Rochester Hills Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney

Preparing for Chapter 7 in Rochester Hills

Rochester Hills is in Oakland County, within the Eastern District of Michigan’s Southern Division. Nearby communities include Rochester and Auburn Hills. Residence, property, income and debt facts—not a city label—determine the analysis. Use this local preparation guide alongside the Chapter 7 guide and categorized FAQ.

Home equity is a calculation, not a neighborhood assumption

Gather the deed, mortgage and other secured balances, property-tax statement and an honest value estimate. Identify co-owners, a non-filing spouse and any rental or vacant property. A higher market estimate does not by itself answer whether an exemption applies, and a large loan balance does not mean every ownership interest is irrelevant. Never assume the entire value is exposed or the entire home is protected without review.

Keep foreclosure and judgment paperwork distinct

If the pressure comes from a lender, preserve the default and sale notices and whether a sale has already occurred. If it comes from a collection judgment, gather the complaint, judgment, garnishment and any lien recording. These enforcement paths can raise different stay and discharge questions. Chapter 7 is not automatically a cure for mortgage arrears or a way to erase every lien; ask about the broader alternatives before relying on a filing.

What to gather beyond the main residence

List ownership in land, timeshares, inherited property, trusts or a small business even if another person handles the paperwork. Retirement accounts and expected refunds also require disclosure. Rochester and Rochester Hills are separate cities; provide the actual address of residence and each asset. The checklist helps organize records without turning a common place name into a legal conclusion.

Your bankruptcy court and 341 meeting

A secure next step from your community

Much of the intake process can be handled by phone and the secure encrypted upload form. The firm’s only listed office is 444 W. Willis Street in Detroit; no additional office is implied. Never email SSNs or ID photos. Use the secure upload form for documents and completed PDF questionnaires. The encrypted Cognito upload form is active. Write only the last four SSN digits in the PDF questionnaire. Upload ID and SSN proof securely.

What to gather · Client questionnaires and secure upload · All 34 counties and court/meeting distinctions · Eligibility estimate and costs

Chapter 7 attorney fee: $1,300. Reaffirmation agreement hearings are included in the $1,300 attorney fee. Payment plans available on the attorney fee. In Chapter 7, the attorney fee is generally paid before the case is filed, so plans are arranged before filing. The $338 court filing fee is paid separately. The $1,300 does not include credit counseling or debtor-education course fees or services, or adversary proceedings. The attorney and court fees total $1,638 before excluded items. The written engagement agreement confirms scope and any additional charges.