Bankruptcy & Debt Relief Lawyer

Chapter 7 provides a fresh start by eliminating qualifying unsecured debts such as credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. We guide clients through the means test, exemption planning, and the discharge process to achieve maximum debt relief while protecting essential assets.

The Chapter 7 process typically takes 3-6 months from filing to discharge. During this time, an automatic stay immediately halts all collection actions, including lawsuits, garnishments, and creditor calls. A court-appointed trustee reviews your assets, but most Chapter 7 filers keep all of their property through strategic use of exemptions.

Not all debts can be discharged in Chapter 7 — student loans, recent taxes, child support, and alimony are generally non-dischargeable. We evaluate your complete financial picture and advise you on which debts can be eliminated and whether Chapter 7 is the right option for your situation.

Chapter 13 allows you to reorganize your debts into a manageable 3-5 year repayment plan while keeping your property. This option is ideal for individuals with regular income who want to catch up on mortgage payments, car loans, or tax debts.

Unlike Chapter 7, Chapter 13 lets you keep all of your assets — including non-exempt property — as long as you commit to a court-approved repayment plan. Your plan payments are based on your disposable income, and at the end of the plan, remaining qualifying unsecured debts are discharged.

Chapter 13 is particularly powerful for homeowners facing foreclosure, as it allows you to cure mortgage arrears over the life of the plan while resuming regular payments. It can also be used to "cram down" certain secured debts to the value of the collateral, potentially saving you thousands of dollars.

If you are facing foreclosure, we can help you explore options including loan modification, forbearance agreements, Chapter 13 repayment plans, and other strategies to save your home or negotiate a favorable resolution.

Foreclosure is a complex process with strict timelines and procedural requirements. Lenders sometimes make errors in their documentation, fail to follow proper procedures, or lack standing to foreclose. We examine every aspect of your loan history and the foreclosure process to identify potential defenses.

Even when foreclosure cannot be prevented entirely, we may be able to negotiate alternatives such as a short sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure, or settlement that reduces your deficiency liability. Our goal is always to achieve the best possible outcome given your specific circumstances.

The automatic stay in bankruptcy immediately stops wage garnishments, creditor calls, lawsuits, and other collection actions. We help clients invoke this protection quickly and address any violations by creditors.

Creditors who violate the automatic stay can be held in contempt of court and required to pay damages, attorney fees, and sanctions. We aggressively pursue creditors who ignore the stay, ensuring our clients receive the full protection the law provides.

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) also provides protections against abusive collection tactics, even outside of bankruptcy. If you are being harassed by debt collectors through excessive calls, threats, or misrepresentations, we can help you assert your rights and potentially recover damages.

Not every situation requires bankruptcy. Our attorneys negotiate directly with creditors to reduce balances, lower interest rates, and create manageable payment plans. We explore all options to find the most effective path to debt relief.

Debt negotiation (also called debt settlement) involves reaching an agreement with creditors to accept less than the full balance owed. This can result in significant savings, but it requires careful strategy and negotiation skill. We leverage our knowledge of creditor practices and our clients' legal rights to achieve the best possible settlements.

We provide honest assessments of whether debt negotiation, bankruptcy, or another approach is the best option for your financial situation. Each client's circumstances are different, and we tailor our recommendations to achieve the most favorable outcome with the least long-term impact on your credit and financial future.

Protecting your assets during bankruptcy is critical. We help clients maximize state and federal exemptions to keep their home, vehicle, retirement accounts, personal property, and tools of their trade throughout the bankruptcy process.

Exemption laws vary significantly by state. Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and Texas each offer different homestead exemptions, personal property exemptions, and wildcard exemptions. Some states also allow you to choose between state and federal exemption schemes. We analyze which set of exemptions provides the best protection for your specific assets.

Pre-bankruptcy planning is an important part of protecting your property. With proper timing and legal guidance, you may be able to convert non-exempt assets into exempt forms, maximize the value of available exemptions, and enter bankruptcy with the strongest possible position to keep the things that matter most to you.