How to Pay for a Lawyer

How to Pay for a Lawyer

Whether you need to file bankruptcy or you have another pressing legal matter which requires you to hire an attorney, it can be hard to come up with needed funds. If you're filing bankruptcy, you likely don't have any money, and the stress you are under no doubt makes it tough to think of ways that you can pay for your lawyer. If you need the services of a bankruptcy attorney or any other type of lawyer, and you are hard pressed for cash, the following tips may help.

1. Reduce your everyday expenses. Use coupons when buying groceries, stop eating out, and start brewing coffee at home. Look for cheaper car insurance, and carpool to work. No corner is too small to cut when it comes to saving money, and you can find all sorts of ways to do it once you put your mind to it. It helps to think of budget tightening as temporary. Remember that you can start treating yourself to little luxuries again after you get back on your feet.

2. Use gift money. Sure, you'd like to put the money that Aunt Ida gave you towards something fun like a vacation to Disneyworld or a diamond collar for Fido, but it is best earmarked for helping to pay your lawyer. There will be other trips to take and other opportunities to pamper your pooch. Now is the time to take care of you.

3. Do your taxes as soon as possible, and use the refund to retain your attorney. Put aside what you thought you were going to do with the money, and get legal help instead. You'll be better off in the long run.

4. Get a second job. Ouch, I know, but this job doesn't have to be permanent. It only needs to last as long as it will take to save up the money for a bankruptcy attorney. Just think, after your bankruptcy is discharged, you will likely be in better financial shape, making a second job unnecessary.

5. Rent out a room in your home. I don't blame you if you don't want a roommate, but this can be temporary too, but the goal is to get money coming in as soon as you can. The sacrifices that you make now will pay off big time in the future.

Those are just a few tips on how to pay for a lawyer that you may find of use. Remember that it's never a good idea to borrow money to pay for an attorney, and that goes double if you're looking for a bankruptcy attorney. Also, many attorneys will give you a free consultation, so make sure you take advantage of this to get a better grasp of your situation. If you need more information about choosing a bankruptcy attorney, see my bankruptcy lawyer tips.

Drop me a comment if you've got something to say. I wish you the freshest of starts. 

ep

 

 

 

California Bankruptcy Exemptions 2013

California bankruptcy exemptions increased on January 1st thanks to California Assembly Bill 929. The following reflects new amounts included in system two :

Homestead:  $24,060

Motor Vehicles: $4,800

Household Items: $600

Wildcard: $1,280

Tools of Trade:  $7,175

Life Insurance: $12,860

Personal Injury: $24,060

I am pleased to see the Tools of the Trade increase is a healthy one. (it was $2,200) There were some changes to system one as well. Be sure and discuss this with your lawyer to determine which system is right for you. If you're still looking for legal representation, check out my tips for finding a bankruptcy attorney.

For those of you who are planning your 2013 bankruptcy later this year:  know that federal and California bankruptcy exemptions will be going up again, but not until April. So, if you're looking for further California bankruptcy exemptions amounts (2013), I will post them here once they become available.

For comparison purposes, here are the last year's California bankruptcy exemptions.

Hope this helps you with your planning, whether your choose these exemptions or go with the federal ones.

Best of luck and a fresh start to all in 2013. Everyone have a safe and happy New Year!

ep

New Years Resolutions 2013

New Year's Resolutions 2013

As 2013 draws to a close, the air is thick with year-end vows to lose weight, quit smoking, and get a better job. Other popular 2013 New Year's Resolutions include drinking less, recycling more, and becoming physically fit through exercise, a healthier diet, or both. These are all admirable goals, but most people won't meet them. So, why make a wish list for the New Year that you probably won't fulfill? 

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions. In my experience, they can do more harm than good by the time February rolls around and not a single one of them has been kept. Failure to accomplish your goals coupled with the extra burden just put on yourself after a stressful holiday season can leave you feeling disappointed, inadequate, and more stressed than ever. (Avoiding stress, by the way, is also a popular New Year's resolution - do you see the irony in that?)

But, how are you going to reach your goals, if not through an annual commitment to change? Well, I propose making life resolutions instead of yearly ones. With life resolutions, your goals become easier to achieve, not only because they will always be on your mind, but also because you have given yourself some leeway in reaching them. Rather than having a month or so to prove yourself to yourself, you've got the rest of your life to get it right. Break down larger goals into smaller ones, and celebrate each step forward. This will allow you to gradually and successfully lose weight, wean yourself off of smoking, or start exploring better job opportunities.

Oh, and don't forget to include getting out of debt in your life resolutions, whether that means bankruptcy or not. If you're still in a position where you are able to, start chipping away at that debt or learn about your debt relief options. Even if you aren't going to file bankruptcy, it is a good idea for you to get a free consultation with an attorney, who can help you get a better picture of your financial situation. If you don't know how to go about this, read my tips for choosing the right bankruptcy attorney.

The life resolution I am making is to post more to this blog. Like the debtor who can still afford it, I am going to chip away at my blog. I make myself no promises as far as the timeline. I am not going to guarantee myself that I'll make 15 posts a month. That way, when I make ten posts a month, I'll be free to celebrate the increase of my writings rather than cry over the five that got away.

As you ponder your New Year's Resolutions in 2013, don't be so hard on yourself. You can accomplish your goals…just maybe not all of them in the month of January.

Wishing you a fresh start (whatever that may mean for you) in 2013,

ep