Our Bankruptcy Practice
At the Bankruptcy Clinic in Springfield, Missouri, we help people find relief from their debts. Whether you owe state or federal taxes, have unpaid credit card balances, past due medical bills or are facing foreclosure, we can work with you to find ways to minimize, and in some cases, eliminate your debt. We believe in holding out a lifeline to families drowning in debt. If you need relief now, call (417) 4NO-DEBT to talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney.
The Bankruptcy Clinic is a full-service bankruptcy firm. We can handle every aspect of your bankruptcy, including any trial appearances. Bankruptcy is not easy. Sometimes it is unavoidable. Filing for bankruptcy is not a quick fix — it is a fair and legal means to allow people to find relief when they are unable to pay their bills. It can happen to anyone, and all it could take is a lost job or a large medical bill that is not paid by insurance. Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or Chapter 11 bankruptcy can give you a clean start to your financial life. Contact us to make an appointment for a free, initial consultation.
Chapter 7
Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to get rid of most, if not all, of your unsecured debt, such as credit card debt, medical debt, signature and payday loans, collection accounts, repossession balances, lawsuit judgements, utility bills, and so on, while still keeping your property. However, Chapter 7 is commonly referred to as a “liquidation bankruptcy” because if you have assets worth a lot more than your debt, these could be sold by the Court. At the Bankruptcy Clinic, we will work diligently and aggressively to help you keep your property and use the provisions of Chapter 7 to help erase or reduce your debt.
Exemptions are the laws that allow you to protect property from creditors, so that even after a bankruptcy, you will have the basics you need to return to a normal life. You don’t have to lose your car or home in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You can “re-affirm”, or keep, secured loans, such as mortgages or car loans, at the same monthly payment and interest rate, and therefore retain possession of your home or automobile. We may even be able to negotiate a reduction of the debt and/or interest rate. However, if you choose the wrong exemption, or don’t fully understand the process, you can lose property. You need an experienced bankruptcy attorney to ensure the right law is claimed for you, so you can keep your property.
So, how much will it cost to file Chapter 7 bankrupcty?
- In Springfield, Missouri, the cost to file Chapter 7 depends on the facts of your individual case.
- Our fee structure is very client-friendly, allowing a majority of our Chapter 7 clients to file their case for $928 (single) to $956 (married).
- Simply pay an initial retainer of $250; we will then provide you a list of the paperwork we will need from you to file, and a phone number you can use to refer your creditors to our office.
- We will also give you a letter template you can send to your creditors that will require them to stop calling you, your employer, and your relatives.
- Once you have paid your pre-filing fees and have submitted the necessary paperwork to our office, we will prepare and file your case.
The Bankruptcy Code’s “automatic stay” provision, which is invoked on the day you file your bankruptcy, will immediately put a stop to collection calls, lawsuits, garnishments, repossession, and foreclosure. If you are drowning in debt, contact the Bankruptcy Clinic. It is important to remember that Chapter 7 bankruptcy may not be right for you, so please contact us to discuss your situation with our experienced bankruptcy attorneys. Call (417) 4NO-DEBT or use our online form to schedule a free, initial consultation.
Chapter 13
Chapter 13 is known as the “wage earners” bankruptcy, meaning anyone with some sort of stable income (wages, social security, or stable self-employment income) may file. Unlike Chapter 7, you cannot make “too much money” to qualify. Chapter 13, while offering the same exemptions, and discharging the same debt, also has other advantages that Chapter 7 does not, including:
- potentially discharging marital debt,
- reducing secured debt for vehicles and some household goods,
- possibly eliminating second mortgages on your home,
- helping you to pay back tax debt, interest- and penalty-free.
Keep in mind that in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, your debts are not immediately discharged. The bankruptcy law allows for the creation of payment plans with durations of 3 to 5 years. The goal in Chapter 13 is to obtain discharge of your debts upon completion of your repayment plan. Although you do pay more in Chapter 13, you are given greater asset protection in return.
It is extremely important to discuss your situation with an experienced bankruptcy that handles both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, such as the Bankruptcy Clinic, to determine which one is truly right for you. The process is complicated, but we will not only assist you with filing your bankruptcy petition and plan, but also help you during the entire plan period to make any adjustments needed to keep you on track to receive your discharge of debt.
How much will it cost you to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
- As with Chapter 7, the up-front cost to file Chapter 13 will be based on the facts in your individual situation.
- The Bankruptcy Clinic is proud to offer qualifying clients the option of $99 down on attorney fees, which then allows us to file a Chapter 13 case for less than $500.
- Most of the Chapter 13 cases that do not qualify for our $99 down rate are still filed for an attorney fee of $600, plus expenses, which allows your case to be filed for under $1,000.
- These are among the lowest rates, if not THE lowest, in Springfield and Southwest Missouri.
- A Chapter 13 reorganization also allows us to include the majority of your attorney fees into your plan payments, so that you can get the relief you need quickly and affordably.
If you are a Missouri wage earner who is still unable to meet your obligations, call the Bankruptcy Clinic at (417) 4NO-DEBT or contact us online to schedule a free, initial consultation. We can handle your Chapter 13 bankruptcy accurately, quickly, and for a fair, upfront price. For more information about Chapter 13 bankruptcy, please see our Bankruptcy FAQ.
Chapter 11
At the Bankruptcy Clinic, we file both business and personal Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Chapter 11 is a type of bankruptcy reorganization that is available to both individuals and business entities such as corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. Chapter 11 is primarily used by businesses that want or need to keep operating during their reorganization.
The goal of this type of bankruptcy is to file a “confirmable” Chapter 11 reorganization plan. There are many rules about what makes a plan confirmable. Creditors will get a chance to vote on whether or not the plan should be confirmed. Prior to plan confirmation, Chapter 11s are supervised by the Federal Bankruptcy Court and by the Office of the United States Trustee (UST). The Chapter 11 debtor will be required to pay quarterly trustee fees based on the debtor’s business money distributions during the quarter. Monthly status reports must be filed with the court and with the UST office.
In a typical Chapter 11, the debts of the organization will be restructured to provide payments to the creditors under more favorable terms to the debtor. This allows the company to restructure their debt and still remain a viable business. The length of a loan and interest rate are terms that are negotiable during formulation of a Chapter 11 plan.
Chapter 11 bankruptcy is extremely complicated and should not be attempted without the assistance of an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Chapter 11s are very expensive, but the value you receive in return can be exceptional when you have our experience on your side. Call (417) 4NO-DEBT or contact the Bankruptcy Clinic to see how we can help.