Looking for an attorney can be an incredibly stressful time – especially if it is a bankruptcy attorney. When people look for a divorce attorney, or a real estate attorney, they normally ask people they trust for a recommendation. With the embarrassment most people feel about needing to consult with a bankruptcy lawyer, they often turn to Google and type in “bankruptcy attorney near me” to begin their search. There are a few problems with this approach.
Find the Right Lawyer
Doing a Google search for “bankruptcy attorney near me” will limit your ability to find the right bankruptcy attorney for you. Maybe the closest bankruptcy attorney near you would suffice. Chances are he or she will not. Further, chances are you found that lawyer first because he paid for a Google ad. I suggest you learn about the lawyer. Visit the lawyer’s website. What is the level of experience? Search client reviews and testimonials. Ask around. Lastly, like in all walks of life, there are shady lawyers out there. In Florida, you can check if lawyers have any ethical issues.
Scammers Show Up in Searches
You often will get inadequate and inaccurate search results if you just rely on Google. The first thing you will see are paid advertisements. Next, you will see directory listings. The attorney generally pays for these listings. What this means is that the search results will provide what is best for the lawyer and for Google. This may not be what is best for you. Also, you may get results that are not even lawyers. You may see listings for so called “credit repair companies” and debt consolidation outfits. Many of these businesses are scams. They will not work in your best interests.
Do Your Homework
So, if you need a bankruptcy lawyer, do a little research. Think about what questions you have and if the attorney answers them on her website. Simply searching “bankruptcy attorney near me” may not get you to the right place. And honestly, more than 95% of your bankruptcy case work is normally done by phone, email and virtual meetings, so when picking the best bankruptcy lawyer and bankruptcy law firm for yourself, don’t limit your choices by just searching for a bankruptcy lawyer near you.
Please call me with any questions about this blog or if you have other financial difficulties.
