Bankruptcy

Consumer Bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and 13) and consumer debt-type cases (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Fair Credit Reporting Act, etc), Debtor Defense.

• Chapter 13
• Chapter 7
• Collections & Repossessions
• Credit Disputes
• Debt Relief
• Garnishments
• Credit Repair
• Creditor Harassment
• Personal Bankruptcy
• Foreclosures

Information coming soon.,
Bar Number: 501149

MO, Sep 2003
Bar Number: 55027

Missouri Bar, United States District Court - Eastern District of Missouri.

Missouri Bar Association and National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).

I attend continuing legal education seminars in excess of the minimum required by Missouri, mostly through attendance at the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney's annual conferences, as well as other seminars locally on the topics of Chapters 7 and 13 bankruptcy, foreclosure prevention and consumer law.

Foreclosure prevention through Chapter 13 bankruptcy has become an increasingly large area of my practice. I have had, on more than one occasion, a client call me the day before a foreclosure sale in tears, after their attempt to modify their mortgage fell through. We meet as soon as possible, usually in the evening of their phone call, to get all of the documents prepared and file emergency petitions the next day, prior to the foreclosure sale, to stop the foreclosure and save their home.

Another difficult situation for more and more of my clients is a dramatic decrease in income. According to the newest rules that we have to play by in bankruptcy (or the more mundane name: The Bankruptcy Code as Amended by Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005), one of the hurdles to filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is the "median income" test. Sometimes, when looking at the past six months of income it seems that a client should be capable of paying some of their creditors. However, I have been able to help my clients file Chapter 7 quickly, by showing the U.S. Trustee's Office (the guys in charge) that circumstances have changed and, moving forward, my client that was making $100,000 per year will no longer be making anywhere close to that number, can no longer afford to pay their creditors and cannot afford to make sufficient payments in a Chapter 13.

2

Missouri

We start with the belief that it is not the client's fault that our legal system is difficult to navigate. We assist our clients in the St. Louis area with all types of consumer cases, including foreclosure prevention, bankruptcy—both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13—and debtor defense, to name a few. Clients are the focus of our firm and we do the best we can to make sure everyone feels comfortable and understand from the moment you call our office until the completion of your legal matter.

After graduating from St. Louis University Law School in 2003, I went directly out on my own with a friend from law school. I never really felt comfortable with the idea of working in a large firm, with no personal contact with my clients. In 2006 I moved out on my own to focus on foreclosure prevention and bankruptcy. In 2007 Skelton Law Firm was "born" after I married my husband and current office manager, Steven. I have focused solely on bankruptcy and consumer issues for the last four years. I cannot imagine doing anything else with my law degree. I come from a father who has owned, and sometimes failed, more small businesses than I can remember. He taught me both the business and the personal end of owning and running a business ethically and honorably.

I worked my way through college and most of law school as a nanny and legal secretary, along with more odd jobs than I care to remember. I spent a semester as an intern for the Indiana House of Representatives, where I learned quickly I did not want to become a politician. My only other previous legal experience prior to starting my first law firm was as a glorified legal secretary/law clerk for a small collections firm in St. Louis. I gained valuable insight into the "other side" of consumer law and made the decision that I would rather protect the consumer than the creditor in legal battles.

I previously volunteered as a guardian ad litem for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) in St. Louis City. CASA is a wonderful organization that provides a legal voice to children in the foster care system.

Steven Skelton.

(314) 802-8327

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Evenings and weekends by appointment.

Yes

We have flat fees on all cases. Our typical Chapter 7 costs $1,180, inclusive of all filing fees and credit counseling fees. Chapter 13 fees are fixed by the Court in our district and are $3,000, unless an attorney chooses to charge hourly, which we do not. Our office charges $780 to file a Chapter 13, which includes $450 of the $3,000 upfront, plus the filing fee and credit counseling. The remainder of our fees are paid through the bankruptcy plan on a monthly basis. We do not charge hourly fees in Chapter 13 plans, as other attorneys sometimes do.

All of our fees are flat fees, and are charged up front. It typically breaks down to an average of $200 per hour.

Yes, we offer a free one-hour "conversation." I call it a conversation, because if it goes over the one hour, you won't be penalized. We like to take our time and get to know you and your situation before giving you legal advice.

If our clients decide to hire our firm, we offer payment plans on the balance due, with $200 being the typical retainer ("down payment"). Once the balance is paid, we will file your case.