Depending on your situation as a business owner or consumer facing financial difficulties, you will want more information about filing bankruptcy and which chapter to file. Although many attorneys in general practice will help consumers file for bankruptcy, you should consider finding an attorney who practices only bankruptcy law.
Finding the best bankruptcy attorneys does not have to be difficult. You could use the usual method of asking friends and family members, but you have a number of other resources that are more reliable.
The bankruptcy court in your city or area is a great place to start. You can either call the clerk’s office or go there in person and ask for a list of bankruptcy practitioners or even for a personal recommendation. The clerks regularly review bankruptcy filings and know which attorneys are respected in their courts.
Each bankruptcy district has one or more trustees. You can find the trustee’s office phone number in any government listing or ask the clerk’s office for his or her number. The trustee’s office will provide you with the names of prominent bankruptcy attorneys whom you can contact.
Like other legal professionals, bankruptcy attorneys have their own professional associations in which many of the best bankruptcy attorneys will belong. These include the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and the American Bankruptcy Institute. If your city is large enough, it may have a local organization for bankruptcy attorneys. These organizations will provide you with names and contact information as well as the attorney’s own web sites for you to consider.
Finally, use your own CPA or financial consultant, if you have one, since these professionals often work with bankruptcy attorneys in more complex cases.
Learning more about finding the correct bankruptcy attorneys