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Bankruptcy & Debt Relief Services

We offer comprehensive bankruptcy and debt relief solutions tailored to your unique financial situation. Our goal is to help you find the most effective path to financial recovery.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Eliminate most unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills through a liquidation process that typically takes 3-4 months.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Reorganize your debts with a 3-5 year repayment plan that allows you to keep your assets while catching up on mortgage or car payments.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

A powerful reorganization option for individuals with substantial assets or businesses seeking to restructure while maintaining operations and protecting valuable assets.

Stop Creditor Harassment

Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that immediately stops collection calls, lawsuits, wage garnishments, and other collection actions.

Foreclosure Defense

Explore legal options to delay or prevent foreclosure, potentially allowing you to keep your home or negotiate better terms.

Debt Settlement

Settle your debts for less than you owe and achieve relief without bankruptcy. We negotiate with your creditors to find affordable, realistic solutions.

Written and reviewed by Michael R. Totaro and Maureen J. Shanahan, bankruptcy attorneys at Totaro & Shanahan, LLP, practicing before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.

Bankruptcy in Los Angeles by the Numbers

  • $338 / $313 / $1,738 — court filing fees for Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 (U.S. Courts fee schedule, 28 U.S.C. §1930).
  • 21–40 days — window between filing and the §341(a) meeting of creditors (11 U.S.C. §341; Fed. R. Bankr. P. 2003).
  • 3–4 months — typical Chapter 7 timeline from petition to discharge when no objections are filed.
  • 3–5 years — statutory length of a Chapter 13 repayment plan (11 U.S.C. §1322(d)).
  • $300,000–$600,000 — California homestead exemption range, indexed annually for inflation (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §704.730).
  • 5 divisional offices — Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Riverside, San Fernando Valley, and Santa Barbara, where Central District of California cases are heard (cacb.uscourts.gov).

What we see in Central District cases: most clients come to us after a medical event, a job loss, or a small-business downturn — not overspending. Because Los Angeles home values routinely exceed the federal exemption, electing California's §704 exemption set instead of §703 is often the single decision that determines whether a homeowner keeps their equity.

How We Handle Every Case

  1. Free consultation — we review your income, debts, assets, and deadlines, and tell you which chapters you qualify for.
  2. Means test and exemption planning — we run the California median-income comparison and map your property against §704 and §703 exemptions.
  3. Petition preparation and filing — schedules, statements, and credit counseling certificate filed with the Central District of California.
  4. Automatic stay enforcement — we notify creditors and act on violations of 11 U.S.C. §362.
  5. §341(a) meeting — we prepare you for trustee questions and attend with you.
  6. Discharge or plan confirmation — through to the final order, plus guidance on rebuilding credit afterward.

Questions About Choosing a Bankruptcy Service

Take the First Step Toward Financial Freedom

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