Bankruptcy Lawyers Serving Western Pennsylvania & West Virginia
When the financial math no longer works, the first question is not simply whether you can file bankruptcy. It is whether bankruptcy actually improves your position. The Skeen Firm helps individuals, families and business owners evaluate Chapter 7, Chapter 13, business bankruptcy and other debt-relief options.
Filing Bankruptcy Should Solve More Problems Than It Creates
Debt problems rarely exist in isolation. They may involve a job loss, medical expenses, divorce, credit cards, tax obligations, business losses, lawsuits, judgments, repossession, foreclosure or a company that can no longer carry its current debt load.
Bankruptcy may provide powerful relief, but it is not automatically the right answer for every person or business. A useful bankruptcy analysis starts with income, assets, debts, liens, lawsuits, business obligations, recent transactions and the client's actual goals.
Sometimes Chapter 7 is the right path. Sometimes Chapter 13 provides more protection or flexibility. Businesses may require liquidation, restructuring or a more sophisticated Chapter 11 analysis. And sometimes the better strategy is outside bankruptcy altogether.
Which Type of Bankruptcy May Fit the Problem?
The right chapter depends on who is filing, the type of debt, income, assets, secured obligations, business operations and what the debtor is trying to accomplish.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 is commonly used by qualifying individuals seeking a discharge of unsecured debt and by some businesses that need an orderly liquidation.
- Credit-card debt
- Medical debt
- Personal loans
- Judgments and collection pressure
- Qualifying consumer debt
- Some business liquidation situations
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 allows qualifying individuals with regular income to propose a court-supervised repayment plan, typically over three to five years.
- Mortgage arrears
- Vehicle debt
- Tax obligations
- Debt repayment over time
- Asset-protection considerations
- Complex consumer debt situations
Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Chapter 11 may allow a business or other eligible debtor to restructure obligations while addressing operations, secured debt, creditor claims and long-term viability.
- Business restructuring
- Secured debt problems
- Creditor negotiations
- Operational restructuring
- Asset sales
- Reorganization planning
Subchapter V Business Bankruptcy
Qualifying small-business debtors may be able to use Subchapter V of Chapter 11, which was designed to streamline certain aspects of small-business reorganization.
- Small-business restructuring
- Owner-operated companies
- Business debt reorganization
- Creditor negotiations
- Restructuring while continuing operations
- More streamlined Chapter 11 process where eligible
When Personal Debt Stops Being Manageable
People usually do not start thinking about bankruptcy because of one bill. The pressure tends to build: credit-card balances increase, minimum payments consume cash flow, collection calls begin, judgments are entered, vehicles are threatened or mortgage arrears become difficult to cure.
The first step is understanding the complete financial picture rather than reacting to the loudest creditor.
When the Business Is Good but the Balance Sheet Is Not
A distressed business may still have customers, employees, valuable assets and a viable operating model. The problem may be debt structure, litigation, leases, secured obligations, tax pressure or losses that accumulated faster than the company could absorb them.
Can the Business Survive?
Separate temporary financial distress from a business model that no longer works.
What Debt Is Driving the Problem?
Secured debt, tax liabilities, trade debt, leases, litigation and owner guarantees may require different solutions.
What Assets Matter Most?
Equipment, inventory, contracts, real estate, accounts receivable and intellectual property may affect strategy.
Does Reorganization Create Value?
Restructuring should have an economic objective, not simply delay an inevitable shutdown.
What Happens to the Owners?
Guarantees, equity, management, tax consequences and future operations need to be evaluated alongside the company.
Filing Bankruptcy Can Change the Collection Landscape Quickly
Filing a bankruptcy petition generally triggers the automatic stay, which can stop many forms of collection activity while the bankruptcy case proceeds. The scope and duration of the stay depend on the circumstances of the case, prior filings, the type of debt and applicable Bankruptcy Code provisions.
Bankruptcy Is Powerful, but It Does Not Erase Every Problem
Whether a particular debt can be discharged, modified or otherwise addressed depends on the Bankruptcy Code and the facts of the case. Liens, taxes, domestic-support obligations, student loans, secured debt and other obligations may require separate analysis.
What Happens Before a Bankruptcy Case Is Filed?
Understand the Financial Picture
Review debts, assets, income, expenses, lawsuits, liens, secured obligations and recent transactions.
Compare the Options
Determine whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 11, Subchapter V or a non-bankruptcy strategy is appropriate.
Gather the Information
Bankruptcy filings require complete and accurate financial disclosures and supporting documents.
Prepare the Filing
Prepare the petition, schedules, statements and other required bankruptcy documents.
