Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Chapter 7 is the most common form of personal bankruptcy because it takes only about four months to discharge your debts and gets you the fresh start you deserve.

The most common discharged debts include:

  •     Credit cards
  •     Medical bills
  •     Payday loans
  •     Past due federal income taxes
  •     Judgments filed against you in a court of law
  •     Old utility, cable, and cell phone bills
  •     Balances remaining after broken leases, foreclosures, and repossessions

The powerful “automatic stay” takes effect as soon as a bankruptcy is filed. It stops creditors from calling or sending you demand letters, stops any pending lawsuits against you, prevents enforcement of pre-existing judgments, and cuts off garnishments of bank accounts and paychecks.

You can also take advantage of the fresh start of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy to legally terminate contracts, such as mortgages, car loans, leases, and rent-to-own agreements. This can prove helpful if the item you financed is now worth less than the balance remaining on the contract. You will not have to repay the remaining balance but will most likely have to surrender the collateral.

By taking advantage of the generous federal and state bankruptcy exemptions better than 95% of our clients don’t lose any of their property to the Trustee. You can keep your house and car as long as you continue to make the payments on time.

The general rule is that only debtors whose gross income is below the median income level per household size qualify to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, though there are a couple of important exceptions. Determining whether you qualify to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a complicated calculation that usually requires the expertise of a knowledgeable bankruptcy attorney.

You should consider Chapter 7 Bankruptcy if…

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy … 1) you are saddled with debts that would take you more than 5 years to pay off; 2) you are quickly draining your retirement or savings accounts just to stay afloat; 3) you are obligated under a long-term, money-losing contract; or 4) you personally guaranteed business loans that you can no longer afford to repay.

The benefits of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy are…

…you can eliminate most unsecured debts within 4 months of filing, legally terminate unfavorable contracts and stop creditors from harassing you – all without having to report forgiven debt as income on your tax return. Most people do not lose any property they want to keep.

The consequences of Chapter 7 Bankruptcy are…

…that initially it will have a negative impact on your credit score. The bankruptcy trustee can seize any valuable assets that are not exempt. If you are behind on payments for any secured debt like your mortgage or car loan the lender can get the court’s permission to seize the collateral.

The cost of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy with our law firm will be a flat fee based on the complexity of your case and on your location. We strive to keep the attorney fees for our clients’ Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases as low as possible. After we learn the specifics of your situation, we’ll then be able to determine our required fees to file and complete your Chapter 7 bankruptcy. All costs will be spelled out for you during your free initial consultation before you commit to anything. The court charges a $338 filing fee in addition to attorney fees. However, you may qualify for a fee waiver from the court which may save you from having to pay any filing fees at all.

How Do I File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?  

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California starts with a good bankruptcy attorney. Our law firm will be completing all of the many forms required to complete your bankruptcy. You will need to have credit counseling. Then we can move forward with filing your Petition with the court. You may qualify for a fee waiver from the court. Otherwise, you will be charged $338 by the court and you will have to provide all pertinent information regarding income, assets, debts, and expenses. You will also be required to provide all information about holdings including savings accounts and more.

What Protection Am I Afforded?

The great thing about Chapter 7 in California is that you will be protected from your creditors the moment we file. This means that they will not be able to pursue collecting debt from you. Garnishments will stop. This is called an automatic stay. Any liens, garnishments, or phone calls will be halted during the proceedings.

What Happens After Filing Bankruptcy?

When you file for Chapter 7 in California, there will be appointed a Bankruptcy Trustee appointed to your case. They will review all filings to make sure you are filing the proper documents. They will also determine if it is feasible to sell off any of your property to settle debts. You will also be responsible to go to a creditor’s meeting. This is where you will meet with the Trustee and any creditors. Any non-exempt property will be revealed and you will be expected to either forfeit the property or produce the money it is worth. 

What Debts Will Be Discharged?  

