Personal and Business Bankruptcy Services in the East Bay Area

Alameda County • Contra Costa County • Pleasanton

Until 2008, most people considering bankruptcy were having trouble with credit cards or were facing overwhelming medical debt. With the mortgage meltdown, the downturn in property values and interest hikes on adjustable rate mortgages, more and more bankruptcies are driven by real estate problems and the threat of foreclosure. Job loss is also a significant factor.

If your family or your business is faced with mounting debt, if creditors are threatening to take you to court or collection agencies are calling day and night, it's time to find a real solution. It's time to talk to a lawyer about your options — bankruptcy may be one of them.

At the Law Offices of James G. Schwartz in Pleasanton, California, we provide clients with an honest assessment of their financial situation and advise them of ALL their financial options. In some cases that may be loan renegotiation or a workout plan. In some cases that may involve Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy, or Chapter 13 business bankruptcy for debt reorganization.

The difference between our firm and a law firm that handles only bankruptcy is that we have extensive knowledge and experience with both the California real estate market and with the Northern California business community. We know the banks that serve this area and can handle a loan renegotiation for you. We have worked with many financially troubled businesses and can identify options you may not have considered.

We never push our clients into bankruptcy if it can be avoided, but if it is the best option for your situation, we will not hesitate to help you with a bankruptcy filing in order to:

• Stop creditor harassment
• Stop wage garnishment and bank levies
• Delay or prevent home foreclosure or car repossession
• Stop legal cases against you regarding your debt

Our Pleasanton bankruptcy attorneys represent clients in the San Francisco Bay Area, Alameda County, Contra Costa County and across Northern California. To schedule a free initial consultation, contact our law firm.

Obtain a Thorough Bankruptcy Analysis

A bankruptcy analysis will look not only at whether there are non-bankruptcy options available to you, but will also consider the impact of bankruptcy on your assets and the timing of a bankruptcy filing, given the circumstances of your family or your business.

• If you are facing foreclosure, can your loan be renegotiated or refinanced at a lower rate? Is a short sale an option and if so, will you be held financially accountable for any deficiencies? Is Chapter 13 bankruptcy an option for removing your second mortgage?
• If you are currently unemployed, is it better to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy now and to face the credit challenges that may bring, or to wait until you have become employed again and then to file for Chapter 13 debt reorganization?
• Are there other life situations that may be impacted by a bankruptcy, such as a divorce and property division?
• Do you qualify for bankruptcy under the bankruptcy means test, given your income and assets?

If you are in business, see what the Law Offices of James G. Schwartz can do for you. Many times we've had business owners come to us for business advice because their business was failing and they thought they would need to file for personal bankruptcy in bankruptcy court. When appropriate, we help with business workouts. In other instances, after reviewing all of their business affairs we find that dissolution of the business is the less costly and traumatic option, with little or no personal financial consequences.

We analyze the entire picture before we counsel our clients to file for bankruptcy. We provide honest advice, prompt and professional bankruptcy services, and consistent communication. Contact an Alameda County bankruptcy attorney to discuss whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is right in your particular situation. Your initial consultation is free.

We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.