Attorney Retention Agreement Chapter 13 {LBF-3-A}

9 Mon t . LBF 3 - A. A T TOR N EY RETENTION AGR E E M E N T ( CHA P T E R 13). [M o n t . L B R s 2014 - 2 ( b ) a n d 2016 - 1 ( b )] M ONT A NA CHAP T ER 13 M ODEL R E T E N T I 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 13 De b to rs a n d T h e i r A tto r n e y s C h ap t er 13 g i v es de b t o rs i m p o r t a n t r i g h t s , s uch as t h e r i g h t t o keep p r o per t y t h at c o u l d ot h erw i s e b e l o s t t h r o ugh rep o ss e s s i o n o r f o rec l o s ure b ut C h ap t er 13 a l s o pu t s b urde n s o n de b t o 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 im p o r t a n t f o r de b to rs w h o f il e a C h ap t er 13 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 t o r n ey i s cruc i a l . De b to 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 t to 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 ili 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 t o 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 13 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 l l 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 to rs i n C h ap t er 13 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 t o 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. 2. Provide the attorney with full, accurate and timely information, financial and otherwise, including properly documented proof of income. 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. Personally 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 proce dures (as well as non - bankruptcy options) with the 3. Personally explain to the debtor that the attorney is being engaged to represent the debtor on all matters arising in this case; and explain how and when the att American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 10 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. Timely prepare, revise, finalize and bankruptcy case. 6. Carefully review with the debtor and sign, as appropriate, the completed petition, plan, stateme nts, and schedules, as well as all amendments thereto, whether filed with the petition or later. 7. Advise the debtor of the need to maintain appropriate 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. Make the required plan payments to the trustee and to whatever creditors are being paid directly, or, if required payments cannot be made, to notify the attorney immediately. 2. other required information. 3. Notify number. 4. 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. 5. 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). 6. Notify the attorney if the debtor is sued or wishes to file a lawsuit (including divorce). 7. Provide the attorney and the trustee with copies of income tax returns, and provide the the attorney if any tax refunds t o which the debtor is entitled are seized or not received when due from the IRS, the State of Montana, or other entities. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 11 8. Contact the attorney before buying, refinancing or selling any property, real or personal, and before entering into any loan agreement. 9. Cooperate with the attorney and the trustee in regard to questions about the allowance or disallowance of claims. 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 knowledgeable legal representation for the debtor at the 247 341(a) meeting of creditors and at any hearing, plan confirmation hearing, and/or plan modification 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 th e 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 represe nt the debtor. 5. Ensure timely submission to the trustee of properly documented proof of income for the debtor, including business books and records 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 respond to objections to plan confirmation and, where necessary, prepare, file, and serve an amended plan. 8. Timely prepare, file, and serve any necessary amended statements and schedules and any change of address, in accordance with information provided by the debtor. 9. 10. Prepare, file, and serve timely modi fications to the plan after confirmation, when necessary, including modifications to suspend, lower, or increase plan payments. 11. Prepare, file, and serve necessary motions to buy or sell property and to incur debt. American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com 12 12. Evaluate claims which are filed and, whe re appropriate, object to filed claims. 13. unfeasibility, and to motions to increase the payments into the plan. 14. Timely respond to motions for relief from stay or va luation of property. 15. Attend any hearings concerning relief from the automatic stay or valuation of property, or 16. Prepare, file, and serve all appropriate motions to avoid liens, if not included in the plan. 17. Provide any other legal services necessary for the administration of this case before the Bankruptcy Court, and to ensure the debtor receives a discharge. 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 13 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 t t 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 to r n ey w il l b e pa i d a f ee n o t t o e x ce e d $3 , 500 . 00; a n d t h e a t to r n ey m ay rece i v e r e i m b urse m e n t f o r t h e pa ym e n t o f c o s t s i n an a m o u n t n o t t o e x ce e d $500 . 00, i n c l u s i v e o f t h e f ee pa i d t o t h e C l erk o f t h e C o urt t o f i l e t h e de b to pe t i t i o n . T h e a t to r n ey m ay app l y t o t h e c o urt f o r add i t i o n al c o m pe n s a t i o n . An y s uch app l i ca t i o n m u s t b e ac c o m pa n i ed b y an a f f i da v i t o f t h e a t to r n e y , a n d i n c l ude an i t e m i za t i o n o f t h e ser v i ces re n dered, s h o w i n g t h e da t e, t h e t im e e x pe n ded, t h e i de n t i t y o f t h