Hiring a debt collection attorney is an important decision for any business trying to collect on unpaid debts, unpaid accounts or other outstanding debts. Along with experience and qualifications, you should understand how a McKinney law firm approaches debt collection before you hire them. Learning more about how they communicate, manage cases and pursue outstanding debts can help you choose the best legal representation.
5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Debt Collection Attorney
A consultation serves as an opportunity for an attorney to learn about your case. However, it’s also your chance to learn about their experience and their approach to debt collection. Here are some important questions to ask a debt collection attorney before making your decision.
1. How Long Have You Been Practicing Debt Collection Law in Texas?
Knowing an attorney’s experience is one way to understand their familiarity with collection laws, such as the Texas Debt Collection Act, and state court procedures. If an attorney has been practicing debt collection law in Texas, their familiarity with local court procedures and practices will help cases move through the legal process more efficiently. At Lucé Law, PC we have over four decades of experience, and this translates into broad knowledge across many types of debt collection cases.
2. What Debt Collection Methods Do You Use Before Filing a Lawsuit?
Many debt collection cases begin with pre-litigation efforts before a lawsuit is considered. During this stage, your attorney should have a clear strategy for recovering the debt. After assessing your business’ situation, your attorney may recommend a series of steps, including demand letters, negotiation and payment plans. This type of process can often save creditors money by resolving the debt without the need for court involvement.
3. How Do You Evaluate Whether a Debt Is Worth Pursuing?
Unfortunately, some outstanding debt is not worth the time and cost to pursue. When hiring an attorney for debt collection services, they should offer an honest assessment based on the amount owed, the debtor’s ability to pay, and the available documentation. This question can show if a debt collection attorney will give practical advice based on the available information that could affect debt recovery, including Texas exemption laws that protect certain property and income from creditor seizure.
4. What Challenges Do You See With My Debt Collection Case?
Every debt collection case will have its own challenges that can affect debt recovery. An attorney who has reviewed your case closely may find potential challenges such as missing paperwork, disputed debts, or difficulty locating the debtor. When your attorney flags any challenges early-on, that’s a good sign they’ve worked to understand the specifics of your case.
5. What Are the Possible Outcomes of Debt Recovery?
Asking this question can provide a realistic range of possible outcomes based on the facts of your case. After reviewing your case your attorney can outline likely scenarios – a negotiated settlement or payment agreement, obtaining a judgment that could later prove difficult to collect, and so on. A debt collection and business law attorney will not be able to guarantee results, but they can set realistic expectations while explaining post-judgment collection, including liens, turnover orders and other available collection remedies.
Contact Our Debt Collection Law Firm in McKinney
Lucé Law, PC provides legal, strategic, procedural, negotiation and litigation services to help businesses recover outstanding debts successfully in North Texas. With decades of legal experience, our debt collection attorneys can help protect your financial interests. Call (972) 632-1300 or request a free legal consultation.
