Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bankruptcy Right for Me?
The answer to this depends entirely on the circumstances of your case. Bankruptcy can offer powerful protection to distressed businesses. However, sometimes bankruptcy is not the right option. Our firm offers flat-fee consultations during which our attorneys will provide an initial assessment of your options based on your situation and, in some cases, will be able to determine whether or not filing a bankruptcy case is the right move.
Does Scott Law Group offer free consultations?
No, we do not but we do offer “flat-fee initial consultations,” which consists of an hour of preliminary research and up to 1.5 hours of consultation for less than half of our regular hourly rates.
Does Scott Law Group handle consumer bankruptcy cases? What is the difference in a business and a consumer bankruptcy case?
No, we do not handle consumer bankruptcy cases which are subject to certain rules governing “debt relief agencies.” However, if more than 50% of your debt was incurred for a business (or as part of a family farming enterprise), then we may be able to assist you. For businesses and farms, we can evaluate whether you have the option to file a Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, or Chapter 13 case, each of which has different requirements, costs, and obligations.
Does Scott Law Group take cases on contingency?
We do not ordinarily take cases on contingency. However, we do offer flat-fee bankruptcy options and we have worked with clients over the years on alternate arrangements when the mix of our current caseload permits. Otherwise, we generally charge hourly rates with an up-front retainer to be determined as part of our initial consultation with you.
What do I need to bring to an initial consultation (or to send to you beforehand)?
For debtors and creditors, we will ask for documents related to what caused you to come see us – maybe you received a bankruptcy or foreclosure notice. You will want to send us the documents associated with that event ahead of time. For debtors, you will want to have a list of your assets and your outstanding debts (creditor names and amounts) as well as information on your income and expenses. We may ask you for information that will allow us to look up case information online (through court databases or other online information to which we have access). Before the initial consultation, we will review documents and/or conduct preliminary research (up to 1 hour total) so that we can provide a preliminary analysis of your options and costs.