Under the rules of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in California, you will be allowed to discharge any unsecured debt and some secured debts which are considered to be exempt. The discharge will happen a few months after the meeting of the creditors. Loans like car loans and home loans typically remain after the discharge.
Get Started Now
(800) 717-1383

    Name: (Required)

    Email:

    Phone Number:

    Message:



    Get Started Now

    From our clients

    “This was a difficult time for me, and to go through this process, I was incredibly nervous and stressed.  Dean & his team were beyond professional & helpful.  Thanks to their intensive efforts, I was able to pass through this experience feeling like I was completely taken care of, with little or no hassle.  When having to make this decision, there’s no question – it’s scary, and overwhelming.  Yet, they took care of everything in such an efficient way, it made the task seem much less daunting.  While I regret having to gain their services, once I did, it truly helped me gather the strength to go through with it.  As such, the decision really benefited me, and I feel very grateful to this company for seeing me through, and at an affordable rate, as well.”

    K.J.

    “I had to deal with so many lawyers over the last 15 years. I had the honor to work with Mr. Feldman. He was exceptionally professional with very high moral standards. He was very generous with his time unlike any other lawyer. He is one in a million and I definitely recommend him… If there was an option to choose 10 starts, I would do it without any hesitation. Our justice system has many flaws and finding a great lawyer is the key to survive this system.”

    H.I.

    “Dean was our attorney. He reviewed our case and helped us realize that bankruptcy was not our best option. As disappointing as that news was, it was more than greatly appreciated. They could have easily taken our money without having our best interests in mind but no. Dean went above and beyond offering all the advice I could ask for. For that I am extremely grateful. This is a law firm that is honest and trustworthy. If you do decide to file for bankruptcy I hope this review helps.”

    F.F.

    “Mr. Feldman is Extraordinary. THANK YOU Mr. Feldman from the bottom of our hearts.”

    J.S.

    “Have zero regrets using this firm. Dean and his associates were very professional and up front with what to expect…his expected timeline for my case turned out to be longer than it did in realty… which is very appreciated considering it was through the holidays.”

    R.A.C.

    We were extremely satisfied with the services we received from Dean. We are in a very complicated financial situation that we would’ve have to spend lots of money to an attorney to fix. Dean gave us honest reasonable counsel about our situation. He answers his phone every time we have called him. We talked to two other bankruptcy agents before Dean and they were both dishonest and just wanted our money not to help us. But Dean was thorough and put us at ease he didn’t hesitate to let us know what our options are without mentioning payments for himself. If you’re looking for a honest thorough bankruptcy firm Dean at no worries bankruptcy is your bet. We didn’t worry at all talking with Dean. He made us feel safe.

    T.D.

    “An effective process and the best value in California for bankruptcy services.”

    C.R.

    “Very Helpful and Professional! Kind and Understanding! I highly recommend Dean and his law firm to Everyone who is looking for help. Definitely the best!”

    B.Z.

    “When my father needed help to file bankruptcy, I looked everywhere for a place that will help him he was on a fixed income and most places need all money up front. No worries bankruptcy helped him by setting up a payment plan there was always someone to help him when we didn’t under stand paper work. It’s a great company that understands not everyone can afford high priced bankruptcy lawyers. Thanks again Mr. Feldman.”

    M.V.

    “Amazing experience, in a difficulty time during our lives! Would recommend them to everyone who needs to file bankruptcy!”

    C.A.

    “After my husband of 32 years passed away, I financially became unable to afford my bills. I realized I needed help, so I made a hard decision to get information on filing bankruptcy. I called multiple bankruptcy attorneys that never bothered to return my call. Dean Feldman was the only attorney that answered my phone call. I was very stressed and nervous to make this phone call. Mr Feldman was kind and very professional and took the time to answer all of my questions. His guidance through the whole process helped to put me at ease with my decision to file for bankruptcy. If I had any questions he would always returned my call or email the very same day. I “HIGHLY RECOMMEND” using Dean Feldman to handle your bankruptcy needs. Thank you Dean for your help in guiding me through the whole bankruptcy process. I very much appreciate everything you helped me with.”

    L.G.

    “This company is great, Dean really took care of me service was very prompt there was constant communication between him and I, every question I had there was always an clear answer that I understood none of that fancy jargon. Money was well spent to get me out of the vicious credit debit cycle, I highly recommend these guys 100%”

    N.F.

