For over ten years, Madison Bankruptcy Lawyers Brett Pfeifer and Arnie Lueders have helped people conquer their debt and get on with their lives. Even though Congress has passed new bankruptcy laws, you may still be eligible to file. Call today for a free consultation.
Compassionate
We know that you are in crisis. We know that our clients are under a lot of stress. Collection calls come every day. Bills pile up on the kitchen counter. The electric company threatens to shut off your lights. Your paycheck only goes so far.
We believe you’re a responsible person. Maybe you lost your job, or got sick, or had a death in the family. Soon your finances spiraled out of control. You were playing catch-up, and did okay for a while. That was before your interest rates got so high that you couldn’t keep up. We know that you want to do what’s right. You want to pay what you owe. Right now, it’s just not possible.
You’re probably at your wit’s end. Can you keep your house, your car? What’s going to happen to your kids?
A Way out of Debt
There is a way out. We can stop the collection calls and prevent utility shutoffs. We can help you get your debt under control. If you declare bankruptcy, we can guide you through the process. We can even help you plan for the future. Call our toll free number and get your life back.
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
How will this affect my Credit?
How Long will this take?
Do I have to go to court?
Can I keep my property?
Do I have to include all of my creditors?
Once I retain Credit Solutions, S.C. can creditors still bother me?
Do I need to update my information if something changes?
Why do I need a picture ID and proof of Social Security number?
Can I swirthch from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 and can I cancel if I want to?
Do I include my utilities?
How will this affect my credit?
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can remain on your credit for as long as 10 years and Chapter 13 for 7 years. However, usually if you already have bad credit then a bankruptcy will bring an end to that and allow you to rebuild your credit without the burden of bad debt.
How long will this take?
A typical Chapter 7 Bankruptcy takes anywhere from 3 months to 6 months from filing to discharge. The amount of time it takes to get filed depends in part on your cooperation. There is a lot of information we need before we can file a case. The sooner we can get that information from you, and the better the form the information is in, the sooner we can get the case filed. Once you have paid all the required attorney fees and the court costs, it usually takes 3 – 10 days to receive your petition. You need to review it, sign it and return it to our office. Once we receive it, it will be filed within a week. If you need special attention, such as garnishment, utility shut off, etc, please let us know! A typical Chapter 13 will take as long as we propose the plan to be, which is similar to a Chapter 128. The pre-filing time frame is similar to a Chapter 7.
Do I have to go to court?
If you file a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13, YOU WILL HAVE TO GO TO COURT AT LEAST ONCE. In a Chapter 7, there is a meeting of creditors, or 341 meeting. At this meeting, you are questioned by another lawyer concerning your assets. Your creditors are free to appear at this meeting and examine you under oath. The fact is that Sears is really the only creditor that regularly appears at these meetings. If you file a Chapter 128, there is usually no court to attend unless a creditor objects to your plan.
Can I Keep my property?
Typically, Yes. In a Chapter 7, you can keep your property if it doesn’t exceed the exemptions allowed. The exemptions in Wisconsin are very generous. If the property has a lien or loan against it, you can keep the property if you still wish to pay on the lien. You can surrender the property and be relieved of paying the debt. In a Chapter 13, as well as a Chapter 128, unless you want to surrender some property, you will keep all of your property.
Do I have to include all of my creditors?
Yes in a Chapter 7 or 13. The law requires that you list all of your creditors (even family members). In a Chapter 7, you can choose to repay any creditor voluntarily. In a Chapter 13, most creditors will cancel your accounts. In a Chapter 128, you can choose which creditors to choose and which to leave out.
Once I retain Credit Solutions, S.C. can creditors still bother me?
To a certain extent, there are laws preventing collectors from contacting you directly (by phone) once you have retained an attorney. Thus once you hire us, you can tell the collector that you have hired Credit Solutions, S.C. to file a bankruptcy, chapter 13, or chapter 128 and give them our phone number and they should leave you alone. This will not stop the bills from being sent but should stop the phone from ringing.
Do I need to update my information if something changes?
THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT, we as your attorneys, need to be able to reach you, before, during and after the case has been filed. We are required to inform the court of any address changes within 6 months of the filing of the case. Please keep our office apprised of your changes in phone numbers, addresses, jobs, etc.
Why do I need a picture ID and proof of social security number?
The court is trying to verify that everyone that files Bankruptcy is who they say they are. It is really for everyone’s protection against mistakes.
Can I switch from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 and can I cancel it if I want to?
You can switch from a Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 if you haven’t filed a previous 7 in the last 6 years and otherwise qualify. Usually there is a reason you filed for a 13, if that reason is no longer important, then you can convert to a chapter 7. You can also cancel a Chapter 13 voluntarily at any time by notifying the court.
Do I include my utilities?
Yes. The utilities are monopolies and as such cannot deny you service. They can require a security deposit be posted within 20 days of filing to continue your service, but this is extremely rare. Our utility companies are very cooperative and usually quick. Once a case is filed, a fax is sent to the utility companies and if your service is due to be shut off, it won’t, and if your service is already off, you can have it turned back on.
