Bankruptcy Attorneys in the Twin Cities

Our lawyers and staff at Cloutier & Brandl, P.A.represent consumers filing bankruptcy in Minnesota. Chapter 7 or 13 personal bankruptcies are legal proceedings that allow you to get a fresh start.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows you to receive a discharge of all debts and to keep all exempt assets up to a certain value - such as a home, car, retirement accounts, and personal possessions. If you still owe money on your car or home, you may enter into an agreement to pay those debt while discharging other debts. In most cases, you will be able to file if your annual income is less than $45,832 for one person or $59,778 for two people (as of October 2008). If your income is higher, you may still be able to file Chapter 7 or you can consider Chapter 13. Please contact us for further information.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy involves a three to five year repayment plan. Your debts are paid in part or in full depending on your ability to pay. It may help you to save your home from foreclosure or to renegotiate other loans or debts.

Filing for bankruptcy relief will stop all debt collection and harassment, garnishment, levy, repossession, or lawsuits by creditors. Once you file, creditors may not contact you and instead they must deal with your attorney.

If you are considering filing, we will have you complete a questionnaire so we can evaluate your case. If you qualify, we will prepare the necessary forms for filing. You will be initially required to take an approved credit counseling course and later an approved financial management course (see our Resources page). After we file, you will attend a meeting with the bankruptcy trustee and one of our attorneys. In Chapter 7, typically nothing more happens until a discharge of your debts is approved approximately 60 days later. In a Chapter 13 filing, the court will review your repayment plan and you will make payments for three to five years until a discharge is granted.

The laws have changed in the past few years making it more difficult to qualify for bankruptcy relief. We can help analyze your individual case and advise you how to protect your property and claim the proper federal or state exemptions. We may also be able to help you avoid bankruptcy by negotiating with your creditors. Please contact us at (612) 332-5100 today for an initial free consultation or email us through our website at the contact us page.

Please see our resources page if you have further questions, or feel free to email us for something more specific. Or view one of our other pages on:

Bankruptcy
Criminal Defense
Employment Law
Estate Planning
Family Law
GLBT
Personal Injury
Workers' Compensation

Cloutier & Brandl, P.A.
12 S. 6th Street, Suite 510
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Phone: (612) 332-5100
Fax: (612) 344-1220
Toll Free: (800) 878-2334

At the law offices of Cloutier & Brandl, P.A. in Minneapolis, we represent clients throughout the Twin Cities Metro area, including St. Paul, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Fridley, Bloomington and Roseville; and in Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Washington County, Anoka County, Dakota County, Carver County, Scott County, Wright County and Sherburne County, in addition to locations outside the Metro area.

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