The Law Office of Sara Gossman

The filing of a bankruptcy petition (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13) puts into effect something called the "automatic stay".  Once you file bankruptcy, you are under the protection of the Bankruptcy Court.  Your creditors are legally barred from garnishing you for debts listed in your bankruptcy petition. 

It depends what chapter of bankruptcy you file.  You cannot save your home from foreclosure in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy but the bankruptcy will allow you a little more time in your home before the foreclosure proceeds.  However, you can save your home from foreclosure in a Chapter 13.  The past due amount will be part of your plan payment and you will continue to make your regular payment to the mortgage company. 

In a Chapter 7 case, it takes approximately 4 months.  In a Chapter 13, it takes 3 to 5 years depending on your income.

You can file another Chapter 7 bankruptcy if it has been 8 years since your last bankruptcy filing.  You can file Chapter 13 if you filed two or more years ago and never received a discharge OR received a discharge but it was four or more years ago.

Yes.  If you have non-exempt property, the Trustee can take it and distribute it to my creditors. 

No.  Student loan debt cannot, under most circumstances, be discharged in bankruptcy.

No.  You cannot discharge alimony or child support.

It depends.  Most tax debt is not dischargeable in bankruptcy.  However, some old tax debt may be dischargeable depending on the circumstance.  Please contact our offices to discuss any tax debt you may have.

Absolutely.  Most of my clients are on some sort of payment plan. As long as you continue to make monthly payments, we will continue to represent you.  However, we will not file your bankruptcy petition until our retainer is paid in full.

One of the benefits of hiring The Law Office of Sara Gossman is that we will talk directly to your creditors.  We will make every effort to get them to stop harassing you while we prepare your bankruptcy petition. 

You have a constitutional right to file for bankruptcy.  Many of our country's top entrepreneurs have filed for bankruptcy.  Some of these individuals include Abraham Lincoln, Walt Disney, Larry King, Donald Trump, 50 Cent (Curtis James Jackson III) and Henry Ford.  Most people who file for bankruptcy are not out overspending.  They are filing bankruptcy because of unforeseen circumstances such as divorce, job loss, medical bills etc. 

Bankruptcy is designed to give debtors a fresh financial start by eliminating your debt (Chapter 7) or by giving you the breathing room you need to pay it off over time (under a Chapter 13 repayment plan).  However, bankruptcy isn't the right option for everyone.  We can help you decide if filing bankruptcy is right for you.