Kain + Henehan with locations in St. Cloud and Mendota Heights serve the Twin Cities area. If you find yourself looking at a mounting pile of debt that you cannot possibly pay or have been harassed by creditors, you might be considering filing bankruptcy. Working with a kind and knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney like Bill Kain or Margaret Henehan can make all the difference. Together you and your attorney can come up with a plan can provide you with a tremendous amount of relief about your debt and a clear path forward to financial stability.
Here’s what to know and look for when hiring a bankruptcy attorney in the Twin Cities area.
Traits to Look for When Hiring a Bankruptcy Attorney
It’s important to find the right bankruptcy attorney to help you file legal paperwork and represent you in court. As you evaluate potential bankruptcy attorneys, here are some traits to look for:
Compassion
At Kain + Henehan, the number one trait we have and suggest people look for when hiring a bankruptcy attorney is compassion. No one gets into financial trouble because they want to and Bill Kain and Margaret Henehan know that. Usually an unforeseen series of circumstances lead concerns about meeting your financial obligations. A compassionate bankruptcy attorney should help you through the process with empathy and understanding.
Bankruptcy Expertise and Experience
You need to find a lawyer with bankruptcy expertise and experience. Another type of lawyer simply won’t have the hands-on background and knowledge needed to represent you in your bankruptcy filing in the most effective way.
Strong Communication Skills
It’s better to work with a bankruptcy attorney with great communication skills. In addition to speaking with you during your consultation and representing you to a judge in a courtroom, you’ll want them to keep you informed of the progress of your filing and be able to clearly explain anything related to bankruptcy that you want to know.
Solid Legal Advice
You rely on your attorney for legal advice. Any bankruptcy attorney that you hire should have a reputation for offering great legal advice to clients. You can review a potential bankruptcy attorney’s reputation on online review sites and by asking for referrals. Since you’ll make key decisions based on their advice, you want to make sure that it’s sound.
Attention to Detail
Bankruptcy filings require strict adherence to deadlines and paperwork. Therefore, you want to find a bankruptcy lawyer with strong attention to detail so that every form is filled out correctly by the right date. You don’t want your bankruptcy filing to be dismissed because your lawyer didn’t submit the paperwork correctly.
Providing Services Throughout the Twin Cities area including our locations in St. Cloud and Mendota Heights
Obviously obtaining an attorney that is convenient to your location makes it easier for you. Kain + Henehan have two locations but you do not have to constantly be at their offices. With good communication, clients are kept informed and consulted about their case and what is best for them in their unique situation.
What Do the Kain + Henehan Bankruptcy Attorneys Do?
Every bankruptcy filing is a little different, depending on the unique circumstances and families involved. At Kain + Henehan, we work consistently to provide the characteristics you want and need in a good bankruptcy attorney in Minnesota. There are some things that you can expect will happen when you hire a bankruptcy attorney. Your bankruptcy attorney should be able to help you through the following processes:
Counsel Clients Through Bankruptcy Processes
Bankruptcy laws are complex and can seem overwhelming. Your Twin Cities bankruptcy attorney should be able to counsel you throughout the bankruptcy process and explain each step to you in a way that’s easy to understand. In the event that bankruptcy wouldn’t be the right option for you, such as if you have mostly student loan debt, you need a lawyer that will counsel you.
Prepare and File Paperwork
There is a huge amount of legal paperwork that you must prepare and file when you file any type of bankruptcy, whether it’s Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Your bankruptcy lawyer should be able to manage most of the process of filing for bankruptcy, from letting you know what documents to gather to guiding you through filling out the right paperwork. at Kain + Henehan, we submit your paperwork to the courts. At this point, all of the protections of bankruptcy are in place.
Discharging the Debt
If you filed a Chapter 7, your debt will be discharged about 90 days after filing. If your case is a Chapter 13, your debt will be discharged in 3 to 5 years, according to the payment plan set in your case. At Kain + Henehan we have gotten the process of filing for bankruptcy to a 4 step process: a free 60-minute consultation, review and sign appointment, filing the case, and discharge.
Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney in St. Cloud or Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Finding a compassionate and experienced bankruptcy doesn’t need to be difficult or complicated. We are here to help you. Contact Kain + Henehan by calling (612) 438-8006 or filling out the online form.
