Attorney Retention Agreement (Chapter 7) {LBF-3}

5 Mon t . LBF 3. A T TOR N EY RETENTION AGR E E M E N T ( CHA P T E R 7 ) . [M o n t . L BR 2014 - 2 ( a)] M ONT A NA CHAP T ER 7 M ODEL R E T E N TI ON AGR E E M E N T R i g h t s a n d R e s p o n s i b i li t i es A gree m e n t B e t we e n C h ap t er 7 De b to rs a n d T h e i r A tto r n e y s C h ap t er 7 g i v es de b t o rs i m p o r t a n t b e n e fi t s , s uch as t h e o pp o r t u n i t y t o o b t a i n a d i s c h arge o f m o s t de b t s b ut C h ap t er 7 a l s o pu t s b urde n s o n de b to rs, s uch as t h e b urden o f m ak i n g c o m p l e t e a n d t ru t h f ul d i s c l o s ures o f t h e i r f i n a n c i al s i t ua t i o n . It i s i m p o r t a n t f o r de b t o rs w h o f il e a C h ap t er 7 b a n krup t cy ca s e t o u n ders t a n d t h e i r r i g h t s a n d resp o n s i b ili t i es i n b a n krup t c y . In t h i s c o nn ec t i o n , t h e ad v i ce o f an a t to r n ey i s cruc i a l . De b t o rs a r e e n t i t l ed t o e x pect cer t a i n s er v i ces w i l l b e pe r f o r m ed b y t h e i r a tt o r n e y s , b ut de b to rs a l s o h a v e r e s p o n s i b i li t i es t o t h e i r a t to r n e y s . In o rder t o a s s ure t h at de b to rs a n d t h e i r a t to r n e y s u n ders t a n d t h e i r r i g h t s a n d resp o n s i b ili t i es i n t h e C h ap t er 7 pr o ce s s , t h e Ba n krup t cy C o urt f o r t h e D i s t r i ct o f M o n t a n a h as appr o v ed t h e f o ll o w i n g agree m e n t , s e t t i n g o ut t h e r i g h t s a n d resp o n s i b ili t i es o f b ot h de b t o rs i n C h ap t er 7 a n d t h e i r a t to r n e y s . By s i g n i n g t h i s agree m e n t , de b to rs a n d t h e i r a t to r n e y s ac c ept t h e s e r e s p o n s i b ili t i e s . I . B E F ORE THE CASE IS F I L E D A . T HE DEB T OR A G R EE S T O: 1. D i s cu s s w i t h t h e a t t o r n ey t h e de b to o b j ec t i v es i n f ili n g t h e ca s e. 2. P r o v i de t h e a t to r n ey w i t h f u ll , ac c ura t e a n d t im e l y i n f o r m a t i o n , f i n a n c i al a n d ot h erw i s e, i n c l ud i n g pr o per l y d o cu m e n t ed p r o o f o f i n c o m e. 3. Review and discuss LBF 33 with attorney, and begin compiling information and documents that are to be delivered to the Trustee prior to any 247341(a) Meeting of Creditors. B. T HE A TT O R NEY A G R EE S T O: 1. in filing the case, and recommend a solution. 2. Personally counsel the debtor regarding the advisability of filing either a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13 case, discuss both procedures (as well as non - bankruptcy options) with the 3. Personally explain to the debtor that the att orney is being engaged to represent the debtor American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 6 4. Obtain a credit report pertaining to the debtor, and check the national PACER database to confirm whether the debtor has previously filed a bankruptcy case. 5. bankruptcy case. 6. Carefully review with the debtor and sign, as appropriate, the completed petition, statements, and schedules, as well as all amendments thereto, whether filed with the petition or later. 7. Advise the debtor of the need to maintain appropri ate insurance. 8. Advise the debtor of the need to file all appropriate income and other tax returns. 9. Advise the debtor as to the steps necessary to obtain a discharge. I I . A F T E R THE CASE I S F I L E D A . T HE DEB T OR A G R EE S T O: 1. Appear at the meeting of other required information. 2. ress or telephone number. 3. Inform the attorney of any wage garnishment, levies, liens or repossessions of or on assets that occur or continue after the filing of the case. 4. Contact the attorney immediately if the debtor loses employment, has a significant change in income, or experiences any other significant change in financial situation (such as serious illness, lottery winnings, or an inheritance). 5. Notify the attorney if the debtor is sued or wishes to file a lawsuit (including divorce). 