discharge and a reorganization of your debts and getting your bankruptcy dismissed. As a San Diego bankruptcy lawyer specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, I have seen many of my clients try to work on the preparation of their bankruptcy filing on their own, only to discover, after seeking counsel, that many things are wrong and could not be corrected. Many of my San Diego Chapter 13 bankruptcy clients are hesitant of lawyers and wait until the last minute to seek their advice. The debtor and bankruptcy lawyer should work together as a unit. Your bankruptcy lawyer was specifically hired to defend you and obtain for you the fresh start you deserve. Debtor-clients do not have to hide any information from their bankruptcy lawyers. There is what is known as the “lawyer-client” relationship where lawyers are forbidden from disclosing information obtained from their clients.

Choose your bankruptcy attorney wisely. San Diego Chapter 13 bankruptcy filings may take more time than you expected, and you, as the debtor-client, will spend a lot of time with the lawyer and his or her staff. Take the time to get to know your lawyer, and his staff as well. They will become your confidantes, if not your friends, in the several months that encompass your bankruptcy proceeding. I think it goes without saying your want the best bankruptcy attorney in San Diego without paying exorbitant fees.

How do you choose your bankruptcy lawyer? First, you look into their work history and credentials. You can look around the Internet. But here, you will run the risk of bloated advertisements and newbie lawyers who can afford a lot of advertising and outstanding PR relations. It is better to ask referrals from people you know who has successfully filed and emerged from similar Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. Word-of-mouth is still the best advertising an attorney could have.  Better yet, talk with the attorney face-to-face.

Second, arrange for a meeting with the attorney. Prepare the questions you want to ask the lawyer and ask those questions. Keep in mind you will disclose a lot of information about your life that you may not want to share with a lot of people, lest of all, a stranger. But remember that finding a good lawyer may be the only difference between a successful bankruptcy case and a failed one. Find a lawyer that you feel most comfortable with.

We pride ourselves on staying up-to-date with the ever-changing bankruptcy laws that will effect your case. The award-winning bankruptcy lawyers at The Law Office of Harold D. Thompson will help you maximize the laws to help financially-distressed individuals obtain a fresh start. Please call our office at 888.590.1773 for a free-no hassle consultation, download a copy of our free California Guide to Bankruptcy or find out how you can become a client right now.

Big Corporations Seek Chapter 11 Relief But So Can Individuals

San Diego Bankruptcy Attorney – Bankruptcy Lawyer In San Diego

Eastman Kodak is preparing to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In the past days, Hostess Brands filed a second bankruptcy petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. It is a common notion that only companies can seek protection under Chapter 11 and individuals only have two choices when thinking about filing bankruptcy in San Diego: reorganization under Chapter 13 or liquidation under Chapter 7.

As a bankruptcy lawyer in San Diego I want to let you know that individuals can file for Chapter 11 relief as well. Bankruptcy statutes, as of April 1, 2010, provide a limitation on the debtor’s debt for him to be eligible to file for Chapter 13 or for Chapter 11. As of April 1, 2010, the debt limit for individuals thinking about filing a Chapter 13 in San Diego or in other parts of California was raised to $360,475 of unsecured debt and $1,081,400 of secured debt. Congress has established regulations such that adjustments in the debt limit will happen every three years on the first day of April in the year of adjustment beginning April 1, 1998. Section 109(e) of the Bankruptcy Code prohibits use of Chapter 13 by individuals with debts that exceed the specified limits. In this case, when the debt limits exceed those set for a San Diego Chapter 13, the individual can file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11.

Filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief can be an extremely complicated process. It is important that hire a bankruptcy lawyer in San Diego that has the requisite experience.

Adjustments of various dollar amounts specified in the bankruptcy code are intended to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published by the Department of Labor, for the most recent 3-year period ending on December 31 of the prior year.

Bankruptcy filing and preparation for bankruptcy filing requires the assistance of an experienced San Diego bankruptcy attorney. The award-winning lawyers at The Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are some of the best in their field and will help clients and prospective clients from preparation to completion and beyond. Our San Diego bankruptcy lawyers what to help you get the fresh start you deserve. Please call our office at 888.590.1773 for a free-no hassle consultation, download a copy of our free California Guide to Bankruptcy or find out how you can become a client right now.

