Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers: Filing Bankruptcy in Michigan, Chapter 7 & 13

Attorney Walter Metzen, the principal bankruptcy attorney here at Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com has over 10 years experience in bankruptcy law. All associate attorneys have also successfully assisted thousands of clients with their bankruptcy filings. We maintain close communication with our clients by being readily available in person (walk-in times everyday), by telephone by fax and by email. Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com's principal bankruptcy attorney Walter Metzen along with his associates have been providing quality legal services for over 10 years. We are not the largest law firm in Detroit; We are not the largest bankruptcy law firm in Michigan, nor do we want to be. What we do have is a dedicated, experienced staff that will provide you with attentive, personalized service. We do not believe that bigger is necessarily better. The attorneys at Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com strive to know the law and now the Bankruptcy Court system. We study the Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy rules and the Local Bankruptcy Rules for the Eastern District of Michigan. We know the Bankruptcy Judges the Chapter 7 Trustee's and the Chapter 13 Trustee's. We know the other local bankruptcy attorneys. We can guide you through any bankruptcy proceeding. The attorney you speak with is the attorney who will go to Bankruptcy Court with you. We will not send an attorney fresh out of law school. At Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com, you will not be treated as one more case in a huge bankruptcy factory...but you will be given personal attention and good old fashioned legal services.....where you can talk to your attorney and paralegal when you need to. We have a reputation in the Detroit area for providing our clients with superior service at the lowest possible cost, keeping in mind the client’s needs for honest, and experienced legal knowledge and service, while maintaining the lowest fees possible. Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com philosophy is to provide the client with honest advice, whether bankruptcy is appropriate for the client or not, and to stand up for our client’s best interests. You can expect us to communicate with you every step of the way, and explain to you all of our recommendations. Our goal is to provide each client with quality legal services and excellent communication at a reasonable fee. We offer free consultations, over the phone, the internet, or in person. Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com's Office is conveniently located just one-block from the US Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Michigan to better serve you. Because of our close proximity to the Bankruptcy Court, we can file your case the same day if needed to immediately stop foreclosure, car repossession, utility shut off (gas, phone or electric) and stop those creditor calls! We at Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com are focused on serving our clients. Our professional calling is to our clients and only our clients, on a full-time basis, to the best of our abilities. We at Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com strive to render bankruptcy legal services which are high quality, ethical, and honest, and which bring positive results. We fight for our client’s rights in court. We explain the law to our clients as it affects your case. We promptly return our phone calls and answer your questions and keep you informed of the status of your case. We are fair to our clients. We fully disclose the fee basis on which your case will be taken at the beginning. We strive to keep costs as low as possible. All attorneys at Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com are highly trained in the use of computer-based office systems and legal research resources. We use state-of-the-art technology including, Bestcase Bankruptcy software which enables us to electronically file your case immediately and can constantly monitor and review your case via the United States Bankruptcy Court's Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system. All attorneys at Detroit Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers .com stay current in the latest developments in all our areas of practice and frequently attend seminars and workshops to maintain the highest level of bankruptcy law counseling as possible. General Frequently Asked Questions 1. Bankruptcy, Chapter 7 or 13? Bankruptcy is a Federal Law Provided to you designed to get you a fresh start free from harassing creditor phone calls, lawsuits, repossessions and garnishments. It is a privilege granted to you under the United States Constitution. It is a very powerful law because it forces your creditors to permanently wipe out your debts (chapter 7) or to accept a repayment plan which you have proposed (chapter 13). 2. Should I file for Bankruptcy? Financial problems lead to great stress and can disrupt one's personal and family relationships, yet many people are scared at the thought of having to file for bankruptcy relief. This is exactly what your creditors want you to think. They do not want you to use your right under the law. They would much rather you pay the minimum monthly payment for the rest of your life at 20 to 25% interest!!!!! 3. Will I lose my Property? No, as long as you tell the court what you own and what you think it's worth, the law will allow you to keep your property as the basis for your "fresh start" subject to certain limitations. The law is very generous in allowing you to exempt your home equity, automobiles, household goods and furnishings, clothing, jewelry, bank accounts, stocks and bonds, pension and 401k plans, etc. The most important thing to do is make an accurate list of what you own and what you think it is worth (at a garage sale or auction.) 4. Can I keep my house and car? Yes, you an file a bankruptcy and keep your house and car provided you continue to make payments to the finance or mortgage company. 5. Where are you located? My office is located downtown Detroit, at the corner of Griswold and Fort street in the historic Penobscot Building, Suite 3156. (Click here.) 6. I'm married, can I file alone or must my spouse file jointly? If your married the law recognizes you as one entity and can file either together as a couple (jointly) or either spouse (husband or wife) can file on their own. The law does not require that both file. 7. Will filing Bankruptcy mean I can't get credit for 7 years? I have heard this wives' tale so many times and cannot figure out where it came from. Straight bankruptcy is called Chapter 7, maybe that is where the seven years came from, but the truth is that many people have a better chance of getting credit after they file Bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is definitely a negative mark on a credit report and can be reported for 10 years after filing after which is must be removed. Most people who are considering filing Bankruptcy however already have a negative credit report due to non or late payments, repossessions, charge offs or judgments. A bankruptcy which wipes the slate clean will be an improvement. Keep in mind that credit is not your friend, its what got you here in the first place. Credit is the reason people end up filing for bankruptcy. Credit equals Debt. 8. I can't live without my MasterCard, what will I do? Believe it or not, most retail establishments still accept cash! (Yes, even hotel rooms and car rental agencies). For most people credit cards cause more harm than good. They lead to impulse buying and mask the real pain of paying with cold hard cash or even writing a check. Most of my past clients report to me that they continue to be bombarded with new credit card offers after filing bankruptcy. This is because the credit card companies want to get you back into the game. RESIST at all cost! Consider getting a debit card or a secured credit card. 9. I'm current on all my payments. I've never been late. Can I still file Bankruptcy? I have many clients who look good on paper and appear to be "making it" but realize that the house of cards is about to come crashing down because they have depleted their savings and the ability to transfer balances or "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" just doesn't work anymore. If after you pay your normal monthly living expenses like rent or house payment, utilities, food, clothing, transportation, recreation, insurance and medical care, you don't have enough income left over to make even the minimum monthly payment on your credit card or loan debt, then you are already bankrupt! If you have used one credit card to obtain a cash advance to pay another, the writing is on the wall. Seek relief before you drown in debt. 10. I'm an honest person and want to pay my debts, I don't want to cheat my creditors? First understand that bankruptcy is not about cheating your creditors. Bankruptcy laws are designed to provide a person facing financial difficulty with relief from the stress and burden of debt to allow that person (or family) a "fresh start" while at the same time being fair to the creditors. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy will discharge your "legal" obligation to pay your debts, it will wipe them out. This means that the creditor can't call you at home or at work to try to collect the debt, they can't garnish your wages or seize money out of your bank account. They must leave you alone permanently. After the bankruptcy, if you win the lottery or come into some money and wish to repay those creditors, you may do so of your own free will. If you can afford to pay some amount to your creditors right now, but just not as much as they want, the law encourages you to file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in which you make payments to your creditors through the Court for 3 to 5 years. If you fit into one of the situations described here, you may be a good candidate for Chapter 13. Call us at 313-962-4656 or toll free: 888-4Walter or email Walter at 8884walter@sbcglobal.net

