Your options
Every way out of debt we handle, explained
Six short guides, written the way we talk at a consultation. Read the one that sounds like you, or let us help you pick at a free consultation.
The two main chapters
Most personal cases are one of these two. The means test and your goals decide which.
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Fresh start
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
A fresh start for many unsecured debts, usually in about four months, while you keep what the law protects.
6 min read
From $1,250
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Repayment plan
Chapter 13 bankruptcy
A three to five year plan that can pause a foreclosure, catch up missed house or car payments, and protect what you want to keep.
7 min read
From $4,500
If something urgent arrived
A court date or a paycheck deduction. Tell us the date and we start there.
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Urgent help
Foreclosure defense
Got a foreclosure summons or a sheriff's sale date? There is often still time to act. Let's look at it today.
5 min read
Free review
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Urgent help
Stop wage garnishment
When part of every paycheck goes to a creditor, filing usually stops most garnishments for ordinary debts. Let's check yours.
5 min read
From $1,250
Other paths
Business debt that followed you home, and the honest options outside bankruptcy.
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Business owners
Small business debt
For owners whose business debt became personal: personal guarantees, a closed shop, or a business that could survive with some breathing room.
6 min read
From $2,500
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Other paths
Alternatives to bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is one tool, not the only one. Sometimes the best advice is not to file, and we will say so.
5 min read
From $600
Side by side
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?
| Topic | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A fresh start that clears many unsecured debts | A 3 to 5 year repayment plan through a trustee |
| Typical length | About 4 months | 3 to 5 years |
| Who it usually fits | Income near or below the median, mostly unsecured debt | Steady income, behind on a house or car, or above the median |
| Your house and car | Kept if current and protected by exemptions | Missed payments can be spread across the plan |
| Flat fee from | $1,250 plus court fee | $4,500, as little as $500 up front |
A general comparison. Which chapter fits, if either, depends on your income, property, debts and goals.
Free consultation
Not sure which one sounds like you? That's what the free consultation is for.
A 45-minute consultation in our office, by phone or by video. You'll leave knowing your options, the likely cost and the next step, even if that step is not bankruptcy.
