Expertise.com
2024

Last updated:

Best Bankruptcy Attorneys in Erie

Our Recommended Top 6

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
  • User Reviews
  • Mystery Shopping Calls

Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Erie Bankruptcy Attorneys on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

40

Reviewed

26

Curated

6

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
100 State Street, Suite 700, Erie, PA 16507
  • Debt Settlement

Why choose this provider?

MacDonald, Illig, Jones & Britton, LLP is a full-service law firm that has been serving clients in the Erie metro area for over a century. Established in 1897, the company represents business entities like corporate debtors, unsecured creditors, lenders, purchasers, and trustees in bankruptcy and creditors' rights litigations. These include bankruptcy filings under all chapters (7, 11, 12, and 13), cash collateral disputes, relief from stay motions, bankruptcy mediation, and conveyance disputes. The company's Bankruptcy & Creditor's Rights Practice Group also provides legal counseling to clients regarding restructuring, reorganization, and financial recovery. Other prominent practice areas include labor and employment, contracts, tax, and environmental law. The company also caters to personal legal issues involving real estate, probate, and family law.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Brian Hennessy - Associate9 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.
4.3

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.
2.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
1001 State Street Suite 1400, Erie, PA 16501
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Thompson Law Group, P. C., is a law firm that serves the residents of Pennsylvania from numerous locations around the state, including one in Erie. Its bankruptcy lawyers help clients choose among a number of personal and business bankruptcy solutions. The firm also handles personal injury claims and mortgage loan modification. The firm is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers and has been offering its services for more than 10 years.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Brian Thompson - Founder, Principal21 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
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (2)

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.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
5614 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Foster Law Offices, LLC. in Erie provides legal services in various bankruptcy cases. It assists clients with chapter 7, chapter 11, and chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions as well as credit rehabilitation and loss mitigation. Its team of paralegals and bankruptcy attorneys provides consultation services to individuals and small businesses. The firm holds more than 60 years of combined experience and offers assistance to clients who are undergoing credit harassment, lawsuits, wage garnishments, and repossessions of property. It also provides services in bankruptcy evaluation, debt negotiation, and fair debt collection.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Daniel Foster - Principal20 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
4.9 / 5 (64)
Avvo
3.7 / 5 (6)

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
5148 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Seelinger Law exclusively practices bankruptcy law in Erie. Rebeka Seelinger offers personalized assistance in bankruptcy petitions and has earned various recognitions for her work as an attorney in the community. Meanwhile, Richard Bedford has been focusing on consumer bankruptcy since 1977 and has served as a trustee in numerous chapters 7 and 13 cases. He has shared his knowledge in the area of bankruptcy as a speaker in engagements for different bar associations.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Rebeka Seelinger - Principal20 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 (64)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (21)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (6)

(+1 additional source)

Website
502 West 7th Street, Erie, PA 16502
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Melaragno, Placidi & Parini are criminal defense, personal injury, and bankruptcy lawyers that serve Erie and other areas of Northwestern Pennsylvania. The attorneys in the firm have more than 80 years of combined experience in handling chapter 7, chapter 13, and chapter 11 bankruptcies. John Melaragno, in particular, has served as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee for the Western District Court. The attorneys at the firm have been delivering their services as a team since 2001.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Gregory Grasinger - Associate12 yrs
John Melaragno - Partner27 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 (9)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)
Facebook
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.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
714 Sassafras Street, Erie, PA 16501
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Why choose this provider?

Graml Law Office is a law firm and debt relief agency that helps residents of Erie and nearby areas to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code. With its help, clients can free themselves from having to pay for most debts, including credit card balances, medical bills, and court judgments. The law firm can also help clients fundamentally reorganize payment plans. The first consultation is free.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Michael Graml - Principal37 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 (4)

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 Erie, Pennsylvania?

    You must file your bankruptcy case in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania - Erie Division. The courthouse is located at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Courthouse, Room B160, 17 South Park Row, Erie, PA 16501. You can also contact the courthouse at (814)464-9740.

  • Where can I get bankruptcy forms in Erie, Pennsylvania?

    You can download the bankruptcy forms from the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania's website. For local forms: https://www.pawb.uscourts.gov/local-forms For national forms: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms For miscellaneous forms: https://www.pawb.uscourts.gov/miscellaneous-forms

  • Will your bankruptcy show on your credit report even after your case in Erie is closed?

    Yes, your bankruptcy will show on your credit report if your case in Erie has already been closed. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy will reflect on your credit report for 10 years from the date that the case was filed, while a Chapter 13 bankruptcy will show on your credit report for seven years.

  • Can you file for bankruptcy again if you have a previous bankruptcy case in Erie?

    Yes, you can file for bankruptcy again if you have a previous bankruptcy case in Erie. However, there are certain time restrictions before you can file another bankruptcy case. For instance, if you filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy before, you must wait eight years from the filing date of your previous case before you can file another Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Meanwhile, there are no time restrictions for filing another Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.

  • How long does a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case take in Erie?

    Most Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases in Erie take four to six months to settle. The Court issues a Discharge Order notifying the debtor that their case is closed and that the debts are discharged. Having a competent bankruptcy attorney can ensure that the case will be settled immediately and avoid legal hurdles throughout the process.

  • What are the advantages of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy for business owners in Erie?

    A Chapter 11 bankruptcy is most suitable for businesses that are established as a partnership, sole proprietorship, or corporation in Erie. Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy, business owners are still allowed to continue to operate their businesses while the creditors are voting on the reorganization plan. Chapter 11 bankruptcies also allow business owners to pay creditors over time, discharge some of their debts, recover assets, and terminate contracts and leases once the Court approves the reorganization plan.

  • What are your alternatives to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Erie?

    If you are facing a serious risk that your asset would be sold or liquated in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Erie, you may file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows you to obtain a reorganization or a debt payment plan that enables you to pay your mortgage over three to five years and prevent you from losing your home. Consult with your bankruptcy attorney to evaluate your circumstances and determine which type of bankruptcy is more applicable to you.

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