Russell, people come to me for a referral to an attorney when they have what they think might be a legal problem. I can ascertain very quickly whether they can actually be helped or not, based upon their own willingness to acknowledge the part they played in their problem and what they will have to do to lessen it or fix it.
Many times I am approached just to write a letter on a client’s behalf (to a creditor or government office, for example) that they will sign, or help them fill out forms they were sent in the mail.
If I can refer them to an attorney I work with, I will be able to get some or all of the work on their case out of that office. I am reluctant to do this, however, for folks that can’t be helped or refuse to change their ways, as it won’t help them. The attorney will just tell them the same thing in their initial consultation.
I’m also approached to fill out and file/serve court forms for pro per clients who sign them themselves and prepare and file recorded documents for people who give me the info with which to do so. I also draft and notarize documents for recording and other purposes.
The persons I referred to above don’t qualify to file for BK because of the one-year “look-back” period, where they may have taken out a “cash-out” refi, 2nd TD, HELOC or cash advance on their small bus. loan or CC WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, but didn’t pay off any existing debt with this $$ and now have none of it left (or are hiding $$, for a “rainy day”). Almost everyone I’ve come into contact with complaining of harassing creditors or collection agencies, etc, are NOT interested in filing a Chapter 13 (repayment-plan) BK, only a Chapter 7 (liquidation) :=[
If they can cut up their plastic and refrain from borrowing, some of these people may qualify to file for BK at some point in the future.
