Top Piedmont, SD Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Lawyers Near You

Are You Thinking About Filing Chapter 11 Bankruptcy?

It is important that prior to filing for bankruptcy you consult with a skilled chapter 11 bankruptcy attorney who can help decide what type of bankruptcy is right for you. Furthermore, a Piedmont bankruptcy attorney can walk you through the process of filing chapter 11 bankruptcy.

What Happens During a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy?

During a chapter 11 bankruptcy, otherwise known as a “reorganization” bankruptcy, a debtor remains in control of its operations and is subject to the oversight and jurisdiction of the court. Chapter 11 allows the debtor to acquire new financing on favorable terms by giving new lenders first priority. Chapter 11 bankruptcy also allows debtors to be protected from litigation by putting it on hold. For more information on what happens during a chapter 11 bankruptcy and how bankruptcy can help you, contact a chapter 11 bankruptcy attorney today.

Top Questions to Ask When Hiring an Attorney

• How many years have you been practicing law? How long have you practiced law in the local area?
• How many cases similar to mine have you handled in the past?
• What is the likely outcome for my case?

In legal practice, experience matters. An experienced attorney will likely have handled issues similar to yours many, many times. Therefore, after listening to your situation, the attorney should have a reasonable idea of the time line for a case like yours and the likely resolution.

Tips on Approaching an Initial Attorney Consultation

• Use the consultation as a means of gaining a better understanding of your legal situation.
• Ask the attorney how many cases similar to yours he/she has handled. An attorney’s experience and knowledge can speak to their expertise (or lack of) in addressing your situation.
• Your attorney should be able to articulate roughly how long a case like yours will take to resolve and what sort of procedures to expect.
• Determine how comfortable you are working with the lawyer and/or law firm.

Types of legal fees:

Bill by the hour: Many attorneys bill by the hour. How much an attorney bills you per hour will vary based on a number of factors. For instance, an attorney’s hourly fee may fluctuate based on whether that hour is spent representing you in court or doing research on your case. Attorneys in one practice area may bill you more than attorneys in a different practice area.

Contingent fee: Some lawyers will accept payment via contingent fee. In this arrangement, the lawyer receives a percentage of the total monetary recovery if you win your lawsuit. In sum, the lawyer only gets paid if you win. Contingent fee agreements are limited to specific practice areas in civil law.

Flat fee: For “routine” legal work where the attorney generally knows the amount of time and resources necessary to complete the task, he/she may be willing to bill you a flat fee for services performed.

Common legal terms explained

Plaintiff – a person or party who brings a lawsuit against another person(s) or party/parties in a court of law. Private persons or parties can only file suit in civil court.

Judgment – A decision of the court. Also known as a decree or order. Judgments handed down by the court are usually binding on the parties before the court.