Findlay Bankruptcy Attorney

Trusted, Board Certified, 35 Years Experience

Since 1986, Richard West Law Office has helped over 30,000 families review their options in Chapter 7 & Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Our attorneys can help clients in Findlay, Ohio by reviewing all of your options, and providing sound financial advice to get you through difficult financial times.

Over 30,000 Families Served

Since1986, We have been the authority for debt relief and credit recovery.

Your Case Will Be Approved

You can depend on us. We're one of the oldest Debt Relief firms in the State of Ohio.

Over 30 Years Fighting Credit Card Predators

Why You Should Hire a Findlay Bankruptcy Attorney

There are many in Findlay Ohio who need to consult a bankruptcy attorney for help with their finances. There are many options available, and filing for bankruptcy should not be your last resort as it is often said to be.

Bankruptcy law is powerful and effective. You need certainty in your solution. NOT a take your chances debt management programs which an never guarantee the outcome of your problem.

Don’t gamble your future on ineffective debt management programs when you really need to file for bankruptcy. These programs only make money for for the settlement company, and you could end up being sued. When that happens, they often tell you to consult a bankruptcy attorney.

Call the Findlay Ohio bankruptcy attorney who can help you evaluate all your options, and explain which option is best for your unique situation.

Did you know that Chapter 13 bankruptcy often offers more benefits than Chapter 7? It’s true even though more people file Chapter 7. They often could do better in Chapter 13!

Be cautious. You may not feel comfortable with a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy attorney who can’t explain your options in in Chapter 13 as well. If you do, you could be missing out on thousands of dollars in potential savings.

Richard West Law Office

(419) 333-1660

By Filing for Bankruptcy Relief in Findlay You Can

Wipe Out Debt, Keep Your Property & Rebuild Your Credit

Are you a Findlay, 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 Findlay

How we can Help

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Personal Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney

What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy ?

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy [also called straight bankruptcy] allows you to wipe out most of your debts and start with a clean slate. It may be an option when you cannot repay your debt using a repayment plan or other alternatives, like debt consolidation. In many cases, filing for Chapter 7 will allow you to keep everything you own

The benefits of filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

The most important benefit of filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy is that it can get rid of your debt. It’s also very fast — in many cases, you will be able to start again within a few months and often much sooner. Bankruptcy doesn’t discharge all debts but does get rid of most of them.

Most people keep their homes and cars in bankruptcy, and wipe out all their unsecured debts like credit cards, personal loans and medical bills.

With our unique 1 year follow-up credit rebuild program, you can easily rebuild your credit after wiping out your debt in bankruptcy. Most of our clients get credit scores of 650 – 700 within one year.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Personal Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy ?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a reorganization of your debts, also called a restructuring. When you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you have to repay some of your debts, normally not all, over a 3-to-5 year period. Many Chapter 13 plans only pay 1% of the debt, so in effect, these plans are a lot like Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy can provide significant debt protections and conveniences compared to the alternatives under Chapter 7.

For example, you can catch up missed payments on your house and car in a Chatper 13, whereas in a Chapter 7 you would need to be current on these debts to keep the car or house.

Chapter 13 protects you the entire time you are in the plan. And, in many cases, the plan can be modified, if needed, to adjust for changes in your financial situation.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy can be a good option if you have valuable property that you have more equity in than can be protected in a Chapter 7.

For example, if you had a car which was worth $10,000, and owned it free and clear, you would either lose it in a Chapter 7 or have to pay the trustee to keep it. In a Chapter 13, this would not be the case. You would simply pay a small amount to your creditors in order to keep the car.

Debt Settlement & Debt Negotiation

Debt settlement is a way to pay off debt by negotiating with creditors and agreeing on the amount that will be paid back in full. There are some people who are against bankruptcy, and look to this practice as a way for them to save money without filing bankruptcy. But, there are also risks involved with debt settlement.

The main risk of debt settlement is that if you don’t have the money to settle the account, then you’re just going to make matters worse. That’s because you’ll just accumulate more debt, which will result in more interest charges and in most cases, your credit scores will take a big hit!

So you will end up in the same situation, but at a higher rate of interest and with poor credit.

Another risk is that creditors may take legal action against you. Debt settlement is 100% voluntary. Unlike bankruptcy, which forces the creditors to take nothing, or less than what you owe, debt settlement is purely optional for your creditors.

It’s a gamble. If you lose, you end up filing bankruptcy in most cases. And, debt settlement is worse, for a longer period of time, for your credit.

The Cost of a Bankruptcy Attorney in Findlay

Just as in all aspects of life, a cheap bankruptcy lawyer is not always the best choice. You may end up forking over more funds than you had planned if you opt to go with the cheapest attorney you can find. When it comes to such an important factor in your financial future, make sure you invest wisely and get the sound advice and wise representation that, as you would expect, costs a bit more but is an investment in you, and your future.

Hiring an attorney based on costs alone could cost you far more in the long run. Some attorneys actually advertise cheap fees to take advantage of people with very little money.

Richard West Law Office strives to provide the best legal representation, but doesn’t sacrifice quality for affordability.

Source of Debt in Findlay

Medical

Almost one-third of America’s families have medical debt, with many balances nearing $10,000. It doesn’t matter if you’re insured or not–a single serious issue can completely wipe you out.