File & Move Forward
Filing begins the federal bankruptcy case and triggers the procedural requirements that follow.
Bankruptcy Representation in Pennsylvania & West Virginia
Bankruptcy cases are federal cases. The Skeen Firm currently handles qualifying bankruptcy matters in the following federal bankruptcy districts.
Western District of Pennsylvania
Bankruptcy representation for qualifying consumer and business cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Northern District of West Virginia
Representation for qualifying consumer and business bankruptcy matters within the Northern District of West Virginia.
Southern District of West Virginia
Representation for qualifying bankruptcy cases within the Southern District of West Virginia.
Bankruptcy Filings Require Complete and Accurate Financial Disclosure
Bankruptcy is a federal court process. Debtors are required to provide complete, accurate and truthful information concerning assets, liabilities, income and other required financial information. Bankruptcy filings may also be subject to audit and other review.
Do not transfer assets, omit debts, hide property, provide inaccurate information or make financial decisions based solely on something you read online. Discuss significant pre-bankruptcy transactions and planning decisions with counsel.
Bankruptcy May Be Only One Part of the Strategy
Start With the Financial Questions That Actually Matter
Is unsecured debt consuming income that should be paying ordinary living expenses?
Are lawsuits, judgments, garnishment or collection activity becoming difficult to manage?
Are mortgage or vehicle arrears threatening important property?
Is a business fundamentally viable but overwhelmed by existing debt?
Would repayment outside bankruptcy realistically resolve the problem within a reasonable period?
What would your financial position look like one year after bankruptcy compared with one year without it?
Bankruptcy & Debt Relief FAQs
Does The Skeen Firm handle Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
Yes. The firm represents qualifying individuals and other eligible debtors in Chapter 7 matters in the federal bankruptcy districts where the firm's attorneys practice.
Does The Skeen Firm handle Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
Yes. The firm handles qualifying Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy matters, including cases where repayment, secured debt, mortgage arrears or other financial issues require a structured plan.
Does The Skeen Firm handle business bankruptcy?
Yes. The firm evaluates qualifying business bankruptcy matters, including Chapter 7 liquidation, Chapter 11 reorganization and Subchapter V cases where appropriate.
Does The Skeen Firm handle bankruptcy in West Virginia?
Yes. The firm currently handles qualifying bankruptcy matters in both the Northern District of West Virginia and the Southern District of West Virginia.
Does The Skeen Firm handle bankruptcy in Western Pennsylvania?
Yes. The firm handles qualifying bankruptcy matters in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
Will bankruptcy stop collection calls?
Filing bankruptcy generally triggers an automatic stay that stops many collection activities. Exceptions and limitations may apply, particularly in cases involving repeat filings or certain types of proceedings.
Will bankruptcy stop foreclosure?
Filing may temporarily stop qualifying foreclosure activity through the automatic stay. Whether bankruptcy provides a longer-term solution depends on the chapter filed, mortgage arrears, equity, income and the debtor's objectives.
Can bankruptcy eliminate credit-card debt?
Many ordinary unsecured credit-card obligations may be dischargeable, but dischargeability depends on the nature of the debt and the particular circumstances.
Will I lose everything if I file Chapter 7?
Not necessarily. Bankruptcy law provides exemptions that may protect qualifying property. The analysis depends on the assets, values, liens, exemptions and applicable law.
Does bankruptcy eliminate tax debt?
Some tax obligations may be dischargeable under specific conditions, while others are not. Tax debt should be analyzed individually before filing.
Does bankruptcy eliminate student loans?
Student-loan discharge is subject to special rules and generally requires additional legal analysis beyond simply filing the bankruptcy case.
Can I file bankruptcy without an attorney?
Individuals may generally represent themselves in bankruptcy court, but bankruptcy involves federal statutes, procedural rules, disclosure requirements, exemptions, deadlines and significant financial consequences. Businesses may also face separate representation requirements depending on entity type and proceeding.
When the Financial Math No Longer Works, Change the Equation
Bankruptcy is not the right answer for everyone. But when debt, lawsuits, secured obligations or business problems have become mathematically impossible to solve under the current structure, it may be time to understand what federal bankruptcy law can do.
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
The bankruptcy services described on this page concern bankruptcy relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code. Bankruptcy may involve significant legal and financial consequences and may not be appropriate for every person or business.
Attorney Advertising. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial or bankruptcy advice. Viewing this page or contacting The Skeen Firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Representation, eligibility, fees, exemptions, dischargeability, asset treatment, court coverage and strategy depend on the specific facts, applicable law, conflicts review and written engagement agreement.