Services

Bankruptcy

WHAT DO I DO IF I CAN’T PAY MY DEBTS?

Bankruptcy is still available to most:
Congress passed a new Bankruptcy Act in October 2005 which received a lot of national attention. Many people think the new law eliminated or severely curtailed those eligible to file bankruptcy. In fact, the new law has curtailed almost no one from filing for bankruptcy! However, it is nowmore complicated than ever and requires an experienced and competent attorney to insure your rights are protected.

If you are honest and undergoing financial hardship you owe to yourself and your family to consider your options in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Bankruptcy law is a Constitutional right which is still available to you. Bankruptcy is neither scary or unpredictable. It can give you a fresh start in life!

We are not a bankruptcy mill or clinic. We consider that each client has a unique situation and each case is personally handled by Attorney Styers.

Chapter 7:
Under Chapter 7 you are entitled to discharge or eliminate your credit card and medical bills; business debts; some taxes and governmental overpayments. If you are earning only enough to pay your living expenses, you most likely will qualify to file Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and be debt free. Most people (99%) keep all of their property, including their car and home. Your employer is not notified.

Creditors are forced to stop hassling you immediately! You are in control.

We can determine if you qualify for bankruptcy in your first call to our office.

Yes, bankruptcy does “hurt” your credit standing. However, most people considering bankruptcy already have a damaged credit standing, or will shortly when they can no longer keep making payments. This is why Mr. Styers wrote the very popular “Life After Bankruptcy, A Guide to Credit Rehabilitation Following Bankruptcy”. You can file for bankruptcy and rehabilitate your credit within two years. Imagine, you could be debt free!

Chapter 13:
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is a repayment plan whereby you can force your creditors to accept payments on your terms. Creditors, including the I.R.S. and the Franchise Tax Board., credit cards and car loan can be forced to accept what you can afford. You control the outcome! Chapter 13 requires that you have a regular income. You can file Chapter 13 even after you have filed for Chapter 7.

Chapter 13 stops foreclosures on your residence. You can use a Chapter 13 to get “caught up” with past due mortgage or car loan payments.

In a Chapter 13 repayment plan, you do not (in most cases) have to repay your creditors in full! So long as you use your best effort to pay what you can afford, you may be able to fix your debt problem by paying only a small amount to your creditors.

In Chapter 13, the Court gives you up to 5 years to complete your repayment plan...and no creditors can hassle you during this repayment plan. You are in control.

Chapter 13 can also help you deal with the TAXMAN.

Non Bankruptcy Options:
Sometimes, you may not have a good bankruptcy option. In these cases, Mr. Styers will use his experience and knowledge to develop a strategy to resolve your financial dilemma by thinking “outside the box”. Many times, being represented by a well respected attorney will cause creditors to accept settlement terms that would be unavailable to you directly.

Personal Injury

With 24 years of representing victims of serious injuries, Jeffery Styers can properly guide you through the initial crisis of an injury to the final settlement or trial of your personal injury claim.

A personal injury is stressful, painful and potentially life altering. You need somebody on your side who can correctly point you in the right direction for the many medical, financial and legal decisions you must make.

Because of our commitment to provide personal and direct legal representation to every client, only a limited number of personal injury claims are accepted by Mr. Styers. You can expect the highest quality of service along with personal involvement with you, if your case is accepted.

As a member of the San Diego County Consumer Trial Attorneys and having litigated and settled numerous personal injury claims over the past 24 years, Jeffery Styers is uniquely qualified to represent you in serious injury cases involving car accidents, slips, bicycle and pedestrian accidents or any other type of claim involving serious personal injuries.

Estate Planning

Every one needs a Will, Living Trust, Health Care Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive.

This documents insure that your end-of-life decisions are known and will be followed. A Will simply directs a trusted friend or family member to distribute your assets to your heirs and beneficiaries upon your death. However, some wills may need to be administered by a Probate Court.

For this reason, many decide to create a “Living Trust”, which avoids Probate Court (and the high cost thereof), yet allows you to transfer your assets to your heirs and beneficiaries upon your death. If you own real property or other valuable assets, you should consider a “Living Trust”.

A “Health Care Power of Attorney” is a document in which you appoint someone to make health care decisions for you, if you are unable to do so.

A “Health Care Directive” is a document in which you make it known how future medical care decisions concerning your care should be made. For instance, you can direct that extraordinary measures not be taken to keep you alive in the event there is no hope for your recovery.

By preparing these documents when you are healthy and mentally sound will eliminate much of the cost, guilt and stress that would otherwise burden your family.

Mr. Styers can advise you concerning these important decisions.

Law Offices of Jeffery S. Styers