Facing Financial Challenges?

Our Bankruptcy team has more than a decade of experience assisting individuals and families to start over with debt relief. Our team will evaluate your current financial situation, and perform a credit/debt analysis to assess what your best options are.

The primary purpose of bankruptcy is to give honest debtors a “fresh start” financially by allowing them to keep their exempt assets and discharge their qualifying debts.

TAKE OUR FREE MEANS TEST TO CHECK IF YOU QUALIFY!

Financial Assistance

We understand sometimes we face financial hardship or circumstances out of our control, so we offer reduced fees for those who qualify. Submit a financial assistance application here.

Debts discharged are: Debts not discharged are:
Credit cards Child support
Medical bills Criminal restitution
Personal & Unsecured Loans Certain taxes
Utility Bills Debts incurred through fraud
Uninsured motor vehicle accidents Most student loans
Debts owed to former Landlords
Other general unsecured debts
📋 Pre-Filing Credit Counseling
Before filing for bankruptcy, you must complete a credit counseling session from an approved agency within 180 days. You'll receive a certificate to include with your filing.

Typical Duration: 60–90 minutes
Cost: $10–$50 (fee waivers available)
🎓 Post-Filing Debtor Education
After filing, you must complete a financial management (debtor education) course before your debts are discharged. This helps you prepare for life after bankruptcy.

Must be completed before case closure.
Cost: $10–$50 (fee waivers available)
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Gather Docs
Collect income, debt, asset & tax records.
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Credit Counseling
Required pre-filing course (1–2 hrs).
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File Petition
Triggers automatic stay. Court filing begins.
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341 Meeting
Meet with trustee, verify your info.
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Debtor Ed
Complete post-filing financial education.
Debt Discharge
Court wipes eligible debts, case closes.

Bankruptcy FAQ's

  • Automatically stops collection activity
  • Stops utility disconnection, if the company is named as a creditor
  • Stops garnishment of your wages
  • Can stop creditor harassment

May result in loss of non-exempt property, impacts credit score, and remains on credit report for up to 10 years.

No. Regardless of your citizenship status, you will be able to apply for debt relief.  However, the United States Bankruptcy Court does require proper documentation such as social security numbers or tax identification numbers to be included in the filing.

As per the Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 (BAPCPA), for consumers who file a Chapter 7, a “means test” must be completed and two required Credit Counseling Courses.

🗂 Required Documents Checklist
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Last 6 months of pay stubs or proof of income
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Recent credit card & loan statements
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Bank statements (past 3–6 months)
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Tax returns (last 2 years)
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List of assets (cars, property, valuables)
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Mortgage or lease agreement
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Medical bills or collection notices
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ID and Social Security card (or number)

Bankruptcy Eligibilty Quiz

1. Do you have regular monthly income?

2. Are your household income and expenses below the state median?

Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Comparison

Feature Chapter 7 Chapter 13
Debt Discharge Time ~3–6 months 3–5 year repayment plan
Property Risk May lose non-exempt assets Keep all assets with repayment
Income Requirement Must pass means test Must have regular income
Mortgage Arrears? No help with catching up Can repay missed mortgage payments
Best For Low income, high unsecured debt Wage earners with steady income

Means Test

The test used to qualify for Chapter 7 relief is called the means test. The bankruptcy means test is a formula that determines if a debtor is eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The test assesses a debtor’s ability to repay their debts and avoid abusing the bankruptcy system.

The first step is simple: If your current monthly income is less than the median for a household of your size in your state, you pass. You're done and don't need to complete the rest of the means test! You can file for Chapter 7.

Who is Exempt?

  • Disabled veterans who incurred their debt primarily during active duty or performing a homeland defense activity
  • If your debts are not primarily consumer debts

Where does Bankruptcy Court get the data?

The data for the bankruptcy means test primarily comes from the U.S. Census Bureau, which provides the median income figures for each state and household size. This is used to determine if someone qualifies for Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on their income level; this data is updated annually and adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Take our free means test below

Financial Assistance

We understand sometimes we face hardships that are out of our control. We are here to help. Submit a financial assistance application to qualify for reduced fees. Terms & conditions apply.

Financial Assistance Application