Expertise.com

Best Bankruptcy Attorneys in Schenectady

2024

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Providers

Last updated:

Website
146 Jay Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
  • Debt Settlement

Why choose this provider?

Christiaan Van Niekerk is a bankruptcy lawyer serving clients in Schenectady. His legal practice covers debt relief matters such as Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcies, debt elimination, and loan modification. He works closely with consumers and businesses to provide legal representation before banks, credit card companies, and collection agencies, and helps clients navigate the bankruptcy process. He also aids clients in determining whether filing for bankruptcy is the best possible legal option, given their respective financial situations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Christiaan Van Niekerk - Principal18 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.8
Google
4.8 / 5 (72)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
148 Central Avenue, Albany, NY 12206
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Becker & Becker Attorneys at Law is a firm that serves Schenectady and the neighboring metro areas. Its attorneys provide representation for clients who are undergoing financial difficulties from various circumstances, such as losing a job or divorce. In addition, they help clients get debt relief or recalibrate their finances through chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy. Partner Lawrence E. Becker has been practicing for more than 30 years. His other practice areas include surety, fidelity, construction, and real estate.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Lawrence Becker - Partner44 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Google
5.0 / 5 (3)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
650 Franklin Street, Suite 501, Schenectady, NY 12305
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
  • Debt Settlement

Why choose this provider?

The Law Office of Opal F. Hinds caters to families dealing with financial hurdles and seeking legal protection. It helps clients explore various debt relief options, including Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy filing. The firm assists consumers in negotiating payment plans with debtors and provides foreclosure defense. Its practice areas also encompass criminal defense, matrimonial, and family law. Solo practitioner Opal F. Hinds has been practicing law since 2009. She serves Schenectady and nearby cities.

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
146 Jay Street, Schenectady, NY 12305
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
  • Debt Settlement

Why choose this provider?

Christiaan van Niekerk represents individuals, families, and business owners in Schenectady and its nearby neighborhoods. The firm addresses various bankruptcy-related matters, from chapters 13 and 7 bankruptcy filings to debt elimination, foreclosures, and loan modifications. Sole practitioner Christiaan Mauritz Van Niekerk advocates for clients' rights against credit card companies, collections agencies, and lending institutions in settlement negotiations and litigation. He also assesses their financial circumstances and evaluates government program options, like the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program.

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Google
4.7 / 5 (87)

Website
12 Cornell Road, Latham, NY 12110
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Barbaruolo Law Firm, P.C., is a debt relief office with over 25 years of legal experience. Its team of bankruptcy attorneys serves businesses and individuals in Schenectady and its surrounding metros. The law practice handles bankruptcy relief, foreclosure defense, and mortgage modifications. The legal team also assists with real estate transactions, including the purchase and sale of residential properties. Principal attorney Paula M. Barbaruolo has been teaching Consumer Bankruptcy as an adjunct professor of law since 2014.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Paula Barbaruolo - Principal Attorney31 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (26)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Where do I file for bankruptcy in Schenectady, New York?

    Residents of Schenectady filing for bankruptcy should process their documents at the Albany office of the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York. The address is James T. Foley United States Courthouse, 445 Broadway, Suite 330, Albany, NY 12207.

  • Where can I get bankruptcy forms in Schenectady, New York?

    If you are filing for bankruptcy in Schenectady, you can download the forms from the website of the United States Courts at https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms and the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York at https://www.nynb.uscourts.gov/forms.

  • How does filing for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy in Schenectady initially affect one's credit score?

    In Schenectady, filing for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or 13 might initially diminish one's credit score, but it's not a permanent setback. The path to improved credit involves proactive debt management. Post-filing, Chapter 7 allows for instant credit rebuilding, whereas Chapter 13 offers gradual credit improvement. Ignoring debts can delay credit restoration, but addressing them promptly following bankruptcy could expedite the process, leading to potential credit enhancement.

  • What is a short sale and how can it help homeowners in Schenectady with debt recovery?

    A short sale is a financial strategy where a home is sold for less than the mortgage debt. This process can be beneficial for homeowners in Schenectady burdened by significant debt. It helps avoid the lengthy and costly process of foreclosure. The proceeds from the short sale may not cover the total debt, leaving the lender with some deficit, but it circumvents a foreclosure action, eviction, and subsequent property sale.

  • Can a debtor in Schenectady be incarcerated for not settling their debts?

    No, a debtor in Schenectady can't be imprisoned merely for having unpaid consumer debts. In New York, creditors can use legal avenues like suing in civil court to obtain a monetary judgment and garnishing wages, limited to 10% of a debtor's income, or place a restraining notice on a bank account to collect owed funds. However, New York's Exempt Income Protection Act constrains these actions. Jail time isn't an option for simple debt collection.

  • Can a debtor in Schenectady retain any property after filing for bankruptcy?

    Yes, a debtor in Schenectady can retain exempt property and assets obtained post-filing when declaring bankruptcy. Exceptions include any inheritance, property settlement, or life insurance benefits within 180 days of filing, and any ongoing lawsuits at the time of filing. Personal injury awards exceeding the exemption limit may be seized for debt payment. Post-Chapter 7 bankruptcy, all earned income belongs to the debtor, whereas in Chapter 13, income contributes to the payment plan for three to five years.

  • What are the extent and limitations of New York's automatic homestead exemption in Schenectady?

    New York's automatic homestead exemption automatically applies to primary dwellings in Schenectady, including regular houses, condos, cand mobile homes. Yet, it's crucial to note that this exemption does not shield homeowners from issues, such as first or second mortgage foreclosures, home equity credit lines, situations where the dwelling is used as collateral for a different liability, or forced sales arising from tax debt. The monetary value of the exemption may vary by county.

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