Bankruptcy Attorney in Abington, PA and Jenkintown, PA and Glenside, PA
The Law Office of David M. Offen has proudly served the Philadelphia are for over 20 years, helping thousands of people get a fresh start!
Financial problems can happen to anyone.
Unavoidable circumstances such as illness, loss of income, death of a family member, and even divorce can send expenses and debt spiraling out of control. Whatever the cause, bankruptcy is a statutory solution to good people’s financial troubles, offering the “honest but unfortunate” person a “fresh start.”
At the Law Offices of David M. Offen, our bankruptcy attorneys are ready to help you get your fresh start, just as we’ve helped thousands of others move on from financial distress. Our law firm practices both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy law, and our attorneys can offer you immediate protection from your creditors. Contact our Greater Philadelphia bankruptcy lawyers today.
Filing for Bankruptcy in Abington, Jenkintown, or Glenside
Attorney David M. Offen has been solving his clients’ financial problems for more than 20 years. We are proud to be able to report that over 12,000 clients have obtained a fresh start through the personalized services of our firm.
When we meet with our bankruptcy clients for the first time, we discuss bankruptcy as well as non-bankruptcy alternatives, and we advise our clients on the best moves for them based on their own unique situations and goals.
Our firm provides you with several benefits:
- FREE INITIAL CONSULTATION
- AFFORDABLE FEES
- EASY PAYMENT PLANS
- FLEXIBLE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULE, INCLUDING EVENINGS
- GREAT PERSONAL SERVICE
Consult Us First!
A lot of misinformation is floating around on filing for bankruptcy — we’ll make sure you get the accurate information you deserve from a caring and compassionate lawyer.
Our law office is very friendly, and our attorneys will make sure we address all of your concerns and answer every question you have. We know how upset you are and how nervous you feel about even considering bankruptcy – we also know you will walk out of our offices feeling better than when you walked in.
Bankruptcy and Debt Relief FAQs
Everyone’s situation is different, but here answers to the most common concerns people have about filing for bankruptcy:
Generally, no. Bankruptcy laws allow you to claim certain “exemptions” to protect your home and vehicle as well as a certain amount of personal property. We will go through the details of your case with you and help you make the best decisions for you.
You should realize that the bankruptcy laws were designed with the purpose of allowing people who are in debt to get a fresh start, so the point is not to deprive people of all of their possessions!
It’s true that a bankruptcy filing remains on a credit report for 10 years, but the impact of that is not as serious as many people think. Also, consider that by the time most people file bankruptcy their credit score has already suffered from delinquent accounts.
Many people find that they can quickly reestablish credit after the filing of the bankruptcy, and that their credit score improves once their debt is discharged and their debt-to-income ratio improves so dramatically.
You call us and schedule your free consultation. We will discuss all the facts of your financial situation and determine whether you are able to negotiate with the creditor suing you, or if there is not enough income to settle that debt, we will discuss both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy options.
Chapter 7 is a 4-6 month process by which a debtor discloses all debt, expenses, assets, and income. At the end, the debtor is discharged of all unsecured debt – meaning, the debtor is no longer personally liable for that debt.
Chapter 13 is a three- or five-year repayment plan in which a debtor cures mortgage arrears or car loan or lease arrears, and perhaps repays a small portion of unsecured debt depending upon the amount of income the debtor has. At the end, the debtor is all caught up and any remaining unsecured debt is discharged.
Unsecured debt is debt that is not secured by collateral, such as a car or house. In general, unsecured debt that can be discharged includes most credit card debt, medical debt, some forms of taxes, personal loans, and private student loans.
Those debts are not dischargeable in bankruptcy, nor are certain other debts like criminal restitution and sales tax.
Filing bankruptcy will “stay” or stop the foreclosure proceeding. However, you have to decide whether you can afford to keep your home. If you decide you cannot afford it, you can file Chapter 7 and legally surrender the home and be discharged of the mortgage debt. If you decide you can afford it, you can file Chapter 13 and pay off the mortgage arrears over your three- or five-month plan.
Yes. If you file a Chapter 13 petition you can get your car back if you file a plan that provides for the payment of your loan or lease arrears.
In some cases, if the car is not worth what you owe on the loan, you can “cram down” that loan to market value and a reduced interest rate. Call us to schedule your consultation so that we can discuss your options.
It is a matter of public record, however, a person needs to have a PACER and CM/ECF account to access any bankruptcy filing. PACER and CM/ECF combined are the online filing and storage system used by the bankruptcy courts, trustees, and attorneys – not just anyone has access. And, it is not like bankruptcy filings are published in the newspaper or anything like that.
Want to Discuss Your Options for Dealing with Your Debt?
Call Us to Schedule Your Free Consultation
The U.S. Congress has declared our office to be a debt relief agency. We proudly help file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
If you are ready to take the first steps toward financial freedom and getting a fresh start, call the Law Offices of David M. Offen today at 215-625-9600 to schedule your free initial consultation. We’re here to help you every step of the way.
