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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

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Brandon Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer

Serving Tampa & Surrounding Areas in Debt Relief

Are you struggling to make ends meet financially, and unsure of what step to take next? If so, filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be right for you, and it could be beneficial to contact The Golden Law Group – a firm that specializes in helping individuals work through their financial difficulties.

florida chapter 13 exemptions

Founding Attorney G. Donald Golden is a board certified specialist of consumer bankruptcy, classifying him as an expert in the field and qualifying him to handle even the most complicated cases. No matter how complex your situation may seem, you can rely on the bankruptcy attorneys at the firm to provide you with the customized counsel you need to move forward.


Filing starts at only $499! Call (813) 680-3830 or contact us for a complimentary review.
We also serve Tampa.


Why Choose Us?

With The Golden Law Group on your side, you benefit from:

  • An attorney Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law
  • Individualized support through the entire process
  • Dedicated counsel by your side at all times
  • Defense against debt collection and creditor harassment
  • Accurate advice to avoid complications
  • Extensive experience with customized approaches

Chapter 7 bankruptcies help individuals all throughout the United States reduce or eliminate their debts and start fresh. Most people who are considering bankruptcy would rather discharge their debt completely by filing under Chapter 7 than proceed with other options, such as filing for Chapter 13. However, not all people qualify for Chapter 7. Your eligibility for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is based on your disposable income. Learn more here.

How Chapter 7 Works

Filing & Retaining a Chapter 7 Attorney

Chapter 7 bankruptcy starts with filing the necessary paperwork. You will need to file forms that list all of your property and debts owed. The information will be entered into a formula to determine whether you are eligible for discharge. If you are eligible, then you can decide to pay a low down payment and retainer fee to secure the representation of an attorney from The Golden Law Group.

At this point, you can tell all creditors that you have a lawyer representing you; they can no longer contact you directly after that point. Under terms of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act of 1977, creditors and collections agencies are required by law to deal ONLY through your attorney. Imagine what that will be like, for a change. Imagine what that will be like, for a change.

Learn more about the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy by reading our blog!

Working with Your Attorney

Once you are working with a Brandon Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney at the firm, the firm will gather your financial information and file the appropriate paperwork with the right U.S. bankruptcy court in your area. In Florida, all bankruptcy filers are required to attend a special class on debt management after filing, either online or by telephone.

Your attorney can refer you to a certified instructor in your area. The Golden Law Group will then help you navigate through the liquidation process and arrange all discharges that are necessary as a part of your bankruptcy plan.

Creditor Investigation

Because bankruptcy is a legal process, your creditors will be given every opportunity to review the financial information and the petition for discharge of debt. Naturally, they will argue that the judge should make you pay them out of your listed assets. Some assets, such as equity you have built up in your home and retirement accounts will be exempt from judgment.

In other words, the judge cannot order you to pay your creditors from those assets. Your creditors will investigate your financial information to determine whether it is an accurate and full disclosure of your financial resources. If the judge determines that you did not provide full disclosure, you may be charged with a federal felony fraud charge. But don’t worry. Most individuals who file Chapter 7 don’t have any assets available for judgment. The judge may also rule that any debt of more than $550 that you accumulated within 90 days of filing is also non-dischargeable.

The judge will give your creditors time and opportunity to defend themselves against discharging your debt. This will take several months. During this time period, you will be required by law to attend a special class on debt management. The class is available online or by telephone. Your attorney will refer you to a certified instructor in your area.

Creditors Hearing

Approximately 30 days after the case is filed, a Creditors Hearing will be held. You must attend the hearing. You will not attend the meeting alone, an attorney from the Golden Law Group will be there with you. It is sometimes awkward to face your creditors in court, but it is the only time you will be required to appear in court throughout the entire bankruptcy process. However, most of the time no creditors appear so the only person you have to answer questions from is the Trustee.

The Trustee is the person who is appointed by the Court to oversee the case. The Trustee will ask you questions about your income, your expenses, your assets and liabilities. If the Trustee determines that you have no assets which are available to pay creditors, he or she will file a report of no distribution with the Court. If the Trustee discovers that there are assets which are available to pay creditors with, the Trustee will liquidate the asset and pay the creditors. Most Creditors meetings take about 5 minutes. However, there are usually 5 meetings scheduled every half hour and the Trustees do get behind.

Finalizing Debt Discharge

After the creditors meeting is concluded, the creditors have 60 days to object to the entry of a discharge. The most common reason that a creditor objects to discharge is due to fraud by the debtor. Once you decide to file bankruptcy, it is very important that you stop using your credit cards. If you use your credit cards within a short time before filing your bankruptcy case, a Creditor may file an objection to your discharge. However, assuming no one files an objection to discharge within 60 days of the conclusion of the creditors meeting, your discharge will be entered.

Get a Fresh Start – Call for a Free Case Review

Throughout the process, your attorney will attend many meetings with the judge, trustees and creditors to ensure that the petition goes smoothly. You may occasionally be asked to supply additional details about a particular debt, asset or income. Your Golden Law Group Chapter 7 lawyer will do everything possible to handle everything at the law firm, so you can concentrate on your new life without debt. During the process, if a creditor contacts you directly to attempt to collect, contempt of court charges may result.

With the right Brandon Chapter 7 attorney on your side, you will be able to file the correct bankruptcy and emerge from the process debt free! Our bankruptcy attorneys serve clients in Tampa, Brandon, and Sarasota.

If you need assistance, don’t hesitate to call (813) 680-3830 to speak with our Brandon Chapter 7 attorney!

Get a Free Copy of Our Book

“Bankruptcy in Florida, by G. Donald Golden” answers some general bankruptcy concerns, such as: How do I know if I should file for bankruptcy?”

Life Changing Stories

Our Former Clients Share Their Experiences