4800 Mills Civic Parkway. Suite 205
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
Telephone: 515-261-7526
Toll Free:1-800-997-1395 Email JeffIowan's Credit Troubles IncreaseYou can normally discharge all credit card, medical and other personal debt including foreclosures, lawsuits, judgments and liens. You can normally keep your home and car and keep making those payments or surrender and be done with the payments. If you surrender your home you have at least 60 days to move during which time you do not make mortgage payments. Foreclosure rates are the highest they have ever been right now and are going higher.
Iowa Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Quick Overview
Jeff will not ask you to complete a long packet of information. Instead, we will prepare your entire petition during your first office appointment so you can file quickly and stop creditor calls, bills, lawsuits and garnishments. Jeff files cases each Thursday and your bankruptcy hearing is about 4 weeks after you file. Your Iowa Chapter 7 is discharged about 9 weeks after your hearing so your entire Iowa Bankruptcy normally takes less than 4 months.
Banks know you cannot file bankruptcy again for another 8 years and you have more disposable income because of your bankruptcy discharge so you are a good risk for new credit after filing. Many people purchase a home within 2 years of Iowa Bankruptcy with a good interest rate. Credit cards are often available right after discharge although you are encouraged to live on a cash basis, use your debit card and avoid getting back into the "credit culture". Life without credit card statements is great! See Credit after bankruptcy.
(excludes social security income)*Add $6300 for each additional person in the Iowa household Updated 2-1-08Needed Documents for Iowa Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
• $1199 in cash or money order ($900 attorney fee and $299 filing fee);
• Credit Counseling Certificate(s), you can get this online at www.cccsinc.org, two certificates required for married filing jointly;
• All bills you intend to discharge (credit cards, medical etc.) w/ account numbers, full address;
• Creditor information (full address, account #'s) on debts you will keep like home or car loans;
• Last two months (60 days) pay stubs from work (including your spouse even if they are not filing);
• If you do not receive wage income, bring records of other income for the last six months;
• Most recent Iowa and federal tax returns;
• W2's for the last two years;
• Legal Description of your Iowa home if you own from your abstract or tax bill;
• Photo ID and Social Security Card or proof of social security number (W2, tax form etc.).
Initial Consultation
Jeff can do a quick Iowa Bankruptcy Evaluation online, or you can telephone 1-800-997-1395 or Email Jeff. Feel free to email or call after hours as Jeff can often check email after hours and forwards calls when available.
Office Appointment- Des Moines Office
First, Jeff will do a more thorough case evaluation with you in our Des Moines office. Only after doing so will you decide if you want to go forward with your Iowa Bankruptcy. Jeff will complete your entire petition with you during your one office appointment. That way you do not spend hours filling out a long packet at home and your case can be filed quickly. Jeff will not accept your money unless he is confident he can get you a successful discharge and you want to file bankruptcy. Directions to Jeff's Des Moines, Iowa office: 4800 Mills Civic Parkway, Suite 205, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265.
All Iowa bankruptcy cases are filed in Federal Court in downtown DSM. You cannot file bankruptcy in any County Court in Iowa. So whether you live in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, Sioux City or any other city or county in Iowa, you can file bankruptcy in either the Northern Iowa bankruptcy court or Southern Iowa bankruptcy courts. Jeff files all his cases in Des Moines and your hearing is in Des Moines so you make two trips, one to meet with Jeff and the 2nd to attend your hearing.
Bankruptcy Hearing- in Des Moines
Your bankruptcy hearing is about 4 weeks after your case is filed. There is no Judge or courtroom involved. You and Jeff will meet with the Trustee, who is an attorney appointed by the Judge to administer your bankruptcy case. As long as your Iowa bankruptcy has been properly prepared and your Iowa exemptions claimed correctly, the hearing is usually no problem at all. Jeff will be there to protect your rights. Your case is discharged about 9 weeks after the hearing and you are done! Hearings are held at the Federal Building at 210 Walnut, Room 782, Des Moines, Iowa (2nd and Walnut downtown in Des Moines).
Bankruptcy Discharge- Comes in the Mail
After discharge if you receive any bills on discharged debt just get a copy to Jeff and he will send out a letter and get them stopped. This occasionally happens when a creditor does not update all their databases.
Questions? Email Jeff : jeff@mathiaslaw.com
Iowa Counties Served:Adair, Adams, Appanoose, Audubon, Boone, Cass, Clarke, Clinton, Dallas, Davis, Decatur, Des Moines, Fremont, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, Henry, Jasper, Jefferson, Johnson (Iowa City), Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Lucas, Madison, Mahaska, Marion, Marshall, Mills, Monroe, Montgomery, Muscatine, Page, Polk (Des Moines area), Pottawattanie, Poweshiek, Ringgold, Scott, Shelby, Story (Ames), Taylor, Union, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren, Washington, and Wayne counties.
If you are not in one of the above Iowa counties, (meaning you live in Northern Iowa) Jeff cannot handle your case. In that case, check for a referral attorney member of: