Bankruptcy can be complex and intimidating, but at Simon Fitzgerald LLC, our Lake Charles bankruptcy attorneys are here to demystify it. With a strong focus on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, we provide our Lake Charles clients with the legal expertise and personal support they need to navigate these challenging times. Whether dealing with business debts, home foreclosure, or overwhelming medical bills, we stand ready to help you take the steps toward a brighter financial future.
LAKE CHARLES AREA CLIENTS (Serviced by Our Lafayette Office)
While we don’t have a physical office in Lake Charles, our Lafayette office is fully equipped to serve our Lake Charles area clients. Our Lafayette office, which services our Lake Charles area clients, is conveniently located just south of I-10, providing easy access for clients across the region. We prioritize your convenience, offering Phone and Video appointments and accepting documentation via email, fax, text, or mail. If you prefer an in-person meeting, our Lafayette office is always available. Reach us at:
- 2901 Johnston Street, Suite 202
- Lafayette, LA 70503
- Phone: 337-984-1584
- Fax: 337-456-5465
- Email: [email protected]
- M-F: 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Click here for directions to our Lafayette office (serving our Lake Charles area clients).
SERVING LAKE CHARLES AND BEYOND
While we don’t have a physical office in Lake Charles, our Lafayette office is fully equipped to serve our Lake Charles area clients. Our Lafayette office, which services our Lake Charles area clients, is conveniently located within one hour of Lake Charles. The Lake Charles Division contains the 6th largest city in Louisiana, Lake Charles, LA. Other notable cities in that division are DeRidder, DeQuincy, Iowa, Jennings, Oakdale, Sulphur, Vinton, Welsh, and Westlake. We prioritize your convenience, offering Phone and Video appointments and accepting documentation via various means. If you prefer an in-person meeting, our Lafayette office is always available.
We also cater to Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes. A skilled Lake Charles, LA bankruptcy lawyer from our team is ready to assist you in Lake Charles or any location within the Lake Charles Division. We are dedicated to guiding you through bankruptcy, helping you regain control of your financial life.
We are Louisiana’s oldest bankruptcy law firm, and our Lafayette office is dedicated to serving Lake Charles area clients with expertise in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases. We craft individualized strategies to address your financial needs in Lake Charles and the surrounding regions. We understand the intricacies of bankruptcy and are here to ensure you don’t face them alone. Our dedication to personalized service and comprehensive understanding of local court procedures make us a trusted choice for bankruptcy services in Lake Charles and beyond.
OUR EXPERT LAKE CHARLES, LA BANKRUPTCY LAWYER
Our Lake Charles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney is:
Our bankruptcy attorney servicing Lake Charles at Simon Fitzgerald LLC is here to assist you with your financial challenges. With expertise in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, Mr. Helo provides personalized and effective legal strategies tailored to your unique situation.
Navigating the complexities of bankruptcy law, including the specific challenges of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, is a task Mr. Helo is proficient at. He understands the individuality of each client’s financial situation and crafts legal strategies to suit. Contact our Lafayette office today to schedule a free consultation and take the first step toward financial stability.
Bankruptcy Court, Judges, and Trustees in Lake Charles Division
The Lake Charles Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court, located in the heart of Louisiana, serves a broad geographical area, including five parishes: Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis.
Judge John W. Kolwe presides over all Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in the Lake Charles Division. The Chapter 13 trustee in the Lake Charles Division is Keith A. Rodriguez, and the Chapter 7 trustee is Lucy G. Sikes.
You can visit the official website here for more information about the Lafayette Division of the United States Bankruptcy Court. To learn more about Judge John W. Kolwe, click here. For details about Chapter 13 Trustee Keith A. Rodriguez, visit this link.
LAKE CHARLES CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help individuals in Lake Charles, LA, get rid of their debts. It can be used by people struggling with medical and credit card debts. Most Louisiana people below the state’s median income level can file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. However, if their income is slightly higher than the median, they can still benefit from this type of bankruptcy. Otherwise, they need to consider Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
While there are both pros and cons to filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy—which should both be considered carefully—some of the benefits of filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy include:
- Once started, filing for Chapter 7 and having your debts discharged is quick.
- Other than non-dischargeable debts like student loans, your debts are totally discharged, giving you a fresh financial start.
- You get immediate relief from creditor harassment—no more harassing phone calls or letters.
- There’s a good chance you can keep your home and car when filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In many cases, foreclosure or repossession can be halted.
- You will become eligible for loans and credit soon after your bankruptcy. If you handle your new credit wisely, you can improve your credit score relatively quickly.
LAKE CHARLES CHAPTER 13 BANKRUPTCY – NO ATTORNEY FEES UPFRONT
If they have a stable and regular income, people should consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Most people considering filing for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy don’t have to pay their attorney fees in advance. Chapter 13 bankruptcy allows them to make reduced monthly payments and keep most items they want. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy can help people keep their homes even if they’re behind on their payments.
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy in Lake Charles, contact an experienced attorney at Simon Fitzgerald LLC. In most Chapter 13 cases, we do not require you to pay the attorney fees in advance because the fees can be included in the monthly payments made to the Chapter 13 trustee. Court costs are typically paid before filing. See our fees and costs page for more context.
Meet Suzanne and Chuck: A Lake Charles, LA Bankruptcy Case Illustration
Suzanne’s husband Chuck lost his job a few months back when the company he worked for downsized. At the time, Suzanne was home with the couple’s new baby. Chuck’s unemployment checks as he looked for a new job did not cover the couple’s basic monthly expenses. More and more often, expenses like utility payments were being put on credit cards, even though the interest rate on those cards was dangerously high. When the creditor phone calls began coming more frequently, Suzanne and Chuck felt trapped, unsure of what they needed to do to get their lives back on track.
