COVID-19 Update: To best serve our clients, our office will remain open for business. To protect your safety in response to COVID-19, we are offering our clients the option to meet with us by telephone or video conferencing. Please call our office if you’d like to discuss your options.
Bankruptcy Attorneys for Akron, Canton, Wooster and New Philadelphia Ohio
We are Attorney John R. Bates, experienced and nationally known bankruptcy attorney and Attorney James F. Hausen, experienced bankruptcy attorney. Together we have a combined 55 years of legal experience. We do only consumer bankruptcies and have filed thousands of them for residents of Northeast Ohio.
Bankruptcy News & Resources
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Can You File Bankruptcy for Personal Loans?
When bankruptcy seems like the only way through, you’ll likely have a lot of questions. And whether you opt for chapter 7 bankruptcy or chapter 13 bankruptcy, a big question will be whether you can discharge, or eliminate your personal loans as part of the filing process. As always, there are exceptions and details to discuss, and we'll help clear them in this article.
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What Are the Benefits of Chapter 11 Bankruptcy?
Whether your business is a large corporation or a smaller enterprise, Chapter 11 bankruptcy could be a beneficial move to keep it alive during an economic crisis. In this article, we will focus on how a Chapter 11 filing can help your business recover.
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How Do Virtual Court Hearings Work in Ohio?
All across Ohio, courts continue to be closed to the public due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But many of our clients still need to initiate or finalize bankruptcy proceedings. To ensure that they are safe and well taken care of during these difficult times, increased use of technology is vital. So we’re here to explain the ins and outs of virtual court hearings and to put your mind at ease.
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Can I Keep My Car if I File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
If you find yourself in a place where bankruptcy is the only way forward, you might wonder how the process will affect your personal belongings, especially your car. Here we will discuss the variables that come into play along with some smart steps and strategies to help you keep your car when filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
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Can I Keep My Car if I File for Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
If you find yourself in a place where bankruptcy is the only way forward, you might wonder how the process will affect your personal belongings, especially your car. Here we will discuss the variables that come into play along with some smart steps and strategies to help you keep your car when filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
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Debt Consolidation or Bankruptcy: Which is Right for You?
Sometimes it gets to a point where you are unable to pay your bills and are also unable to service your obligations. In this guide, we’ll take a look at the benefits and disadvantages of bankruptcy and debt consolidation to help you make a better choice for your financial well-being.
Why Choose Us?
We offer free initial consultations by phone or in person and in the evening (by phone) if you prefer.
Our fees are highly competitive and we offer special fee arrangements in appropriate cases. Call and we will be happy to tell you what your case would cost. You can retain us with only a small payment and you can make payments on the rest of the fee before the case is filed. YOU choose the amount and timing of the payments.
If you change your mind about filing before your case is filed, we will retain only the money you paid us that has been earned and will provide you with a complete accounting. The rest will be promptly refunded to you. To file your case, we require you to come to our office only once (to review and sign the papers to be filed). Many attorneys require three or more visits. Of course, you can visit us in person more often if you wish.
After your bankruptcy is over, we will continue to answer questions about your bankruptcy even years later at no extra charge. You can always call on us.
We offer an unusually high level of expertise in chapter 13 bankruptcies, having two employees (attorney and paralegal) who are experienced former employees of the Chapter 13 Trustee. This is an important advantage you will not find in other firms.
We do not try to sell you on bankruptcy. We explain your options and help you make the right decision. If you file, your case will be filed in the federal bankruptcy court, not in your local county court. And we promise you prompt, polite, professional service.
Since the 2005 bankruptcy code changes, it has become more difficult for Akron, New Philadelphia, Wooster and residents all over Northeast Ohio to file for bankruptcy. More people today are attempting to file on their own with do-it-yourself kits and end up regretting the decision of not hiring a locally experienced bankruptcy attorney. There are various types of bankruptcies which is why it is so essential to choose the right bankruptcy lawyer who will provide the kind of experience you need to handle your particular case and determine the proper bankruptcy type that would suit you best. John R. Bates and James F. Hausen can educate you about what protection you need for your unique circumstances and work with you to reach the best solution.
To see the Ohio counties whose residents we serve, please go to the Counties We Serve page.
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