Law Offices of William C. Parks, PC
Boston Bankruptcy Attorney
Firm Overview
I primarily focus on consumer bankruptcy work and other debt-related matters, such as debt settlement. I deal with foreclosures through the bankruptcy part of my practice, but I do not do foreclosure defense in state courts. I occasionally accept other cases.
Example casesIn a typical bankruptcy, my client has thirty thousand dollars or more of unsecured debt and has been sued at least once. They have reached a breaking point where they cannot make payments any more, or are facing a major pending disaster like repossession, wage garnishment, or foreclosure. They may have child support or alimony obligations that they must meet, but cannot meet unless they get rid of other debts. These are the kind of problems that bankruptcy can solve.
Downtown Boston
77 Franklin St., 3rd Floor
Boston
MA
02110
- (617) 523-0712
- (617) 224-4310
Fees
I give free initial consultations over the phone to help you understand your legal options and make sure I am the lawyer you want to handle your case. I want to hear your story and help you explore possible solutions. I also want you to have the information you need about what the law offers you and what I can do to help you. There are limits to this; I am glad to discuss the benefits and risks of different strategies and give general guidance about what you might do, but I cannot give true 'legal advice' until you are my client.
When you meet me in person, I charge a consultation fee. In most matters, our initial meeting lasts from about an hour to an hour and a half, and my consultation fee is $100. I try to limit in-person meetings only to those absolutely necessary, such as when there are papers for you to sign. Many clients only meet me in person once before going to court.
I use a fixed price for bankruptcy filings. Depending on the type of bankruptcy, you may have to pay the full fee up front, or you may be able to pay part of the fee up front, and then make payments for the rest. Either way, there is just one price that you know before the case starts. Unfortunately, you cannot pay for your bankruptcy with your credit card, but I can accept other means of payment.
I would love to just publish prices for various types of bankruptcy and be done with it, but not every case is the same. My fee varies from case to case. I need to know a few details about your situation before I can quote you a fee. Call my office for a free phone consultation. I will be able to tell you my fee for your case as part of the consultation, so you can shop around if you want.
Sometimes I use contingency fees. That means you pay based on the result I achieve for you. These are appropriate in debt settlement cases. In these cases I am negotiating a settlement for you, and am paid according to a clear formula based to the amount I save you.
If we agree that an hourly rate is appropriate for your matter, I will accept a retainer and bill from it at the rate of $200 per hour.
Office Information
My main office is open 8:30am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday, except Federal, State, and certain Suffolk County holidays. This is the best time to call. If I am not available to take your call, please leave a message. If the line is busy, please try calling again.
The most popular appointment times for my downtown Boston location are 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. If you are driving into Boston, these are the best times to avoid the traffic getting in and out. It may be easier for you to meet with me at one of my satellite locations; hours for these vary depending on where I am scheduled to be on any given day.
If you cannot miss work or have limited mobility, I may be able to meet you at a time other than normal working hours or at a different place than my usual locations. Ask about special appointments.
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How did your firm decide on the primary area of practice(s)?
In this area, I feel I am making a positive impact on people's lives. I can offer you a real solution to many problems that may seem impossible. I have watched my clients transform as they go through the process and get their lives back on track. Over time, they realize their problems are coming to an end. They change; they look a lot better. Their stress goes down as a result of my work.
What is your firm's point of view regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
It is very important to me that you understand what is happening in your case. I encourage you to educate yourself about legal issues, but would never force you to do your own research. If you, my client, have a question, I am here to answer it for you.
There are sensible ways to learn about the law as a layperson. There are many excellent books available on a variety of topics. These can help you find out what can be accomplished by the law, and also help you make better use of a lawyer's services. I recommend starting with a book, where someone has tried to boil down the topic to make it understandable.
There are also foolish ways to approach your research. Sometimes potential clients contact me after having written up something themselves. It often looks like a 'crazy quilt' of legal words, all thrown together out of context. I will not proofread garbage like that or 'make it legal.' I cannot help you damage your own case with incorrect information, and I do not have time to teach you how to be a lawyer.
Is your firm willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I am glad to look at anything you bring me, especially court forms you have filled out yourself. I am happy to help you fill out a form or tell you if you did it right, as long as that is a sensible way for me to help you in the context of your case.
Is your firm willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Sometimes, using my advice in the background of a case can be a good way to save money on legal fees. Particularly, if I do not have to go to court for you, I do not have to charge for that time. I am willing to do this in certain types of cases. In a debt collection case, for example, I could help you prepare your court documents and explain how to file them yourself. I would not advice anyone to try doing their own bankruptcy, and I will not coach you through that. Even the smallest bankruptcy is about 35 pages of technical paperwork.
William C. Parks,
I have been in solo practice since December 2010, and my firm has been incorporated since January 2011.
I am a by-the-book kind of guy. I like to have as much information as possible before I give advice. I like to head off potential issues before they become a problem. I like to get things right the first time. I would rather be sure about something than be fast about it. I am also focused on getting the job done; I am comfortable deciding something is good enough when it is good enough to work.
I am pretty low-key and direct with my clients. I prefer explanations be as clear and non-technical as possible.
I read a lot, and am typically working my way through three or more books at a time, during my commute or at home in the evenings.
- Bar Number:
Massachusetts , 2010
- New England Law I Boston
Juris Doctor , 2010
Boston, MA
- Oberlin College
B.A. , 2006
Oberlin, OH
Computer Science - Oberlin Conservatory of Music
B. Mus. , 2006
Oberlin, OH
Organ Performance
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