 

Mortgages, San Diego Foreclosures and Alternative Dispute Resolution

Bankruptcy Attorney In San Diego – Stop Foreclosure In San Diego

We all know that the real financial crisis was spawned by the real estate bubble and the subprime mortgage market. Ironically, many of the companies that started the mess sought the protection of the bankruptcy court when their business were no longer viable. That financial crisis did not just hit companies, it also affected individuals who bought into subprime mortgages in the hopes of finally having a house of their own. In this post we want to look at those individuals and how a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 could might help.

As a San Diego bankruptcy attorney specializing in Chapter 13 cases, I have seen many of my clients get stumped on what do when faced with a foreclosure by their bank. Many times this starts with a Notice of Default followed by a Notice of Sale. But, how do we stop a foreclosure in San Diego? These clients were ordinary hard-working people who got involved in a financial mess not by their own doing. This is not to say that some people didn’t made poor financial decisions but the lure of the “America Dream” was just too strong.

In years following the financial crisis, several bankruptcy courts around the country have created mediation programs that facilitate negotiations between struggling homeowners and servicers in order prevent foreclosures. The mediation programs have been heavily-criticized and opposed, especially by banking and mortgage industry groups. One of the criticisms against the program is, unlike mediation programs for personal injury, contract disputes, and divorces, the mortgage mediation program had “no teeth.” In other words, there was really no judicial support behind the program so there was no incentive for the parties to participate in good faith in order to resolve their problems.

The program had short-lived success. In April 2011, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill clarifying the authority of bankruptcy courts in running the mediation programs. Bankruptcy judges who support the program say the mediation programs represent the one and only time a San Diego Chapter 13 debtor can express himself and his problems without fear that his own words will be taken against him. Mediation can provide a Chapter 13 debtor with a forum to clarify issues and lay out possible modifications of their mortgage under their Chapter 13 reorganization plan. The program, though, is just so new lenders are not taking the mediations seriously and, therefore, they have done little to help stop foreclosures in San Diego.

When you are facing the prospect of a foreclosure in San Diego you way a team of bankruptcy attorneys that will fight for your rights and save your home. The award-winning lawyers at The Law Office of Harold D. Thompson are trained to utilize the best strategy to help financially-distressed individuals obtain a fresh start. Please call our office at 888.590.1773 for a free-no hassle consultation, download a copy of our free California Guide to Bankruptcy or find out how you can become a client right now. We promise, your expectations will be exceeded.

When Filing Bankruptcy To Stop A Wage Garnishment, Timing Is Everything

Stop Wage Garnishment In San Diego – San Diego Bankruptcy Lawyer Is a filing bankruptcy effective to stop a wage garnishment? As a San Diego bankruptcy lawyer specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, this is a question most of my clients ask whenever a creditor has successfully obtained a court judgment against them….

What If I Need To File Bankruptcy Again?

San Diego Chapter 7 Lawyer – San Diego Bankruptcy Attorney Bankruptcy laws and regulations are in place to provide good faith debtors a fresh financial start. But what happensif  after you got your bankruptcy discharge, you found yourself burdened with insurmountable debt again? The first question you would probably ask is: can I file for…

What Do You Need To Do To Prepare For A San Diego Bankruptcy?

San Diego Chapter 13 Lawyer – Chapter 13 In San Diego Deciding to file for bankruptcy, and actually filing one, is not the easiest decision to make in one’s lifetime. You need ample preparation both financially and mentally. Preparing to file for bankruptcy in San Diego is like preparing for a trip — you make…

Don’t Be Afraid Of Bankruptcy Filing

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What Can I Do With Student Loans In Bankruptcy?

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Don’t Get Ripped Off By Bankruptcy Form Preparers

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What Property Can I Keep In A San Diego Bankruptcy?

San Diego Chapter 7 Bankruptcy – San Diego Chapter 13 As a San Diego 7 bankruptcy lawyer, I know that most potential clients want to know what property, if any, they will be able to keep after filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. The answer to this question comes down to which “exemptions” apply…