Cleveland Ohio Bankruptcy Attorney

Richard West Law Office has helped thousands of people in Cleveland, Ohio file for bankruptcy. As a debt relief agency we can help you figure out your options for filing for bankruptcy, rebuilding your credit, and getting a fresh start.

Our Cleveland bankruptcy team is full of honest, dedicated and compassionate advocates who will fight to help their clients get the fresh financial beginning that they deserve. We have handled thousands of cases with great success; our knowledgeable attorneys are able to eliminate debts completely or create repayment plans for those in need.

We know how difficult this process can be and we want you to feel at ease knowing that your case is being taken care by such a skilled group as ours – please contact us today!

Over 30,000 Cases Filed

Since1986, We have filed the most bankruptcies in Dayton for our clients.

Your Case Will Be Approved

We have had great success in Ohio Bankruptcy Filings.

Over 30 Years Fighting Credit Card Predators

Richard West Law Office

(330) 333-5771

By Filing for Bankruptcy Relief in Cleveland You Can

Wipe Out Debt, Keep Your Property & Rebuild Your Credit

Are you a Cleveland Ohio resident who is burdened with debt? Start here for an explanation on Bankruptcy options.

Chapter 7

Chapter 13 NON-Bankruptcy Options

THE COST OF AN ATTORNEY

Sources of DEBT in Cleveland

How we can Help

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Personal Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney

Last year, 2020, was a tough year for many in Cleveland Ohio, and thousands of families and individuals filed for bankruptcy protection.

Most of these cases were Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases.

Chapter 7 is the most common form of bankruptcy in Cleveland, OH, but only some people qualify. Mostly those who make less than median income based on their family size.

Over half of us qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, so consider this option if you need a serious fix.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy often enables us to recover property and wipe away debts, allowing individuals time to rebuild good credit.

Don’t worry that you’ll lose property, suffer poor credit, or have no credit when you file chapter 7 bankruptcy. Rebuilding credit after fling Chapter 7 is easier than it seems, if you have a proven program like ours.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Personal Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is a powerful debt relief option. More people should consider it because they even though they may be eligible for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy it’s a mistake to overlook Chapter 13 Bankruptcy as an alternative. They may be better off in Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which helps individuals repay their debts in a three-to-five year period can be less expensive for families and save them from overpaying for cars they get to keep, and pay less for, in Chapter 13.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows debtors to catch up on car and house payments.

When many of us were hit by the pandemic and then the economy went into a downturn, we found ourselves unable to keep up with our debt payments.

Chapter 13 of bankruptcy can help you save your home or car when foreclosure or repossession is imminent. As part of this particular chapter, you are able to catch up on missed payments for up to 5 years.

And, with our time-tested credit rebuilding program, our clients quickly rebuild credit at the same time they are reorganizing their finances.

Debt Settlement & Debt Negotiation

It’s a common misconception that debt settlement is a reliable and safe a way to get rid of your debt and that it will make everything better, but in actuality, you could end up with serious consequences such as a tax lien or wage garnishment.

Debt settlement is not guaranteed to eliminate the balance owed on your debt-in fact, it can cause the creditor to increase the interest rates and profits on your remaining balance. This is why we recommend filing for bankruptcy over debt settlement.

The Dangers of Debt Settlement

There are many dangers associated with debt settlement that you should be aware of before committing to the program.

A debt settlement program is a great way to ruin your credit, causing you to pay more interest on back debts in the future. You can be sued by creditors and collection agencies who are not obligated to work with your debt settlement program.

Why We Recommend Filing For Bankruptcy Over Debt Settlement Discharge

We strongly suggest that you avoid debt settlement and instead go through the legal bankruptcy discharge process. This will protect your retirement fund, and wages from future creditors as well as stop collection attempts against you.

You can get rid of all (or most) of your debts using bankruptcy and you won’t be in danger of harassment from debt collectors. Bankruptcy will also help you get a fresh start so that you can pay your living expenses without being concerned about going into debt again.

The Cost to File Bankruptcy in Cleveland

When you consider the cost to file bankruptcy, it’s important to remember that you get what you pay for. This should serve as an investment in your financial future. Have there been times when you’ve attempted to save money but then discovered later on that this actually saved nothing at all?

If you are thinking of saving money by hiring a legal services attorney who advertises discounted rates, stop. The cost to file bankruptcy Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 is often many times what you think it will be as an incentive for these attorneys to take on your case.

Richard West Law Office strives to make our top-notch bankruptcy expertise available to you in a way that is affordable. Payment plans are customized to your budget. We start working for you from day one, accepting all of your creditor calls right away and equipped with the personal touch needed as we educate you about your options.

Source of Debt in Cleveland

Medical

Nearly one-third of families have some kind of medical bills, and 28% of these have balances over $10,000. If you have medical debt that is making it difficult or impossible to meet your living expenses, it’s time for action.

Even if you’re fortunate enough to be insured, a serious illness can wipe out your savings, and it may take years to pay off accumulated medical debt. The average medical bill today is $9,000 – more than double the national average in 1983.

Student loan

The majority of 18 to 29 year olds with student loans attend college and 40% of those attending have debt. This is a major issue in Cleveland, Ohio and can lower your credit score if you default. In some cases interest rates also double what you owe – bankruptcy may not be the solution but it does help get rid of other

Credit cards

Credit cards are a necessary part of life, but they can be a huge burden if not managed properly. A person can easily run into trouble by taking cash advances from credit cards, doing balance transfers or following “teaser rates”. Credit has never been easier to acquire and it seems like all you need to do is fill out an online

Mortgage debt

Purchasing a home is the American Dream. Interest rates are at historic lows and housing costs are skyrocketing. Unfortunately, too many borrowers focus on buying before they make budget plans for taxes, insurance, and other extra spending that comes with owning a home. When buying with little left over in the budget for these expenses, homeowners can find themselves swimming in red ink.