    “A friend of mine referred me to Mr Feldman at a very scary and confusing  point in my life Their knowledge and legal expertise were very impressive and comforting. More importantly I was treated by everyone as a lifelong friend which I will always be grateful for. I give everyone at the firm a solid  10 stars.”

    S.T.

    “Could not obtain a more pleasant, yet professional Company to represent me in my bankruptcy. Mr. Dean Feldman and staff were extremely helpful and guided me every step of the way during my process. I would highly recommend him as he was as honest as they come.”

    S.T.

    “Attorney Feldman and his staff earned my 5 stars by listening carefully to my problems, quickly assessing them, and carrying out effective actions within a very short time. NoWorriesBankruptcy provided professional, understandable help with kindness and empathy.”

    T.F.

    “Dean has helped me in a couple situations, where people tried to take my money, like a landlord not wanting to give me my $600 security deposit back (left place super clean, too). He really is sincere and cares very much helping his clients. The proof is in the very low price he charges. Most of the other lawyers just want to take your money and could care less. Dean is the best!”

    M.J.

    “One of the most intelligent and professional attorney’s I have worked with. (I’ve had to use a few different attorney’s for a couple different reasons) Mr.Feldman is a very honest and hard working man. He gets the job done right, the first time. He’s very experienced and puts his all into everything. Enjoyed my time with him and was beyond satisfied with his work. Thank you Mr. Feldman!!”

    L.B.

    “Dean and everyone else in the office are very kind and compassionate people. He is the first lawyer that really seemed to care and helped me tremendously. Their fees are very affordable, too, unlike those sharks that charge over twice as much. Thank you Dean and may God bless you always!”

    K.J.

    “Dean Feldman was a great help during the process of our bankruptcy. He was very professional, understanding and he guided us every step of the way. He answered our questions quickly and well explained.”

    D.B.

    “Dean has been an exceptional attorney for both my wife and I. From the very first call, Noworriesbankrupcty and Dean were on it! Communication is A+++ and they responded to all of my emails within 12-18 hours, phone calls sooner. There was no question that Dean fights for his clients and succeeds! His prices are reasonable and they do payment plans, no interest, just pay what you can- they just won’t do the official filing until the balance is zero. Unfortunate circumstances occur, life happens, but with Dean, the BK process is as painless as is can be.” 

    S.P.L.

    “Mr. Dean is very professional, knowledgeable and very helpful. Thanks to his advice, I achieved the results I was looking for.”

    M.K.

    “I recently had the good fortune to contact and engage with attorney Dean Feldman regarding a personal legal situation. I know Mr. Feldman has a demanding schedule in his law practice, but he made himself available when I needed him. He took ample time to help me with complicated legal problems. The problems were solved in my favor thanks to his counsel. I am grateful to have found him and it is without reservation that I positively recommend his law office to anyone who needs prompt, efficient, and emphatic legal work.”

    L.J.

    “Professional and honest about what we could do and couldn’t do by law. It worked out well for us because he took the fear about bankruptcy out of the equation.”

    L.C.

    “This was a difficult time for me, and to go through this process, I was incredibly nervous and stressed. Dean & his team were beyond professional & helpful. Thanks to their intensive efforts, I was able to pass through this experience feeling like I was completely taken care of, with little or no hassle. When having to make this decision, there’s no question – it’s scary, and overwhelming. Yet, they took care of everything in such an efficient way, it made the task seem much less daunting. While I regret having to gain their services, once I did, it truly helped me gather the strength to go through with it. As such, the decision really benefited me, and I feel very grateful to this company for seeing me through, and at an affordable rate, as well.”

    M.F.

    “Prompt, good communication and fair price. Completely satisfied with service. Dean never made me feel badly with a difficult situation. Thanks!”

    S.D.

    “Had the absolute BEST experience working with Mr. Feldman and his staff. Very much appreciated! Extremely professional and courteous service, plus GREAT communication. They made sure that I understood everything and that made the entire process a lot less stressful for me. Cannot emphasize enough how fortunate I was to find this company to assist me with my important financial decision. KUDOS!”

    S.R.