Bankruptcy

We are bankruptcy lawyers specializing in helping INDIVIDUAL consumers and SMALL BUSINESSES who are looking for a fresh new start. We can help with all kinds of debts and issues such as credit cards, judgments, garnishments, etc.

• Chapter 13
• Chapter 7
• Debt Relief
• Garnishments
• Chapter 11
• Business Bankruptcy
• Creditor Harassment
• Personal Bankruptcy
• Foreclosures

CA, Dec 1998
Bar Number: 198977

Central District of California - Bankruptcy Courts.

California State Bar, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

I attend various seminars throughout the year offered to bankruptcy lawyers on various bankruptcy topics, which are provided by the Los Angeles County Bar Association, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys Association, and various other organizations. I also go through online continuing education courses, as well as self-education throughout the year.

I am a regular articles contributor to two well-known local major newspapers in Los Angeles. Some of my articles were entitled:

"I am married, but I do not want both my spouse and I to file for bankruptcy. Can I file alone?"
"Debt Settlement vs. bankruptcy - what are the differences and which one is better?"
"Can I transfer all my main assets to my relatives just before declaring bankruptcy so I can get it back later?"

All my articles, plus others, can be found on our website: www.hopelawgroup.com.

A particular client inquired about her choices in filing for bankruptcy. She had mounting debt individually, as well as business debts for her retail food business, which was incorporated. Due to the recent economic meltdown, her business was not doing well and was encumbered with a tremendous amount of debt, including a Small Business Administration (SBA) loan. Our client initially sought to file bankruptcy only for the corporation, hoping that she would try and save her personal credit and assets. Unfortunately, she was a personal guarantor for all her corporation's debts (as is the case with many small businesses), and thus we advised that the best option was to file both personal and corporate bankruptcy thereby getting all debts discharged once and for all, including her personal debts as well as all her business debts and obligations. What is most important, our client was able to keep all of her personal assets and was able to move on with her life.

Please remember that each case is different depending on various factors, so please call our office to discuss your specific situation, and do not rely upon the above example.

3

California.

We are bankruptcy lawyers and bankruptcy is all we do! We have filed all types of bankruptcy petitions for our clients, including Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 petitions. As a bankruptcy lawyer, my primary focus is the individual consumer or small business owner who has tried very hard to pay down their debts, but who are simply overwhelmed. We handle all types of bankruptcy - from the simplest cases to the most complex. We handle business bankruptcies including corporations, S-Corporations, LLPs, LLCs, General Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships. We educate our clients fully, so that they understand their choices and thus they can make decisions on the choice that is best for them, and choose the right bankruptcy lawyer. We DO NOT RUSH, and we ALWAYS communicate with our clients. This is the secret of a great relationship between a client and a bankruptcy lawyer.

There are three attorneys at the firm, with a combined 27 years of experience. While bankruptcy is our sole focus, our backgrounds include numerous related past roles that separate us from the rest of the pack: I am also a licensed financial advisor, and I have been a business owner. My bankruptcy lawyer partner is also a real estate broker, and my other partner is an experienced litigator who has handled complex litigation matters in bankruptcy court. This background helps us fully understand our clients and provide us an advantage that is unmatched by others.

I am a former Bankruptcy Court Judicial Extern, and served under one of the Bankruptcy Judges currently still on the bench in the Central District of California (which includes the areas of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside Counties). I was also a Financial Advisor with Morgan Stanley, where I provided financial and investment advice to high net worth individuals, as well as businesses. I have also owned my own small businesses in the past, so I particularly understand the needs of small business debtors in bankruptcy. The above experiences have shaped me as a unique bankruptcy lawyer, and provide me with an intimate knowledge of bankruptcy procedures and help me understand my individual and business clients.

I am a regular articles contributor in two well-known local newspapers in Los Angeles, as a bankruptcy lawyer. I write on topics relating to bankruptcy and debt related matters.

I am a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.

(213) 596-3824

Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

No

I am also fluent in Korean and Spanish. I resided in Bolivia for eight years.

Our Chapter 7 Fees start at $995. This applies to clients who have basic debts such as credit card debts and are not looking to reaffirm any debts or keep any non-exempt properties. About half of our clients fall into this basic category. Please also remember that there is a court filing fee of $299 for Chapter 7 filings.

Our Chapter 13 fees start at $2,500. If you are looking to lienstrip a second mortgage (which is a common reason to choose Chapter 13), then we charge an additional $1,500. Please also remember that there is a court filing fee of $274 for Chapter 13 filings.

Please mention Nolo when contacting our office and we will provide you with a discount.

Our hourly rates are $200 per hour. This applies where we need to get involved in certain bankruptcy court proceedings and bankruptcy appearances that are outside of the ordinary bankruptcy filings. These proceedings may include, but are not limited to adversarial proceedings brought on by one of your bankruptcy creditors.

I offer a FREE consultation which usually lasts 30 minutes. For convenience, I can offer this FREE consultation via telephone.

For Chapter 7 cases, we require all fees paid before filing. While we can start preparation of documents with a down payment, we will require that we are fully paid before we actually file the petition.

For Chapter 13 cases, we will require an initial down payment and we can get paid through your approved Chapter 13 plan.