Honest Fees for Honest Work

Most individuals are in a very serious financial state when they first consult with a bankruptcy attorney. Many bills may be unpaid and money is often extremely scarce. Fortunately, experienced bankruptcy attorneys are able to assess a potential client’s financial situation, and quote a reasonable fee for obtaining needed relief. In a Chapter 7 case, fees are paid up front. In a Chapter 13 case, the majority of attorney fees are included in the monthly plan payments.

A less experienced (or less scrupulous) attorney may sometimes be evasive when estimating fees in a bankruptcy case. While every case is different and poses unique challenges, an experienced attorney will identify issues, know the probable outcomes, and is able to place the case on a track that will quickly and efficiently speed it to a successful conclusion. In other words, an experienced and honest attorney should be able to give you a very good idea of the fees involved in your case before it is filed. In most cases, your attorney will charge a flat fee for his work. If your attorney seems unsure, hedges on his fees, or charges an unreasonable sum, it’s probably time to find another attorney.

Case in point: attorney Jason J. Mazzei is in hot water with a Pennsylvania bankruptcy court over attorney fees. Mazzei charged a client $8,200 and recommended that she file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Upon review of the case by the bankruptcy trustee it was discovered that the debtor only had $6,371 in debts.

Mazzei, who operates 23 offices around the state of Pennsylvania, agreed to refund the $8,200 to the client and pay an additional $14,582 to cover other costs in the case. The bankruptcy court has also appointed an expert “for the purpose of investigating the operations of Mazzei, and of his firm Mazzei and Associates, with respect to various matters of concern,” according to court records. Mazzei has agreed to pay the expert’s fees, which can go up to $40,000.

The moral of this story is simple: avoid a bad situation by employing a bankruptcy attorney who is both experienced and honest. Most bankruptcy attorneys are able to successfully represent you for a reasonable fee. If you sense that your attorney is either inexperienced or dishonest, find another attorney!

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