The couple initially rejected the idea of bankruptcy because they feared it would destroy their credit for good. Yet as the creditor harassment continued to worsen, Suzanne and Chuck decided to set up an appointment with a Lake Charles, LA bankruptcy lawyer from Simon Fitzgerald. During that initial consultation with an experienced, compassionate Simon Fitzgerald bankruptcy attorney, the couple realized that bankruptcy could give them the fresh financial start they needed—while getting rid of the constant creditor harassment.
They also realized that filing for bankruptcy was no harder on their credit scores than their current rate of slow and missed payments. Further, filing for bankruptcy could potentially halt the repossession of their vehicle while allowing them to keep their home. Suzanne and Chuck filed for bankruptcy that day, confident in their decision after having all their questions answered by a highly skilled Lake Charles, LA bankruptcy lawyer from Simon Fitzgerald LLC.
How Can a Lake Charles, LA Bankruptcy Lawyer from Simon Fitzgerald Help Your Bankruptcy?
Filing for bankruptcy can be a daunting proposition, full of complexities. You may not be 100 percent sure that bankruptcy is the right choice for you, or you may fear that filing bankruptcy will destroy your credit forever. The process may seem overwhelming. The best thing you can do right now for your future is to contact an experienced Lake Charles, LA bankruptcy lawyer from Simon Fitzgerald. During your free consultation, you can have all your questions answered in a thorough yet easy-to-understand manner.
Our highly experienced attorneys will first help you decide whether filing for bankruptcy is right for you, your family, and your financial future. If it seems like filing for bankruptcy is the right choice, we will help you determine whether Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy will work for you based on the Means Test and specific other considerations. Bankruptcy and the additional decisions you must make throughout the process benefit significantly from having a skilled bankruptcy lawyer who can advise and guide you.
Your Lake Charles, LA bankruptcy attorney from Simon Fitzgerald will critically evaluate your debts and assets. We will let you know if there is an alternative way to improve your situation. If most of your debt is nondischargeable (like student loans), then bankruptcy might not be the right path for you. If filing for bankruptcy is your best choice, you can expect to come away from your meeting with an overwhelming sense of relief. You’ve taken the first step, and your future will look brighter within just a few months. Getting this type of fresh financial start can drastically improve your life. Within months after your bankruptcy, you will begin receiving credit card offers that will help you rebuild your credit score.
The bankruptcy lawyers of Simon Fitzgerald have considerably more bankruptcy experience than our competitors, with more actual attorney time invested in each case. Our goal is to help you with your bankruptcy filing and find solutions that allow you to miss the least amount of work from being forced to take time off to travel to meet your attorney. At Simon Fitzgerald, we pride ourselves on creating simple solutions to complex problems.
Our experience level is unique, and our ability to break down complex legal concepts into plain language is unparalleled. Our attorneys seek to level the playing field for the average person against big banks that seem to have all the money and power. Suppose you are seeking quality representation along with a bankruptcy attorney who will fight against aggressive creditors seeking to take advantage of our clients. In that case, Simon Fitzgerald is the law firm for you.
HOW DO I CHOOSE THE BEST LAKE CHARLES BANKRUPTCY LAWYER FOR ME?
When facing substantial financial pressure, selecting the right bankruptcy attorney becomes crucial. We know the importance of your case and the necessity of declaring bankruptcy to get back on sound financial ground.
Keep the following things in mind while picking the finest bankruptcy attorney for your filing:
Experience
Bankruptcy cases can be challenging, so it’s crucial to ensure the lawyer you select is qualified to manage your situation. Select a firm from among those that have filed several bankruptcy cases.
Reputation
You may learn more about working with a lawyer or law firm by reading online reviews and recommendations—request recommendations from trustworthy friends, family members, or other sources.
Communication
Your attorney must inform you of developments in your case and be ready to address any concerns. Make sure the lawyer’s communication style matches your needs and expectations.
Accessibility
It’s essential to have a lawyer who is accessible when you need them. Check to see if the potential lawyer or legal team responds to your questions and is accessible to discuss your case with you.
Fee structure
Ensure the firm or lawyer you hire has a transparent fee structure. It is crucial to inquire about the cost schedule at a first appointment and how and when you will pay.
Since bankruptcy proceedings can be complex and challenging, it is essential that you work with a knowledgeable Shreveport, LA, bankruptcy lawyer from Simon Fitzgerald LLC.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Bankruptcy can be a complex process, and having questions is normal. We’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions about bankruptcy to help you better understand what to expect.
- Can I get rid of tax debts through bankruptcy in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
- What are the bankruptcy exemptions in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
- What happens to my retirement accounts if I file for bankruptcy in Lake Charles, Louisiana?
Ready for a Fresh Start? Contact Simon Fitzgerald LLC Today
Do you need help understanding the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13? Don’t worry; we’ve got you covered. At Simon Fitzgerald LLC, we provide personalized attention for each case. If you’re struggling with debt and considering bankruptcy, don’t face it alone.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 can seem complex, but our free guide makes it simple. Stay updated with the latest information by signing up for our newsletter. If you’re considering bankruptcy, get a personalized look at your options with our assessment tool.
Contact our Lake Charles office to schedule your free initial consultation by calling 337-984-1584. Phone and Video Appointments are Available. Simon Fitzgerald LLC is Louisiana’s oldest bankruptcy law firm. Click here to Schedule Your Free Consultation.
