Chad Van Horn | Fort Lauderdale Bankruptcy Lawyer

• Florida State Bar
• United States Supreme Court Bar
• Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida
• Legal Aid Service of Broward County
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida
• Solo and Small Firm Section of Broward Bar
• National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• Bankruptcy Bar Association
• United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
• United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

• South Florida's Top Rate Lawyers, Legal Leaders,
  2014
• Superstar Pro Bono Attorney, Legal Aid Service of Broward County, Inc,
  2014
• Super Lawyer Florida Rising Star, Super Lawyers Magazine,
  2013

The first case to come to mind is that of the Manfredizes, an organized and intelligent family who faced foreclosure and greater loan issues. Through no fault of their own, as they made regular and correct mortgage payments, they experienced the egregious mistakes of a servicer in handling their payments. Regardless of anything the family did, the servicer refused to acknowledge the mortgage payments, leaving the family constantly harassed by outsiders and in danger of foreclosure. After my group became involved, the servicer stopped its attempts at foreclosure. However, we refused to stop there; we are still filing counterclaims for damages incurred in fighting the wrongful actions of the servicer.

Three things greatly contributed to the success of our practice: integrity in how we handle our work and clients, diligence in our actions and responses, and flexibility in our method of attack. We value our clients above all else and seek first to aid them in any way we can. To claim we are a firm that cares, we must show integrity in how we communicate with our clients, fight for their cases, and work throughout the day. This, of course, merges with how thorough and meticulous we are when it comes to our work. As a firm focused on bankruptcy, we understand the need for precision and accuracy and we strive for that in our group. Lastly, we know our success is linked to the world around us - specifically, the way in which technology is progressing. Unlike other firms, we are not stubborn in our ways and are continuously evolving whether in our bookkeeping or practicing to be better representation for our clients.

Professionally speaking, it is most important for the client to know the attorney or group via word of mouth or referrals. While advertisements are much more visible, referrals ensure a more organic and wholesome experience. As a client, you are also able to request information on the lawyer's credential and track record; a good record is important when choosing a lawyer to represent you. I would argue that personality is also vitally important. Clients should seek a lawyer that is dependable, trustworthy, and amicable.

Legally, knowing the local knowledge is crucial to the success of our cases. In fact, both the attorneys and clients being aware of the general legalities that surround the case can make for a cleaner, faster case. Geographically, bankruptcy, student loan, and debt relief issues are intricate and often depend on both federal and state laws. Success, then, becomes nearly impossible without intimate knowledge of state and national regulations.

A free phone consultation, unlike a Q&A on some legal site, allows us to be more mindful to the details of a case. In a free phone consultation, we assess the client's issue, determine what our practice could do to rectify the issue, and either offer to take on the case or provide legal information with regards to the next steps. Ultimately, we want to provide the client with some clarity on his/her issue.

Before we provide a free phone consultation, we ask for general information about the person seeking counsel, contact information, and case information. Our phone consultations are 30 minutes, so it is in the person's best interest to prioritize issues if he/she has several.

We are ranked in the top tier of South Florida attorneys and Ft. Lauderdale bankruptcy lawyers. We have: a 9.6 Avvo rating 95 % customer satisfaction Over 1,000 cases under our belt since 2009 Avvo's Top Contributor award in 2013 Been peer review rated by LexisNexis AV Martindale-Hubbell. Beyond the achievements that showcase our legal expertise, we are also a group that strives to set ourselves apart by how we treat our clients. We are efficient, prudent, and always respect.

The most rewarding aspect of my job is to see the relief and joy in a client's face after we have completed his case. We work with bankruptcy, student loans, and debt - incredibly stressful financial issues that fester and embitter many people. To work with a client until the end, see her through the ups and down of a case, and ultimately watch her turn around what was a despondent situation is what makes me do this job every day.

I am a big fan of sports - basketball and baseball in particular. And I always root for Pittsburgh. Besides that, I enjoy wine, traveling, music, Will Smith movies, and my Vespa. I take the greatest joy in mentoring children, though, and I am very interested in education.

I am an active member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Broward County. I have been a member of their Board of Directors just shy of two years and have made sure to enlist the involvement of everyone in my group. Community involvement is something so integral to the core of what we do - helping people through complex struggles - that I would be remiss if I or my group were not contributing forces in Fort Lauderdale.