Hear from Our Customers
Filing bankruptcy stops creditor harassment the day we submit your petition. No more threatening calls at dinner time, no more wage garnishments shrinking your paycheck, no more lying awake calculating bills you can’t pay.
Within 90 days, you can wipe out credit card balances, medical debt, and personal loans completely. Your phone goes quiet, your wages stay in your account, and you finally have breathing room to focus on what matters.
The automatic stay protection is immediate and absolute. Creditors who violate it face serious penalties. You get to keep essential assets while eliminating the debt that’s been strangling your finances for months or years.
We have been helping Washington Heights residents escape crushing debt since 1993. We understand this community’s financial challenges – from the 61% Hispanic population dealing with language barriers in debt collection to families earning 20% below the city median income.
We’ve seen how Washington Heights has changed. Rent increased 33% in recent years while wages stayed flat. Medical debt hits hard in a community where many work jobs without comprehensive health coverage.
Ronald Weiss graduated NYU Law School and clerked for a federal bankruptcy judge. But credentials matter less than results. We’ve stopped thousands of foreclosures, eliminated millions in debt, and given Washington Heights families fresh starts when they needed them most.
We start with an honest conversation about your complete financial picture. No shame, no judgment – just straight talk about your debts, income, and what you want to achieve. We explain Chapter 7 for fast debt elimination or Chapter 13 for saving your home.
Once we file your petition, the automatic stay kicks in immediately. Every creditor must stop contacting you by law. Collection calls end, lawsuits halt, wage garnishments stop. The relief starts before you leave our office.
Most Chapter 7 cases finish in 3-4 months with your debts completely discharged. Chapter 13 takes longer but lets you keep assets while paying a fraction of what you owe. Either way, you emerge with tools to rebuild credit and stay debt-free.
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Washington Heights families face unique financial pressures that make debt problems escalate quickly. With median household income at $64,000 – well below Manhattan’s average – and rent consuming huge portions of family budgets, one emergency can trigger a debt spiral.
We handle every type of bankruptcy case. Chapter 7 liquidation eliminates unsecured debt fast. Chapter 13 repayment plans save homes from foreclosure while reducing total debt payments. Chapter 11 business reorganizations help local entrepreneurs recover.
Our foreclosure defense services understand Washington Heights’ housing market. We know how to negotiate with lenders familiar with this area’s property values and demographics. This local knowledge helps us craft solutions that work specifically for families living and working in this community.
Bankruptcy stops creditor harassment the moment we file your petition with the court. The automatic stay takes effect immediately, legally prohibiting all collection activity against you.
This means collection calls stop today, not next week. Wage garnishments halt with your next paycheck. Bank levies get reversed. Even foreclosure proceedings must pause while your bankruptcy case proceeds through the Eastern District of New York.
The protection is comprehensive and immediate. Creditors who violate the automatic stay face sanctions and penalties. This gives you breathing room to focus on your case rather than dodging collectors and worrying about your next paycheck.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts completely. This includes credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, collection accounts, old utility bills, and deficiency balances from repossessed vehicles.
You can also discharge certain older tax debts and past-due rent from previous apartments. If you surrender secured property like a car or furniture, the remaining loan balance gets wiped out too.
Student loans, recent taxes, child support, and alimony typically survive bankruptcy. But for most Washington Heights residents struggling with credit card and medical debt, Chapter 7 provides complete relief from the debts causing the most financial stress.
Most Washington Heights homeowners keep their homes through bankruptcy using New York’s generous homestead exemption. This protects up to $170,825 in home equity, or more in certain circumstances.
If you’re current on mortgage payments and don’t have excessive equity, Chapter 7 won’t affect your home ownership. If you’re behind on payments, Chapter 13 can stop foreclosure and let you catch up over 3-5 years.
The key is timing. Washington Heights property values have increased significantly, but our exemption planning ensures you keep maximum home equity protection. Early consultation gives us the most options for protecting your home.
Our Washington Heights bankruptcy fees are structured for families facing financial hardship. Chapter 7 cases typically cost $1,800-$2,500 total including court fees, while Chapter 13 varies based on your repayment plan complexity.
We offer flexible payment plans because we understand you’re filing bankruptcy precisely because money is tight. Many clients pay half upfront and the balance over 60-90 days before filing.
When you compare bankruptcy costs to what you’re paying creditors monthly without reducing your debt, the investment makes sense. Most Washington Heights families save more in the first month after filing than they pay in total legal fees.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy takes 3-4 months from filing to final discharge in the Eastern District of New York. Most of this time involves mandatory waiting periods rather than active legal work.
Chapter 13 cases last 3-5 years since they involve court-supervised repayment plans. However, you get immediate creditor protection and can often keep assets that Chapter 7 might require you to surrender.
Washington Heights cases typically move efficiently through the Brooklyn federal courthouse. We’ll provide realistic timelines during consultation and keep you informed about each milestone so you know exactly what to expect.
Medical debt is completely dischargeable in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This includes hospital bills, doctor bills, ambulance charges, medical credit cards, and payment plans with healthcare providers.
Medical emergencies affect 41% of American families, and Washington Heights residents often work jobs without comprehensive health coverage. You shouldn’t sacrifice your financial future because of healthcare costs beyond your control.
Even if you’re making monthly payments on medical debt, bankruptcy can eliminate the entire balance immediately. This is usually more beneficial than payment plans that take years to complete with interest and fees continuing to accumulate.
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