At Bakke Norman, S.C., we have attorneys experienced in handling bankruptcy matters. We employ skilled legal assistants and paralegals to help you and your attorney with your file and to assure you of the best professional representation. You are encouraged to contact the legal assistant or paralegal regarding any questions about your case if the attorney is unavailable. A legal assistant or paralegal is not an attorney and is not permitted to give legal advice. However, the legal assistant or paralegal can answer many questions regarding your case. The legal assistant or paralegal will refer questions calling for legal advice to your attorney.
What Do Bankruptcy Attorneys Do?
Bankruptcy laws, like most other laws, are complex and detailed. Your attorney will advise you about the law and help prepare the documents necessary for your case. We will keep you informed about the status of your bankruptcy case and give you our advice regarding any options you have. Through careful planning concerning the content of your bankruptcy schedules and the timing of the filing, bankruptcy attorneys seek to maximize a bankruptcy filing’s benefits for their clients.
This booklet is designed to provide a very broad, general orientation to bankruptcy and is not intended to substitute for professional legal advice. Our bankruptcy clients’ financial affairs deserve careful analysis and professional attention–more attention than can be provided in this short booklet.
What Will It Cost?
We are committed to providing our clients with a clear understanding of their potential legal fees before beginning representation.
Bakke Norman, S.C. generally handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases on a flat fee basis. Chapter 7 fees are required to be paid in full prior to filing, and Chapter 13 fees may be paid as part of the Chapter 13 plan. The cost to file for bankruptcy can vary considerably depending on your circumstances, and fees are subject to change–to get a fee estimate, please call Bakke Norman.
Before beginning work on your file, we will enter into a fee agreement that will include specific information regarding the amount of our fees and scope of our services. In addition, a filing fee must be paid to the Court at the time of filing. Clients are also required to complete sessions for credit counseling and personal financial management. These fees are in addition to the legal fees charged by Bakke Norman, S.C.
Telephone Calls and E-mails
We welcome your telephone calls and e-mail messages with questions about your case or with new information that we need. When your attorney is in court or meeting with another client, your call might be referred to the legal assistant or paralegal assisting on your file. We will make every effort to respond to your inquiries promptly.