Alan G. Seligson, P.C. has been serving individuals and small businesses in Eugene since 1994. A former clerk for a bankruptcy judge, Seligson founded his own firm and utilized his experience in bankruptcy courts to protect the rights of debtors. His areas of focus are Chapters 7 and 13. The bankruptcy attorney also offers solutions to credit collection harassment, wage garnishments, and lawsuits.
Butcher Law Office, LLC is a bankruptcy law firm in Eugene that was founded in 2010. The founding attorney, Tom Butcher, has over 10 years of experience in representing consumers in chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings. He helps clients eliminate credit card debt, medical bills, and other unsecured debts and works to stop creditor harassment, debt collection calls, foreclosures, garnishments, lawsuits, and repossessions. He also guides clients on the next steps after bankruptcy and advises them on how to repair their credit.
Cascade Bankruptcy is a bankruptcy law firm that serves clients in Eugene and nearby areas. The company provides legal representation and assistance to individuals and small business owners who are dealing with debt problems. Lawyers at the firm are experienced in handling chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcy filings. They also assist clients in asset protection claims and reaffirmation agreements. The law firm has five other offices across the country, including Portland, Lebanon, Albany, Roseburg, and Vancouver.
Located in Eugene, Columbia River Law Group exclusively practices bankruptcy law. Lara Gardner and Michael Blaskowsky serve the needs of clients struggling with debts. The bankruptcy attorneys have extensive experience in representing small businesses and individuals in chapters 7 and 13 petitions. Gardner started her career in consumer bankruptcy in 2003, while Blaskowsky has been focusing on bankruptcy cases since 2007. He also took part in the writing of the Oregon State Bar's bankruptcy law treaties.
Hutchinson Cox is a full-service law firm that offers assistance in creditors' rights and bankruptcy law. It has bankruptcy lawyers who handle a broad range of legal concerns in relation to the relationships of creditors and debtors. They represent creditors and lenders in litigations involving home foreclosures, debt collections, mortgages, and other bankruptcy-related disputes between creditors and debtors. Since 1970, the Eugene-based firm has been assisting clients in trials, appeals, and administrative proceedings.
Kent Anderson Law Office is a tax and bankruptcy law firm dedicated to helping clients in Eugene and the rest of Oregon. The firm was established in 1978. Founding attorney Kent Anderson represents individuals and businesses in debt relief cases in order to help clients with their financial problems. Anderson was asked to speak at The Northwest Bankruptcy Institute, IRS Nationwide Tax Forum, and The National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).
Stephen Behrends is a bankruptcy lawyer who handles the legal troubles of small business and individuals in the Eugene area. Behrends's law office works to help relieve debt and other financial stressors that come with the bankruptcy filing process. The firm handles tax-related issues in addition to bankruptcy matters. Behrends established the law office in 1981 and has since helped clients stop wage garnishments and retain their homes, cars, and other assets.
The Law Office of Kim Covington offers the legal counsel of bankruptcy attorney Kim Covington to individuals and families in Eugene and the rest of Oregon. Covington has 19 years of experience in handling cases related to bankruptcy and foreclosure prevention. The firm provides legal advice regarding matters of chapter 7 and chapter 13 bankruptcies, wage garnishments, repossessions, credit card debt, and tax debt. Covington also explains Oregon's bankruptcy procedures and exceptions.
Bankruptcy attorneys help clients understand whether they qualify for bankruptcy and what their best options are. They also prepare and file petitions, answer questions during the proceedings, and educate clients about potential best steps for a positive bankruptcy outcome. Bankruptcy attorneys might also file motions or paperwork if creditors dispute the bankruptcy, or to stop creditors from taking collections actions forbidden by the bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy is a formal process that individuals, married couples, or businesses can enact when they are no longer able to pay creditors. In a bankruptcy proceeding, filers are allowed to reduce debt to more manageable levels to best pay off money owed.