Lawsuits

Lawsuits are not uncommon, but lawsuits from creditors can be all the more terrifying. Personal protection against creditor lawsuits is possible with bankruptcy.

The benefit of bankruptcy protection against creditor lawsuits is that it also stops government tax collectors and the courts from levying your personal income, assets and property to pay off a lawsuit.

Bankruptcy petitions may also be filed against Creditors who file lawsuits against you, stopping them from collecting their debt.

Sources of Debt

What They Can Claim

What They Can Cause

Protect Yourself From Creditors

If you are struggling with debt and need help, you have options. The first step in dealing with your debts is to determine if bankruptcy is right for you.

Serving clients in bankruptcy for the past decade, I understand what it takes to get through this difficult process. The last thing you need is more stress. Let me help you figure out your options and make a plan that works best for your situation.

Types of Debts Discharged in Bankruptcy

Credit Card Debt
Credit card debt is a major reason to file for bankruptcy. The interest charged on credit card debt often forces you to pay much more for things you buy. Credit card debts are referred to as “unsecured debts,” which means the things you purchase cannot be repossessed if you discharge the debt in bankruptcy.
Medical Bills Medicals bills are another top reason people file bankruptcy in Cleveland, Ohio. Even if you have insurance, the cost of any medical issue can be too much to handle. Often, it only takes a single trip to the hospital to break your budget. Medical bills are discharged in bankruptcy, and if you do file bankruptcy on medical debt, you will not be denied medical treatment in the future, should you need to go to the emergency room.
Mortgage Debt Bankruptcy will discharge debt arising from a foreclosure. Foreclosure sales often result in very large deficiency judgments, which ruin your credit. Normally the amount is so large you will never be able to pay it. You can discharge this deficiency in Chapter 7. If you’re behind on your mortgage, filing bankruptcy in Cleveland Ohio, can stop the sheriff’s sale and give you time to catch up on missed payments. By discharging other debts, you free up money to catch up on your mortgage.
Personal Loans (including Payday Loans and Cash Advances) These are unsecured debts and can be discharged in bankruptcy. Often you are required to sign a document that indicates you are not filing bankruptcy. These are totally unenforceable in bankruptcy! You cannot “sign away your right to file bankruptcy” on these loans. While there are a few considerations to observe, like how long ago the loan was taken out, we discharge these debts every day.
Forbearance Debt on Mortgage If you have a mortgage forbearance and did not make your mortgage payments, some mortgage lenders want you to pay more than you can afford to catch up.
When the payments are more than you can afford, bankruptcy can give you up to 5 years to catch up on the missed payments. You would discharge your unsecured debt with little or no payment and free up money to save your home.
Evictions and Bankruptcy Debt owed from apartment leases can be discharged in bankruptcy. This includes back rent as well as “damages” the landlord claims you may have caused. Discharging debt related to broken leases and evictions will generally not keep you from being able to rent another apartment or house later. In fact, many landlords look at a prior bankruptcy as a positive thing.
Having little or no debt means that you will be better able to pay your rent on time!
Student Loan Debt
Although student loans are seldom discharged in bankruptcy, you could free up money in your budget to start paying the student loans by discharging other debts. And, if a student loan creditor is suing you, bankruptcy can give you the “breathing room” you need to wipe out other debts, put a freeze on the student loan collections, and get the time you need to recover financially. Then, after bankruptcy, you could have the ability to begin making payments on the student loans.

Rebuild Your Credit

With the step-by-step guidance of this simple program, you’ll know what to do, when, and in what order, to improve your credit. Most will get a credit score of 650 – 700 within a year of discharge after filing Chapter 7.

Now that’s a financial recovery!

Many people recover good credit after bankruptcy. You can too!

It won’t matter that the bankruptcy will appear on your credit report – if you have taken the proper steps to raise your score. Many of our clients get car loans at good interest rates only a year after discharge and are buying homes only 2 to 3 years later.

Filing for bankruptcy is often the smartest move you can make. If you’re so far behind that it will take you years to catch up; then bankruptcy should NOT be a “last resort.” Once you talk with one of our attorneys, you may find that you can cut years off your financial recovery time. And nobody has time to waste paying bills they can discharge, freeing up money for themselves and their families.

How a Cleveland Bankruptcy Attorney Can Help.

You can trust our 35 year track record of proven success.

Choosing a bankruptcy type to file and filing for bankruptcy in Clevaland is confusing, complicated, and many mistakes can be made if you are not well versed in bankruptcy law.

Therefore, it only makes sense to use the expertise of a bankruptcy attorney when needing to address debt relief.

The best solution in bankruptcy is to find a lawyer you can trust. One that has many reviews and testimonials.

This leaves room for zero errors. Most of our clients have very little knowledge on the bankruptcy process, bankruptcy law.

Don’t delay when filing, if your financial situation is dire or becoming unmanageable the reach out to Richard West Law Office today for a free no-obligation consolation with one of the best bankruptcy attorneys in Cleveland. We can file online, and we offer no-contact consultations.

Our Service Area

We Service the Following Cities and Communities near Cleveland, Ohio.

Ready? Get on the Road to Bankruptcy Recovery

We are still open for remote filings in Cleveland and remote consultations during the pandemic. All consultations are free and there is no catch. We only work with clients who want to work with us. Nothing high-pressure. We look forward to assisting you.

Get A Free Consultation

Call (330) 333-5771

One of Ohio's Top-Rated Bankruptcy Attorneys,
Over 30,000 clients helped since 1986.