Lawyer in the Hayward-Castro Valley Area in California
Helping You Explore Alternatives to Bankruptcy
Even though bankruptcy may be a solution to unmanageable debt, helping you get a fresh start and relief from threatening or harassing letters, phone calls or legal action, bankruptcy may not always be the best solution or the least expensive solution. Before you make the decision to file for protection under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13, you want to speak to an experienced attorney about alternatives to bankruptcy, so that your final decision is in your best interests.
At the Law Offices of Matthew M. Spielberg, with offices in Castro Valley and Twain Harte, we offer over 22 years of practical experience to clients throughout the East Bay and the Tri-Valley area. We have focused our representation exclusively on bankruptcy and bankruptcy-related matters since 1990. Our attorney has been certified as a bankruptcy specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization since 1997. Contact our office or call us at the numbers listed below to arrange a confidential consultation.
Our Non-Bankruptcy Debt Relief Practice
When you hire us to help you resolve issues related to unmanageable debt, we can help you determine whether bankruptcy is your best option or whether other alternatives may be less expensive and provide a better result. Even though bankruptcy will help you get a fresh start, there are consequences, including the impact on your credit record.
If appropriate for your situation, we can help you avoid bankruptcy by simply contacting your creditors and either disputing the debt or attempting to negotiate a new agreement. In either situation, you can invoke the provisions of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, which allows you to advise creditors not to call you.
If you are a senior citizen and your only income is Social Security, you will likely be better off not filing bankruptcy and then letting your creditors follow through with legal action. If you don't have a house, your creditors cannot put a lien on your house. If you don't have a job, they cannot garnish your wages. Furthermore, under federal law, creditors cannot attach or garnish Social Security payments.
Debt Management Companies
We recommend that you avoid the use of a "credit repair" or "debt management" company, as such entities have historically low success rates and high charges. If you are considering such an agency, we can help you determine whether they can actually provide you any benefit.
To set up a meeting to discuss alternatives to bankruptcy, contact us or call our office at 510-886-5751 (in Castro Valley) or 209-586-0250 (in Twain Harte). We keep flexible hours at our Castro Valley office and schedule weekend appointments at our Twain Harte office.