Bankruptcy Lawyer in Stony Brook, NY

Stop the Calls, Save Your Home

Get immediate protection from creditors and keep what matters most to your family.

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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney

Your Fresh Start Begins Here

You’re drowning in debt that wasn’t supposed to happen. Medical bills from that emergency surgery. Credit cards you had to use when work slowed down. The mortgage that seemed manageable before everything changed.

Bankruptcy isn’t failure—it’s the legal tool that stops the bleeding. When you file, creditors must stop calling immediately. No more wage garnishment. No more sleepless nights wondering if you’ll lose your house.

Chapter 7 wipes out credit card debt, medical bills, and personal loans in about four months. Chapter 13 lets you keep your home while paying back what you can afford over three to five years. Both give you something you haven’t had in months: breathing room.

Stony Brook Debt Relief Lawyer

We Know Suffolk County Families

We’ve helped Long Island residents navigate financial crises for years. We understand the unique pressures facing Stony Brook families—from university employees dealing with budget cuts to small business owners hit by economic downturns.

You won’t get judgment here. You’ll get a lawyer who knows New York bankruptcy law inside and out, plus the local insight that comes from working in Suffolk County courts regularly.

We’ve seen every situation. We know what works. And we know how to protect what matters most to you during this process.

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File for Bankruptcy Process

Here's What Actually Happens

First, we meet for a free consultation to review your debts, income, and assets. No charge, no pressure—just honest answers about your options.

If bankruptcy makes sense, we’ll determine whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 fits your situation better. Chapter 7 eliminates most debts quickly if you qualify. Chapter 13 works better if you’re behind on your mortgage but want to keep your home.

We handle all the paperwork, represent you at the required court hearing, and guide you through each step. The automatic stay kicks in as soon as we file, which means creditors must stop all collection efforts immediately. Most cases wrap up in four to six months for Chapter 7, or you’ll have a manageable payment plan with Chapter 13.

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Foreclosure Defense Attorney Stony Brook

Complete Debt Relief Services

Beyond bankruptcy filing, we provide foreclosure defense to buy you time and explore alternatives. Sometimes loan modification or short sale makes more sense than bankruptcy. We’ll analyze every option.

We also handle the details that other firms skip—like ensuring you keep your car, protecting your retirement accounts, and maximizing New York’s generous homestead exemption. Suffolk County residents can often keep their homes even in Chapter 7 if there’s not excessive equity.

Our service includes credit rebuilding guidance after discharge. Bankruptcy actually helps many clients improve their credit scores faster than struggling with minimum payments for years. We’ll show you how to rebuild responsibly and avoid future financial trouble.

attorney and client meeting.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically takes four to six months from filing to discharge in New York. You’ll attend one brief meeting with the bankruptcy trustee about 30 days after filing, then receive your discharge eliminating most debts. Chapter 13 takes three to five years since you’re paying back creditors through a court-approved plan, but you get immediate protection when we file. The automatic stay stops all collection efforts within 24 hours of filing either type of bankruptcy.
Not necessarily. New York’s homestead exemption protects up to $170,825 in home equity for most filers. If you’re current on your mortgage and don’t have excessive equity, you can usually keep your home in Chapter 7. Chapter 13 is specifically designed for people behind on mortgage payments who want to keep their house—you’ll catch up on missed payments over three to five years while staying in your home. We’ll analyze your situation and recommend the best approach to protect your property.
Court filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13, set by federal law. Attorney fees vary based on your case complexity, but we offer payment plans to make legal representation affordable. Many clients use their tax refund or stop paying unsecured debts (under our guidance) to save money for legal fees. We’ll discuss all costs upfront during your free consultation, including any additional expenses like required credit counseling courses.
Yes. The automatic stay that goes into effect when we file your bankruptcy stops wage garnishment immediately. Your employer must stop deducting money from your paycheck as soon as they receive notice of your bankruptcy filing. This applies to garnishments for credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and most other unsecured debts. We’ll notify your employer and the creditor right away to ensure garnishment stops with your next paycheck.
Most taxes, student loans, child support, alimony, and recent luxury purchases cannot be discharged in bankruptcy. However, Chapter 13 can help you manage these non-dischargeable debts through a payment plan while eliminating credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and other unsecured debts. Some older tax debts can be discharged if they meet specific criteria. We’ll review each of your debts during consultation to explain what can and cannot be eliminated in your situation.
Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for seven to ten years, but many clients see their scores improve within 12-24 months after discharge. If you’re already behind on payments, bankruptcy often helps your credit faster than struggling with minimum payments for years. You can get secured credit cards immediately after discharge and potentially qualify for a mortgage in two to three years with proper credit rebuilding. We provide guidance on rebuilding credit responsibly after your fresh start.

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