Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyers in Maryland

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyers Maryland

When you are overwhelmed by mounting debt, you may feel like you need a fresh start. You may be getting constant calls from debt collectors, and your financial situation is only getting worse. These financial problems can impact your quality of life. 

Fortunately, going to bankruptcy court and seeking out Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help make the phone calls stop. The Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers Maryland at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC understand bankruptcy law and can guide you through the bankruptcy process to help you recover. When you are struggling with filing bankruptcy and you need guidance, do not hesitate to reach out to an experienced bankruptcy attorney for the help you need.

What Is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? 

When seeking to file bankruptcy, Maryland bankruptcy law offers options for your financial future. One of these options is Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which liquidates certain debts and forgives other debts.

This is in contrast to other options a bankruptcy attorney may offer, such as Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which requires a repayment plan. Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead allows you to liquidate certain assets to pay off debts quickly, which gets your debts discharged fast. If you are unsure whether Chapter 7 bankruptcy is right for you Maryland bankruptcy attorneys can offer tools and guidance for your case.

Why File for Bankruptcy? 

Individuals and businesses can benefit from seeking out Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Getting legal aid from a bankruptcy trustee allows you to remove certain debts that may even be impacting your income.

Staying in debt can lead to that debt consistently worsening. This is about more than the creditor calls that you may be constantly getting. If these creditors seek action under state law, they may even seek out wage garnishment and financial liens on your property. Wage garnishments mean that part of your wages will automatically be taken for that debt, which puts you in a worse financial bind.

Rather than living with this, the Maryland bankruptcy code stops creditors from constantly calling debtors and offers a path out of debt. While not all debts are dischargeable, it can lead to a huge reduction in what you owe.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Process 

When seeking out help from an MD bankruptcy attorney, you may be concerned about the length of time that your bankruptcy case will last. Bankruptcy is a complex field, and you may not have the tools to determine your best path forward.

Fortunately, Maryland bankruptcy cases follow a certain process that our attorneys will make as clear as possible for you. Our law firm strives to provide the support and guidance you need when filing for bankruptcy. Below are some of the key steps you will need to take when you choose to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Determine Whether You Are Eligible 

One of the first steps in bankruptcy cases is to determine whether you are eligible in the first place. This includes determining how severe your dischargeable debts are and how much bankruptcy can help you. While there is no minimum amount of debt, you may have other avenues that may be less extreme and may offer other options that do not involve the liquidation of your assets. 

This is a key avenue to recovery because filing for bankruptcy bars you from filing again for years after the fact. If you file now when less extreme measures are available, and your debts pile up again, you may find yourself buried under debt without a way out if you are unable to file for bankruptcy.

Keep in mind as well that certain debts are nondischargeable debts. These typically include alimony, child support, and student loan debt. If you are facing debts like these, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may not be for you. However, you can always turn to a bankruptcy lawyer for an initial consultation about your case.

File Your Bankruptcy Forms 

Once you have determined that Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the best avenue for you in terms of debt relief, you may need to contact law offices like ours to get help with your legal forms. If most debts on your case can be discharged, you can fill out certain paperwork and file them with the district court.

This paperwork will kick off the process of determining whether you are approved for bankruptcy. Be sure to speak with a lawyer about all the paperwork and information you will need throughout this process. Without that information, you may have trouble proving you are eligible for this process which may lead to your case being dismissed. 

Meet with a Bankruptcy Trustee

Once you choose to file for bankruptcy, you may then be appointed a bankruptcy trustee. A trustee is a person with legal experience practicing bankruptcy law who is here to review your debts, determine what assets of yours are non-exempt from liquidation, and sell those assets. 

The bankruptcy trustee is a key part of the filing process, as they determine whether you are eligible and what property of yours must be liquidated.

Those exempt assets include any assets that help you maintain your quality of life. For example, you may have had a personal injury lawsuit for your medical bills. These funds may be exempt. You may also be able to keep your home in some cases, preventing foreclosure. Talk to our attorneys about your options to get out of debt, stop garnishments, and avoid losing everything to liquidation.

File Needed Motions

One of the first and often most important steps you may need to take during the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process is to ensure an automatic stay is placed on creditors. This means that credit companies are unable to continue calling or harassing you for your debts. 