Once the bankruptcy process is initiated, debt collectors can no longer seek repayments outside of the arrangements detailed in the bankruptcy settlement. Some forms of bankruptcy result in the liquidation of assets to pay back debts, while others allow filers to retain most of their possessions and investments. Many types of unsecured debt can be managed with bankruptcy filings, but not all.
Under most circumstances, student loans aren't dischargeable and aren't included in bankruptcy proceedings. In rare cases, it may be possible to eliminate student loans through bankruptcy, but only if the courts determine that continuing to pay the loans would impose an undue hardship. Meeting the criteria for undue hardship is challenging, and most bankruptcy filers don't qualify.
Bankruptcy fraud is a blanket term that refers to any kind of dishonest bankruptcy proceeding, which can include:
How long bankruptcy stays on public record depends on the kind of bankruptcy filing in question. Chapter 7 bankruptcy remains on the record for 10 years as there isn't necessarily a repayment component. Chapter 13 bankruptcy remains on the record for seven years as some obligations are repaid following filing based on the terms of a discharge settlement.
Bankruptcy can clear tax debt, depending on the circumstances. Taxes are dischargeable under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, not Chapter 13, and only if the tax debt is:
Existing liens are not eliminated with bankruptcy.
In many cases, it's possible to keep a vehicle following Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 Motor Vehicle Exemption allows filers who own their vehicles outright or who are up to date with payments to keep their cars. However, those behind on making car payments are required to arrange a repayment plan. Otherwise, the vehicle may be repossessed as a part of the proceedings.
Although possible, due to the damaging nature of bankruptcy, filing bankruptcy more than once isn't recommended. Filing multiple times puts a serious burden on one's credit report, making it harder to get a loan, buy a house, buy a car, or even open credit cards.
Note that filing for bankruptcy isn't something that can be done at a filer's leisure. There are time limits following bankruptcy cases that dictate when it's permissible to file again. For example, after Chapter 7 bankruptcy, filers must wait at least eight years before filing Chapter 7 again or four years before filing Chapter 13.
Anyone can file bankruptcy, but there are limitations regarding which form of bankruptcy is permissible. Qualifying for Chapter 7 requires a means test that evaluates income, debt levels, and income left over each month after paying basic obligations. Income over the median set by the court and monthly income that allows meaningful payments toward unsecured debt can disqualify filers from Chapter 7, which is generally the preferred form of bankruptcy due to the possibility of a full discharge. Anyone can file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but the terms are less favorable. In most cases, some debts must be repaid following a successful filing. Chapter 13 is also more likely to result in asset forfeiture.
Bankruptcies are noted on credit reports. How much a bankruptcy might drop a person's credit score depends on how high the score was to begin with, but generally speaking, the hit can be as much as 100 to 200 points. Often scores are already dropping because people filing for bankruptcy may have already missed payments on debts. Chapter 13 bankruptcies are listed on credit reports for seven years from the filing date, while Chapter 7 bankruptcies are listed for 10 years from the filing date. This is because Chapter 13 bankruptcies require at least partial payment of debts owed.
Filing a bankruptcy petition causes an automatic stay. This legally stops creditors from taking further action to collect debt, including garnishing wages or foreclosing on property. Going through a bankruptcy successfully means that debts included in the bankruptcy are discharged and don't have to be paid back, except as provided in a Chapter 13 repayment plan. Bankruptcy can help someone recover from financial duress so they can make better decisions and improve financial situations in the future. Disadvantages can include temporary lower credit scores and limitations on spending and financing.
Debt settlement occurs when people negotiate with individual creditors. The creditor agrees to take a payment that's lower than what someone owes and call the debt “paid in full.” Bankruptcy is a legal process that causes debts to be dismissed after someone proves they don't currently have the means to pay their debts as owed. Typically, someone can't enter into bankruptcy and also settle some debts, because the court would see that as favoring one creditor over another.
