Consumer debt makes life harder.
Garnishment makes it harder to pay the rent or buy food. Collection lawsuits mean you need time off from work. Repossession means you can’t get to work. Debt collection harassment can make it harder to sleep at night.
Many people don’t even know about all of their options. They need someone to answer the basic questions. Is bankruptcy the right choice? Do I have defenses in a collection lawsuit? Can I get my garnished money back? Do I need to file a lawsuit against a debt collector who won’t stop harassing me?
I can point you in the right direction
Sometimes people do not need to hire a lawyer. They may only need the right court form, website, or resource. When you first contact me, we'll quickly figure out whether that's the case. If it is, I will point you in the right direction and wish you luck.
Consultation
If you need legal advice, we can schedule a 30-minute consultation for $50. In that time, I can explain legal documents, help you understand your rights, or work with you on a strategy for moving forward. If you later hire me for additional services, the $50 consultation fee will be applied toward those fees.
Brief legal services
Sometimes an hour or two of focused help is enough. Depending on the situation, I may be able to help with tasks such as filling out court forms, drafting dispute letters, or preparing exemption claims. Fees for this work depend on the type and complexity of the help you need but you'll always know the cost before I start any work.
Limited-scope representation
If brief legal services might not solve your legal issue, then we can discuss whether a limited-scope retainer agreement would be a better option. This is also called “unbundled legal representation.” The most common scenarios are when people need me to represent them with exemption claims (for garnishment), conciliation court debt collection hearings, or preparing and serving the beginning documents (e.g., the Answer) in state court debt collection cases.
Full representation in debt defense cases
If you're being sued by a debt collector and the best option is to defend the case in court, I can represent you from start to finish
Debt collector misconduct
Sometimes debt collectors cross the line — calling too often, misrepresenting a debt, or using illegal tactics. When that happens, a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) claim against the collector may be the right response, and I can pursue that on your behalf.
Bankruptcy
When these other options are not enough, bankruptcy may be the best path forward. If that is the case, I can represent you in a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case.
Whatever stage you're at, you'll know the cost before any work begins. If any of this sounds like your situation, contact me to talk it through.