Student loan

Statistics show that 42% of 18-29 year olds have student loans to pay. This extensive debt is a huge problem in Findlay, Ohio. Defaulting on your loan often raises the interest rate and lowers your credit score. Bankruptcy is not an option for student loans, but by getting rid of various other debts can make it possible to start whittling away at this mountainous debt.

Credit cards

Credit cards are a fact of life and they will always be, but it can become easy to get deep into debt if you don’t pay attention. Doing cash advances on credit cards, balance transfers – taking advantage of teaser rates – can lead you down a slippery slope before long. Asking for more credit when you have too many is often

Mortgage debt

Dreaming of owning a home? Before borrowing up to your maximum and signing away the next thirty years, you should recognize there are many other hidden costs that might go with that purchase. Many people find themselves underwater with mortgage debt. A large portion of Findlay families have this particular kind of debt.

If you get behind on bills, it is tempting not to pay your mortgage because your other creditors are hounding you. But your home is the most important thing you have! Better to file bankruptcy on other debt, which will free up money to keep your home.

Lawsuits

Nothing creates a sense of panic and fear like receiving a debt lawsuit in the mail. But, rather than working with customers, more creditors are turning delinquent accounts over to law firms to sue you. Once a debt is turned over through a lawyer for collection, there is almost guaranteed to be judgment against the consumer. Once that happens creditors can use that judgment to garnish wages. It is a frightening process.

Sources of Debt

What They Can Claim

What They Can Cause

What Debts Can and Can Not Be Discharged?

Common debts discharged in bankruptcy

Most debts are forgiven in bankruptcy, but some cannot be discharged like most taxes or child support debt.

Credit card debt

Credit card debt is one of the reasons people file for bankruptcy. It’s one of the top reasons.

Credit card companies make it hard. They charge you more than you pay them, and they force you to do things that cost money. You will be able to get new credit cards after bankruptcy, which is the beginning of better credit.

Medical bills

One of the leading reasons for bankruptcy is unpaid medical bills. It’s expensive to be sick, and sometimes the treatment is more expensive than the debt can withstand.

Filing bankruptcy on medical debt is common. It can be necessary in many situations. You will always be able to go to the emergency room if you need to.

Personal loans

Personal loans are a huge problem in America. Financing companies like One Main, Mariner and Tracir often make it easier than ever to get into unsustainable debt situations.

All of these personal loans can be discharged in bankruptcy.

Cash advance loans

One of the common debts we eliminate in bankruptcy is a cash advance loan. Interest rates for these types of loans are usually sky-high.

This includes cash advances, even if you have signed an application form that says you won’t file bankruptcy. In 35 years of practice I have never had a problem discharging a cash advance loan.

Foreclosure and repossession deficiencies

After someone’s home is foreclosed or vehicle is repossessed, they will probably be sued for the “deficiency.” All of these debts are discharged in bankruptcy.

There’s more bad news. Even if the creditor doesn’t sue you, they will normally report the debt on your credit report, causing more damage, in some cases, over time, than if they had sued.

You can file bankruptcy to get rid of these debts. Some of these creditors will be very aggressive and try to take money from your paycheck or your bank account. But if you file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, then you can start over, rebuild credit with no debt, and get your life back.

Rebuild Your Credit

Most people think that if they file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Findlay Ohio that they will have no credit or bad credit, for a years. And, sadly, many who file bankruptcy do. But it’s not because they have to. It’s because they don’t know how to recover their credit after filing bankruptcy.

With my unique program, designed especially for my clients who discharge debt in bankruptcy, you can easily learn how to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy in Findlay Ohio.

To rebuild your credit after bankruptcy, you will need to have a plan that is both effective and easy.

Turns out that discharging debt you could not have paid off in a reasonable time anyway can become a perfect beginning for you to rebuild your credit.

Nearly all of my clients are able to follow my simple, yet powerful and effective credit recovery program. Commonly, they get FICO scores of 650 – 700 within a year of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge, or even while they are still in the middle of their Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.

These are typical results. Some of my clients even get higher scores!

How A Findlay Bankruptcy Attorney Can Help.

Being deep in debt in Findlay Ohio is not a good place to be.

If you live in Findlay, Ohio, your bankruptcy case will be filed in the Toledo Bankruptcy Court.

While there are many attorneys in Findlay, there is only one board certified consumer bankruptcy specialist, recognized by the Ohio Supreme Court, and that’s Richard West, who is certified by the American Board of Certification.

You may not need to file bankruptcy, and Richard West knows this, because he is also a certified debt specialist, and can advise you on your non-bankruptcy options as well as explain how bankruptcy might benefit you.

When your situation calls for you to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Findlay, Ohio, you want to use a certified specialist to get the best results.

Why? Because you can only be sure you have the best option by reviewing all options.

This is just common sense.

Everyone understands that if you have a serious problem, you get a specialist to help.

The decision you make today will affect you for many years.

It’s important to get this right, the first time. Get an experienced and trusted Findlay Debt Attorney

Call us at (419) 333-1660 or fill out our free bankruptcy evaluation form.

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

Ready? Get on the Road to Bankruptcy Recovery

We are still open for remote filings in Findlay 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 (419) 333-1660

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