If you think you need a lawyer to help with your student loan troubles, slow down. Most repayment problems can be solved without a lawyer. A lawyer may tell you they can teach you about repayment options, help you lower or postpone your payments, reduce your interest rates, or get your loans forgiven. But consumer-friendly, no-cost resources exist to help you with all of these tasks and more.
Repayment problems. If you’re having trouble paying your loans or have questions about their terms, you should first contact your loan servicer. Federal loan servicers are supposed to help you determine the best way to pay your loans, including educating you about the different ways to pay or postpone them. The U.S. Department of Education website offers a wealth of information about handling student loan debt. Also, see our top tips for dealing with your student loans.
Disputes with a loan servicer. If you run into difficulties with a loan servicer, you may be able to get help without calling a lawyer. Many free student loan ombudsman programs are available to help you resolve conflicts. For details, see How to Get Help With Student Loan Problems.
In most cases, consulting a lawyer should be your last resort. But there are a few situations in which a lawyer may be your best ally. For example, a lawyer may be able to help you:
- stop abusive or harassing student loan collection tactics
- defend yourself in a lawsuit if your lender or the government sues you
- bring a lawsuit against a lender, servicer, or debt collector who breaks the law, or
- discharge your student loans in bankruptcy (a rare but not always impossible solution).
In Oklahoma, you have a number of options for finding a good lawyer. The best way is always word of mouth, so first consider asking people you know. Friends, family, a financial adviser, or even another lawyer may be able to point you in the direction of a consumer or bankruptcy attorney who can help you with your student loan problems.
If personal referrals don’t pan out, consider these options:
- visit OKLaw.org to search for lower cost legal help
- look for local legal assistance programs on the website of the Legal Services Corporation
- search for a local attorney on the National Association of Consumer Advocates (NACA) website
- search for a local attorney on the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) website, or
- contact your local court clerk and ask if they provide referrals to legal services programs in Okmulgee County.
No matter what method you use to get a referral, it's wise to ask questions of a lawyer before you agree to work together. Find out whether the lawyer has experience helping people with student loan problems and ask how long they've been in practice. (If you want to try discharging your student loans in bankruptcy, make sure the lawyer understands that process. If the lawyer tells you student loans can never be wiped out in bankruptcy, you'll know that person doesn't have much experience with student loans.) Before signing a contract or paying a lawyer, be clear about what the lawyer will do for you and how much it will cost. You should feel comfortable with the person you've chosen to represent you.