Top Pittsburgh, PA Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyers Near You

Do You Qualify for Chapter 7 Personal Bankruptcy?

A Chapter 7 personal bankruptcy filing is also known as liquidation bankruptcy. The “means test” determines if you qualify by looking at your income and debt. Although Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges some of your debts, it doesn’t eliminate all debt. Contact a Pittsburgh attorney to determine if you are eligible for Chapter 7.

How to Prepare to Meet With Your Chapter 7 Personal Bankruptcy Attorney

Prior to meeting with your chapter 7 personal bankruptcy attorney, get all your paperwork, assets, debts, loans, financial statements and other necessary documents in order. Once all the necessary paperwork has been gathered, meet with an a Pittsburgh bankruptcy attorney to guide and advise you as to what best suits your particular situation.

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.

Top Questions to Ask a Lawyer

• What is the usual process to resolve my case? How long will it take to resolve this?
• What are likely outcomes of a case like mine? What should I expect?

An experienced lawyer should be able to communicate a basic “road map” on how to proceed. The lawyer should be able to walk you through the anticipated process, key considerations, and potential pitfalls to avoid. Once you’ve laid out the facts of your situation to the lawyer, he/she should be able to frame expectations and likely scenarios to help you understand your legal issue.

How much does it cost to hire an attorney?

In general, how much an attorney costs will often depend on these four factors: billing method and pricing structure, type of legal work performed, law firm prestige, and attorney experience. Depending on the legal issue you are facing, an attorney may bill you by the hour, settle on a flat fee, or enter into a contingency fee agreement. The type of legal work you need help with will also play a role in cost incurred.

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.