Financial pressure can affect a person’s home, family, business, and plans for the future. Sunnen Law helps individuals evaluate bankruptcy options and understand how a filing may affect debts, assets, pending lawsuits, and related family-law concerns.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 is commonly described as liquidation bankruptcy. A trustee may sell nonexempt property and distribute the proceeds to creditors, while eligible individuals may receive a discharge of certain debts. Eligibility, exemptions, liens, prior filings, income, and the means test must be evaluated before filing. Not every debt is dischargeable, and bankruptcy does not automatically eliminate liens.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 allows an eligible individual with regular income to propose a court-supervised repayment plan. Depending on the circumstances, a plan may help address arrears, protect property, and reorganize qualifying debts over time. Eligibility and the required plan treatment depend on the debtor’s income, debts, assets, and other facts.
The Automatic Stay and Debt Relief
Filing a bankruptcy petition generally creates an automatic stay that stops many collection activities. Important exceptions and limitations apply, particularly in repeat filings and certain family-law matters. Bankruptcy also does not discharge every obligation. Domestic support obligations, many taxes, certain student loans, and other categories may receive special treatment or may not be dischargeable.
Bankruptcy and Family-Law Matters
Divorce, property division, support obligations, and bankruptcy can overlap. The timing of a filing may affect property, collection, and litigation strategy. When financial and family-law issues intersect, coordinated analysis is important so that one proceeding does not create avoidable problems in the other.
How Sunnen Law Can Help
- Evaluate whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may be appropriate
- Review assets, debts, income, exemptions, and filing risks
- Prepare and file required bankruptcy documents
- Explain the automatic stay and discharge
- Address bankruptcy issues that intersect with divorce or support obligations
Request an Appointment
Sunnen Law serves clients in San Diego and throughout Southern California. Client meetings are held at our downtown San Diego office. To request an appointment, call (619) 255-9551 or contact us online. Sunnen Law is referral-based and does not offer free consultations.
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.