When you are sent to collections for an overdue bill, sometimes your world begins to unravel. If you don’t have the funds to pay the bill, you could have people contacting you multiple times a day, sending threats and harassing you overall. If you’ve found yourself in this situation, it may benefit you to hire a bankruptcy lawyer. Dealing with debt collectors can be stressful, but a lawyer can help.
How Bankruptcy Lawyers Deal With Debt Collectors
Some creditors become overeager to get their money back. While this may be understandable, that doesn’t mean they can harass you or break the law to get what they feel they deserve. A lawyer can help to protect you against these individuals. There will be a certain amount of paperwork that will need to be completed, and your lawyer can help you fill those forms out as well. If a creditor is calling your workplace, threatening a lawsuit or treating you unfairly in any way, your lawyer can help you get orders put in place for protection. If you end up going to court over the matter, your attorney can represent and defend you.
How Much It Costs to Hire an Attorney
Every bankruptcy lawyer charges differently than the next. If you’re wondering how much it will cost to hire an attorney, the best thing to do is consult with the attorney. One might charge an hourly rate, so the length of your case will determine the cost. Another might charge a flat rate for each debt collection case he or she handles. There’s also a chance your lawyer charges on a contingency fee basis, which means you won’t have to pay at all unless you win your case and receive a settlement, but this typically only applies to representing creditors, not debtors.
How Long a Case Could Take
Your case is going to be unique to your situation, so there’s no way to give an accurate time frame for it. If your case is quite complex, it could take up to a few years to settle the matter of your debts. If it’s a simple case with obvious evidence on one side or the other, you could settle the matter in a few weeks or months. After an initial consultation with your lawyer, he or she should be able to give you a tentative timeline.
Contacting Your Lawyer Today
If you have debt collectors breathing down your neck, you don’t have to handle them on your own. Contact a bankruptcy lawyer, today to learn what you can do.