If you are thinking about filing bankruptcy and looking for a local Fort Myers bankruptcy attorney the first step to choosing a bankruptcy attorney is finding a reputable and knowledgeable bankruptcy lawyer. A bankruptcy attorney with experience can guide you in the right direction and will talk about all options to resolve your financial problems. But how do you find a bankruptcy lawyer you can trust to handle your case?
Choosing a Bankruptcy Attorney
Who is Right for You
There is so much information available on the Internet that you can use to help choose a bankruptcy lawyer. You must, however, look for information that you can trust and is from a reputable source. Here are some suggestions to guide you when you are choosing a bankruptcy attorney in Fort Myers and Southwest Florida.
1. Is the bankruptcy attorney a member of associations and organizations with a focus on bankruptcy? – A good indication that a bankruptcy lawyer is keeping up to date about bankruptcy issues is his or her membership in organizations that are focused on bankruptcy. The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) provide members with bankruptcy resources, sponsor seminars and provide a network for members to exchange ideas and information. At Bankruptcy Bodyguard we are members of NACBA and ABI as well as the Southwest Florida Bankruptcy Professionals Association. Bob Tardif is a former president of the SFBPA.
2. How is the bankruptcy lawyer perceived within the legal community? – When you are choosing a bankruptcy attorney you certainly want to know how an attorney is perceived in the legal community. The Florida Bar provides information the 10-year disciplinary record for all attorneys. The attorney’s profile will show how long each attorney has been admitted, where the attorney attended law school and what courts the attorney is admitted to practice before.
You can also search for an attorney’s ratings from legal sites and reviews from past clients. Martindale.com has compiled attorneys’ peer review ratings for many years. You can search an attorney by name to determine whether the attorney has obtained a rating. In addition Avvo provides ratings of attorneys by field of practice.
At Bankruptcy Bodyguard we provide experience needed to assist you. Bob Tardif is BV® Distinguished™ rated by Martindale with a peer rating of 4.3 out of 5.0. In addition, he has obtained the top rating of 10.0 from Avvo.
Don’t Select An Attorney by Cost Alone
Choosing a bankruptcy attorney in Fort Myers, Florida, that is right for you can make a huge difference in how your bankruptcy case is handled and your overall experience in bankruptcy. An attorney with the right background and knowledge can answer your questions and guide you through the process. Choosing an inexperienced attorney may cause more harm to your situation.
Choosing a bankruptcy attorney only on what the attorney charges in attorneys fees can be a costly mistake. Make sure you factor in their experience and reputation in making your selection of a bankruptcy lawyer. As is often the case in other areas, sometimes you get what you pay for. Most bankruptcy attorneys in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida charge a flat fee within a particular range. If your proposed attorney is offering a lower than normal rate for your geographical area, you may want to do you due diligence.
