Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Seattle Bankruptcy Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
1818 Westlake Ave N., Suite 202, Seattle, WA 98109
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Symmes Law Group is a financial law firm that has been providing legal representation to commercial and individual debtors in Seattle, Washington, since 2010. The firm takes cases involving student loans, foreclosure defense, and Chapters 7 and 13 bankruptcy. It also counsels its clients and assists them with rebuilding their credit scores after filing for bankruptcy. Founding attorney Richard J. Symmes is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Richard Symmes - Principal | Active | 15 yrs |
2634 Thorndyke Avenue West, Seattle, WA 98199
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The Law Office of David A. Kubat is a bankruptcy law firm based in Seattle that has been providing debt relief services for clients in the northwest Washington area since 1986. With 34 years of experience in the industry, founder David A. Kubat has provided legal representation to over 5,000 individuals and businesses. He handles foreclosure and cases related to bankruptcy law, such as chapter 7 bankruptcy, chapter 13 bankruptcy, and chapter 13 qualifications.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| David Kubat - Founder | Active | 39 yrs |
10308 Northeast 183rd Street, Bothell, WA 98011
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Hugg & Associates PLLC is a boutique law firm that offers legal assistance in Seattle and other areas. The company's founder, John M. Hugg, is a bankruptcy lawyer who has been practicing law in Seattle for 20 years. Hugg is a member of the Greater Bothell Chamber of Commerce, and the co-chairman of the chamber's senior resource committee. Hugg & Associates also handles cases such as asset protection, business succession planning, real estate, and business law.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| John Hugg - Principal | Active | 27 yrs |
5400 Carillon Point, Kirkland, WA 98033
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Dianna Caley, Attorney at Law is a bankruptcy lawyer and experienced litigator near Seattle who offers services to individuals, small companies, and even Fortune 500 companies. With over 20 years of legal experience, Dianna Caley represents individuals and creditors in all matters related to bankruptcy, including arbitration, mediation, and litigation. She assists with tax problems, filing bankruptcy, separating divorcing couples' finances, and stopping foreclosure or litigation. Dianna has helped hundreds of clients file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Dianna Caley - Principal | Active | 31 yrs |
10900 Northeast 4th Street, Suite 1850, Bellevue, WA 98004
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Peterson Russell Kelly Livengood PLLC is a bankruptcy law firm representing a wide range of clients—from individuals and solo entrepreneurs, to regional, national, and international corporations. Located six miles away from Seattle, the firm has helped many clients with bankruptcy law and creditors' rights matters. Peterson Russell Kelly Livengood PLLC helps creditors such as borrowers, commercial lenders, commercial landlords, and trade creditors with collection matters. They also represent creditors in bankruptcy proceedings and help businesses with restructuring.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| David Kelly - Partner | Active | 41 yrs |
5400 Carillon Point, Kirkland, WA 98033
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Kuhlman Law Office, PLLC is a bankruptcy law firm located near Seattle that helps debtors manage stress from mounting debt and harassment by creditors and collections agencies. The firm's bankruptcy attorney can guide clients through filing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which can potentially help them partially or fully discharge debt, stop any wage garnishments, and protect certain properties from repossession and foreclosure. Aside from bankruptcy assistance, the Kuhlman Law Office also helps clients create wills and plan their estates.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Denise Kuhlman - Principal | Active | 35 yrs |
1200 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
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Pivotal Law Group is a general litigation law firm serving the residents of Seattle, Washington, and the surrounding area. One of the firm's primary areas of practice is financial law, and its attorneys represent creditors in bankruptcy claims. They aim to protect their clients' rights and obtain their payment for overdue loans through negotiation. Managing partner Christopher Thayer also has experience in cases involving personal injury, real estate, and business law.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Shepherd - Member | Active | 41 yrs |
| Christopher Thayer - Managing Member | Active | 30 yrs |
1201 3rd Ave Ste 3800, Seattle, WA 98101
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Susman Godfrey LLP is a full-service law firm that has been representing the people of Seattle, Washington, for more than 40 years. The office's principal areas of practice include financial law, and its legal team works with debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. It helps debtors pay off their loans through liquidation of assets or restructuring of their company. In 2015, multiple of the firm's attorneys were named Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Neal Manne - Managing Partner | Active | 36 yrs |
1700 7th Ave Ste 2200 S, Seattle, WA 98101
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Founded in 1978, Tousley, Brian, Stephens PLLC is a general litigation law firm serving the community of Seattle, Washington, that has another office in Spokane. The firm's primary areas of practice include financial law, and its attorneys represent creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. They aim to recover payment for any overdue loans their clients have given out. The firm was featured in U.S. News & World Report's Best Law Firms ranking.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Kim Stephens - Member | Active | 43 yrs |
| Chase Alvord - Managing Member | Active | 28 yrs |
| Janissa Strabuk - Managing Member | Active | 32 yrs |
40 Lake Bellevue Drive, Bellevue, WA 98005
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Lisa S. Tse, Esq. is a bankruptcy lawyer in Seattle who also serves neighboring counties. She started her law practice dealing with foreclosure cases prior to the passing of the Washington Foreclosure Fairness Act. Thereafter, she worked for two Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustees in Seattle and went on to establish her own bankruptcy law firm. The Law Office of Lisa S. Tse provides Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy services and other services such as debt settlement and legal aid.
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Lisa Tse - Principal | Active | 13 yrs |
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You may file for bankruptcy in Seattle by mail or in person at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Western District of Washington: 700 Stewart St., #6301 Seattle, WA 98101 For further assistance, you may call the office at 206-370-5200.
You may download the necessary bankruptcy forms for filing in Seattle at https://www.wawb.uscourts.gov/forms/all-forms.
