To avoid a house foreclosure the owner of a house must take certain actions governed by state foreclosure laws. Many of these laws are procedural and if followed properly can help a person avoid house foreclosure. The foreclosure process can be lengthy. Many times, a foreclosure is started by a bank, but then a successful negotiation takes place in which the owner of a house can avoid some of the damages or other financial distress relating to the foreclosure. A qualified attorney can provide very practical assistance to a person seeking to avoid house foreclosure, both by negotiating with the bank and by extending the process by understanding the law and procedure.