While an automatic stay is typically applied right away, there may be other motions you need to file before your case is over. A lien allows lenders to take back property if debts are not paid. During bankruptcy, protecting your assets is key, and filing motions can stop or erase these liens.

How Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC Can Help 

When you need help with your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, you need more than someone who is simply past the Maryland bar and works in these practice areas. You need someone who will be there to support your case at every step, someone who has the tools to guide you through your case. 

How can the lawyers at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC help you? If you are struggling to overcome your debts and take the right steps towards financial freedom, below are a few ways our team can help you.

Years of Experience 

When you seek out bankruptcy lawyers, you want someone who knows the field and has all the tools you could need for your case. A lack of experience can lead to problems. 

For example, one of the key parts of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the liquidation of your assets. However, your attorney can help you minimize the number of assets you will need to liquidate to save yourself from debt. 

A lawyer with extensive experience can review all your assets and determine the best way to maximize your debt forgiveness while minimizing the amount you pay out of pocket. That makes a big difference in your recovery from debt.

A Track Record of Success 

When hiring any lawyer, you do not want to seek out someone who is not prepared to guide your case to success. The right attorney gets results, and if that attorney has a significant number of unhappy clients, they may not be the right fit for you. 

While no case is a guarantee of success, a qualified, top-rated bankruptcy lawyer should have the tools to guide you to success. If you are unsure whether an attorney is right for you, you can always check out their Google reviews and the testimonials on their site to see what other people think about their services.

Case-Specific Guidance 

When you are in the middle of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may need a lot of help. Unfortunately, many large law firms especially do not give their clients personal attention. To them, you may just be another number. That is not the case with our team.

Our office focuses on giving you the one-on-one attention you need. We want you to feel like you are our only client and that you are getting the full service you need for your case. If you have any questions, concerns, or doubts about your case, you should be able to reach an attorney at any time to get the answers you need.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy FAQ 

When seeking out the services of a bankruptcy attorney, you may find yourself also facing a number of questions. You may have concerns about how chapter 7 bankruptcy works, you may be worried you are not qualified for service, or you may be concerned that you have other avenues you have not explored for debt forgiveness. 

All of these questions and more can be answered by your attorney. If you have questions about the specifics of your case, do not hesitate to reach out to a lawyer for guidance. While you wait to speak directly to an attorney, feel free to check out the following commonly asked questions to get an idea of the services we offer.

Do I qualify for Chapter 7 in Maryland?

When qualifying for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may be asked to take a means test. This test refers to the income your household brings in, and if you have an income over a certain amount, you may not be eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. 

Keep in mind this mainly affects filers who have a higher income. In fact, if your income is below the state median for a household like yours, you may not have to take this test at all and may qualify already. If you are unsure whether your household income qualifies you or disqualifies you, do not hesitate to reach out to an attorney for confirmation and guidance.

What are the exemptions for Chapter 7 in Maryland?

When filing for bankruptcy, especially Chapter 7, certain property is exempt, meaning you can keep it if you file for bankruptcy. One of the most important is your house. If you occupy a certain piece of real estate, you may be exempt. Any disability or health insurance benefits may also be exempt, tools for your trade, and a wild card exemption up to $5,000. Many Maryland residents use this to keep their vehicles.

Keep in mind that this is not a full list of all of Maryland’s exemptions. You may have other exemptions that may be important to your specific recovery. To determine these specifics, reach out to an attorney and get the help you need for your case.

How much is filing for bankruptcy in Maryland?

The legal fee you face for filing for bankruptcy in Maryland may depend on your attorney and the difficulty of your case. For example, if you have only a few exemptions that you pursue, your case may come with lower costs than a case that has multiple motions to file and complex exemptions. 

While a lawyer may be unable to guarantee low fees, we can guarantee that you can expect quality service that covers all your needs throughout the bankruptcy process. We want all of our clients to receive the financial support they need and get on the path to financial recovery.

Seek Out a Maryland Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney 

For some clients, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may feel extreme. However, with an experienced Maryland bankruptcy lawyer offering bankruptcy protection for your future, you can protect your assets and find a path out of debt. 
The experienced bankruptcy attorneys at Parker, Pallet, Slezak & Russell, LLC offer the tools you need to file your case in Maryland court and get out of debt while maintaining some of your money. If you are seeking a law firm with the tools to help you recover, do not hesitate to reach out for a consultation by calling, sending us an e-mail, or filling out our online contact form.