Even Dracula would be embarrassed by the bloodthirst of some attorneys for people's money. Oftentimes these lawyers put money before people, and lives can be destroyed or seriously altered in this process. There are ways to avoid becoming a victim of their thirst, and to make sure that the foreclosure defense attorney of your choice is out for the bank's blood, not yours.
Hire the Right Person for the Job
If your house was flooded, you wouldn't call an electrician. If you had cataracts, you wouldn't call your general practitioner. It's a mystery why so many people hire lawyers who don't specialize in foreclosure defense to defend their homes from foreclosure. While many bloodthirsty "general practitioner" attorneys would have you believe that they have what it takes to save your home from foreclosure, foreclosure defense takes a specialist who is not only experienced in the art of foreclosure defense, but is actively working on current foreclosure defense cases. Don't worry, although the word "specialist" usually brings to mind expensive costs, that is not necessarily the case with these attorneys. Many foreclosure defense attorneys are sensitive to the needs of people in foreclosure, and have alternative fee structures that are designed to help those who are in financial trouble. Some foreclosure defense attorneys even offer loan modification as an ancillary service, which will help concerned homeowners kill two birds with one stone.
No Outcome Is Guaranteed
If a lawyer guarantees a "win" or a certain result on a case, then RUN! Bloodthirsty attorneys will often do this to goad unsuspecting people into signing up. The truth is that foreclosure defense is an involved process that involves plenty of negotiation with the bank's lawyers; no result is guaranteed. The only thing an attorney should guarantee is that they will do their utmost to save you and your home from the ravages of foreclosure.
High Fees Don't Mean Better Results
Just because an attorney or law firm charges a lot doesn't mean that they're the best. Those who charge high fees often promise outcomes like free homes, extremely quick results, or very high principal reductions in exchange for making you pay a exhorbitant rates. Once again, no outcome is guaranteed, and in the case of foreclosure defense, quantity paid does not equate to quality. Price doesn't make a good legal defense, good lawyers do.
Don't Be Lazy, Do Your Homework!
Few people would shop for a car- or even a phone- these days without reading reviews of the product first. This is why it's surprising that many people just pick the first foreclosure defense attorney they find without shopping around. Don't be lazy: before hiring a foreclosure attorney, familiarize yourself with the various kinds of foreclosure defense, so that you can understand the various options that will be presented to you. Also, take the time to research the various law firms that service your area. Services such as Trustlink or lawyers.com (a lawyer rating service created by Martindale, which is like BBB for lawyers) will provide your with valuable insight on which law firms you should and shouldn't consider hiring,
Communication and Understanding Is Key
Just as in any relationship, communication and understanding is key in a client-attorney relationship. Bloodthirsty attorneys will often neglect communication with their clients after they've signed up, and their clients often have no idea what direction their case is headed in. Before signing up, be sure to insist on an open, regular stream of communication between you and your law firm. Also be sure that you understand exactly what your attorney is doing for you, and that there is some kind of record of everything your attorney does for you. Depending on how your attorney gets paid, this could possibly save you loads of heartache and money in the future, and it also forces the attorney to be accountable for his or her actions.
With all the competition out there in the legal world, it's no surprise that some desperate lawyers resort to bloodthirsty tactics to convince people to hire them. With a little extra work, it will be easy to ensure that you aren't one of their helpless victims.
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