Yes. You can file for bankruptcy in Seattle without the assistance of a lawyer, known as a pro se bankruptcy case. However, navigating bankruptcy law alone can be extremely difficult and risky since you may lose property or other rights as you go. That said, it would be wise to seek the help of an experienced bankruptcy lawyer to file your case.
If you are paying child support and decide to file for bankruptcy in Seattle, this doesn’t exempt you from your child support or even spousal support duties. Bankruptcy also won’t discharge you from other debts like student loans, criminal fines, certain taxes, and court restitution orders. Consequently, bankruptcy is not the answer to all your financial woes.
Yes. You maintain your right to receive certain benefits, including social security benefits, even after filing for bankruptcy in Seattle. Regardless of the amount, you are also eligible for unemployment benefits, public assistance, pensions, and veteran benefits. However, when a married couple files for bankruptcy together, these benefit exemption amounts are doubled.
No. Generally, bankruptcy cases stay on one’s credit report for a maximum of 10 years in Seattle. The Fair Credit Reporting Act, Section 605, governs credit reporting agencies, ensuring that these companies do not report a bankruptcy on your credit report beyond the fixed period of 10 years. If you wish to dispute a bankruptcy case that appears on your credit report, you must contact the credit reporting agency directly and consider consulting with a bankruptcy attorney.
Yes. In Seattle, filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy will cease the garnishment of your wages once your attorney files your case and notifies your employer. If your earnings were garnished within 90 days of filing your case, you might receive those wages back after filing if they are exempt funds.
Bankruptcy attorneys help clients understand whether they qualify for bankruptcy and what their best options are. They also prepare and file petitions, answer questions during the proceedings, and educate clients about potential best steps for a positive bankruptcy outcome. Bankruptcy attorneys might also file motions or paperwork if creditors dispute the bankruptcy, or to stop creditors from taking collections actions forbidden by the bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy is a formal process that individuals, married couples, or businesses can enact when they are no longer able to pay creditors. In a bankruptcy proceeding, filers are allowed to reduce debt to more manageable levels to best pay off money owed. Once the bankruptcy process is initiated, debt collectors can no longer seek repayments outside of the arrangements detailed in the bankruptcy settlement. Some forms of bankruptcy result in the liquidation of assets to pay back debts, while others allow filers to retain most of their possessions and investments. Many types of unsecured debt can be managed with bankruptcy filings, but not all.
Under most circumstances, student loans aren't dischargeable and aren't included in bankruptcy proceedings. In rare cases, it may be possible to eliminate student loans through bankruptcy, but only if the courts determine that continuing to pay the loans would impose an undue hardship. Meeting the criteria for undue hardship is challenging, and most bankruptcy filers don't qualify.
How long bankruptcy stays on public record depends on the kind of bankruptcy filing in question. Chapter 7 bankruptcy remains on the record for 10 years as there isn't necessarily a repayment component. Chapter 13 bankruptcy remains on the record for seven years as some obligations are repaid following filing based on the terms of a discharge settlement.
Existing liens are not eliminated with bankruptcy.
In many cases, it's possible to keep a vehicle following Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The Chapter 7 Motor Vehicle Exemption allows filers who own their vehicles outright or who are up to date with payments to keep their cars. However, those behind on making car payments are required to arrange a repayment plan. Otherwise, the vehicle may be repossessed as a part of the proceedings.
Although possible, due to the damaging nature of bankruptcy, filing bankruptcy more than once isn't recommended. Filing multiple times puts a serious burden on one's credit report, making it harder to get a loan, buy a house, buy a car, or even open credit cards. Note that filing for bankruptcy isn't something that can be done at a filer's leisure. There are time limits following bankruptcy cases that dictate when it's permissible to file again. For example, after Chapter 7 bankruptcy, filers must wait at least eight years before filing Chapter 7 again or four years before filing Chapter 13.
Anyone can file bankruptcy, but there are limitations regarding which form of bankruptcy is permissible. Qualifying for Chapter 7 requires a means test that evaluates income, debt levels, and income left over each month after paying basic obligations. Income over the median set by the court and monthly income that allows meaningful payments toward unsecured debt can disqualify filers from Chapter 7, which is generally the preferred form of bankruptcy due to the possibility of a full discharge. Anyone can file Chapter 13 bankruptcy, but the terms are less favorable. In most cases, some debts must be repaid following a successful filing. Chapter 13 is also more likely to result in asset forfeiture.
Bankruptcies are noted on credit reports. How much a bankruptcy might drop a person's credit score depends on how high the score was to begin with, but generally speaking, the hit can be as much as 100 to 200 points. Often scores are already dropping because people filing for bankruptcy may have already missed payments on debts. Chapter 13 bankruptcies are listed on credit reports for seven years from the filing date, while Chapter 7 bankruptcies are listed for 10 years from the filing date. This is because Chapter 13 bankruptcies require at least partial payment of debts owed.
Filing a bankruptcy petition causes an automatic stay. This legally stops creditors from taking further action to collect debt, including garnishing wages or foreclosing on property. Going through a bankruptcy successfully means that debts included in the bankruptcy are discharged and don't have to be paid back, except as provided in a Chapter 13 repayment plan. Bankruptcy can help someone recover from financial duress so they can make better decisions and improve financial situations in the future. Disadvantages can include temporary lower credit scores and limitations on spending and financing.
Debt settlement occurs when people negotiate with individual creditors. The creditor agrees to take a payment that's lower than what someone owes and call the debt “paid in full.” Bankruptcy is a legal process that causes debts to be dismissed after someone proves they don't currently have the means to pay their debts as owed. Typically, someone can't enter into bankruptcy and also settle some debts, because the court would see that as favoring one creditor over another.