6. Provide the a ttorney and the trustee with copies of income tax returns, and provide the the attorney if any tax refunds to which the debtor is entitled are seized or not received whe n due from the IRS, the State of Montana, or other entities. 7. Cooperate with the attorney and the trustee in regard to questions about the allowance or disallowance of claims. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 7 B. T HE A TT O R NEY A G R EE S T O: 1. Advise the debtor of the requirement to attend the meeting of creditors, and notify the debtor of the date, time, and place of that meeting. 2. Inform the debtor that the debtor must be punctual and, in the case of a joint filing, that both spouses must appear at the same meeting. 3. Appear and provide knowle dgeable legal representation for the debtor at the 247 341(a) meeting of creditors and at any hearing. 4. If the attorney finds it necessary for another attorney to appear and attend the 247 341(a) meeting or any court hearing, personally explain to the debtor, in advance, the role and - counsel; and provide the other attorney with the file in sufficient time to review it, meet with the debtor, and properly represent the deb tor. 5. Ensure timely submission to the trustee of properly documented proof of income for the debtor, including business books, records, or reports for self - employed debtors. 6. Initiate and respond to all routine correspondence and calls to and from the trustee, the United States Trustee, and/or creditors necessary to the timely administration of the 7. Timely prepare, file, and serve any necessary amended statements and schedules and any change of address, in accordance with information prov ided by the debtor. 8. 9. Evaluate claims which are filed and, where appropriate, notify the trustee of objectionable claims. 10. Timely respond to motions for relief from stay or valuation of property, or objections to 11. Attend any hearings concerning relief from the automatic stay or valuation of property, or 12. Prepare, file, and serve all appropriate motions to avoid liens. 13. Represent the debtor in any adversary proceedings, unless otherwise authorized by the Court. 14. Provide any other legal services necessary for the administration of this case before the Bankruptcy Court, and to ensure th at the debtor receives a discharge. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 8 A L L O W A N C E A ND P A Y M E NT OF A TT O R NEY S F E E S An y a tt o r n ey re t a i n ed t o rep r e s e n t a de b to r i n a C h ap t er 7 ca s e i s resp o n s i b l e f o r rep r e s e n t i n g t h e de b t o r o n a l l m a tt ers ar i s i n g i n t h e ca s e, u n l e s s ot h erw i s e o rde r ed b y t h e c o ur t . F o r s uch s er v i ce s , as s et f o r t h a b o v e, t h e a t t o r n ey w i l l b e pa i d a f ee n o t t o e x ce e d $ (e x c l u s i v e o f c o s t s a n d c o urt f ili n g f ee s , w h i ch s h a l l n o t e x ce e d $ ). In e x t ra o rd i n ary c i rcu m s t a n ce s , t h e a t to r n ey m ay reque s t add i t i o n al c o m pe n s a t i o n . T h e de b to r i s h ere b y i n f o r m ed t h a t , i n t h e e v e n t o f s uch a r eque s t , f ees s h a l l b e ca l cu l a t ed o r c l a im ed at t h e f o ll o w i n g h o ur l y ra t e: $ per h o ur. T h e de b to r agrees t o pay t h e a t t o r n ey a r e t a i n er i n t h e a m o u n t o f $ b e f o re t h e f ili n g o f t h e ca s e. If t h e de b to r d i s pu t es t h e su f f i c i e n cy o r qua l i t y o f t h e l egal s er v i ces pr o v i ded o r t h e a m o u n t o f t h e f ees c h arged b y t h e a t t o r n e y , i n c l ud i n g t h e f ees o r e x pe n s es c h arged, t h e de b to r m ay f il e a m ot i o n w i t h t h e Ba n krup t cy C o urt reque s t i n g t h e C o urt t o e x a mi n e t h e r ea s o n a b l e n e s s o f t h e f ees a n d c o s t s , a n d reque s t a h ear i n g. If t h e a t to r n ey b e l i e v es t h at t h e de b to r i s n o t c o m p l y i n g w i t h t h e de b to resp o n s i b i li t i es u n der t h i s agree m e n t o r i s ot h erw i s e n o t e n gag i n g i n pr o per c o n duc t , t h e a t to r n ey m ay app l y f o r an o rder a l l o w i n