Annual Credit Report.com	Obtain a free copy of your Credit Report
www.8884walter.com	Walter Metzen Bankruptcy Attorney
Personal Bankruptcy Lawyer	Personal Bankruptcy Lawyer Walter Metzen
www.detroitchapter13.com	Detroit Chapter 13 Filing
Credit Repair Center	Self-Help Credit Repair Center (Books and Information)
US Bankruptcy Code	Cornell University Bankruptcy Law Library
Chapter 13 Trustee-Carroll	Detroit Chapter 13 Trustee Krispen S. Carroll
Chapter 13 Trustee- Ruskin	Detroit Chapter 13 Trustee David Wm. Ruskin
American Bankruptcy Institute	American Bankruptcy Institute Home Page
Legal Information	Free downloads and self help legal information
Legal Definitions	Bernstein's Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terminology
Kelley Bluebook	Kelley Bluebook Values for Used Vehicles
NADA	North American Dealers Association Values for Used Vehicles
Detroit Bankruptcy	Detroit Bankruptcy Lawyer
NACBA	National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
Experian Credit Reports	Request Credit Information from Experian
www.Bankruptcy-Divorce.com	Kentucky Bankruptcy and Divorce Attorney
www.Michigan-Bankruptcy.com	Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyer Walter Metzen
www.Maxlawyer.com	Nationwide Lawyer Search
www.Bestcase.com	Bankruptcy software I recommend for Bankruptcy Lawyers
Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney	Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney

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