Fairfield, CT Bankruptcy Lawyer

A bankruptcy practice built on 43 years and more than 15,000 cases across Connecticut.

If you’re behind on bills, getting calls from creditors, or watching debt pile up with no clear way out, bankruptcy might be the answer. The Law Offices of Neil Crane has been helping people in this exact position since 1983. We handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, foreclosure defense, and debt relief work across Connecticut. Our founder, Neil Crane, has personally handled more than 15,000 cases. We offer free consultations and can get you answers quickly. Schedule a consultation with our Fairfield, CT bankruptcy lawyer.

Bankruptcy Lawyer Fairfield, CT

Bankruptcy is a federal legal process. It exists so that individuals and businesses drowning in debt have a legal path to either eliminate what they owe or reorganize it into something manageable. All Connecticut bankruptcy cases are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut.

There are two chapters most people file under. Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debts entirely. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan, usually three to five years, supervised by the court. The right chapter depends on what you earn, what you own, and what kind of debt is causing the problem. A Fairfield bankruptcy attorney can walk you through which one actually applies to your situation.

Types of Bankruptcy Cases We Handle in Fairfield

Our firm works with individuals and families throughout Fairfield and nearby communities on bankruptcy and debt-related matters. Here’s what that looks like in practice.

• Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This is liquidation bankruptcy. Most unsecured debts get discharged: credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. You have to qualify through the means test, and the whole process usually wraps up in three to four months. We walk clients through eligibility and work to protect every exempt asset we can.
• Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 13 lets you hold onto your property while paying down debt over a structured timeline. Homeowners behind on their mortgages often use it because it creates breathing room to catch up. We draft the repayment proposals, file everything with the court, and handle confirmation hearings.
• Foreclosure defense. The moment you file a bankruptcy petition, an automatic stay kicks in. That stops a foreclosure in its tracks. We also represent homeowners going through Connecticut’s foreclosure mediation program, which can sometimes lead to a modification that keeps you in your home.
• Credit card debt relief. This is one of the most common reasons people contact us. In a Chapter 7 case, credit card balances are often fully dischargeable. That means they’re gone. We evaluate whether filing makes more sense than negotiating, and we’re upfront about the trade-offs either way.
• Small business bankruptcy. Owning a business and carrying personal debt at the same time creates a tangled situation. We help small business owners figure out whether Chapter 7 liquidation or Chapter 11 reorganization is the better option, and we pay close attention to where business liability ends and personal exposure begins.
• Wage garnishment and collections. Once a creditor gets a judgment, your paycheck and your bank account are both targets. Filing bankruptcy can stop an active garnishment. We help clients dealing with collection actions and lawsuits, folding that defense into a bigger debt relief strategy.
• Tax debt resolution. People are surprised to hear that certain tax debts can be discharged in bankruptcy. The rules are narrow, but when the criteria line up, tax debt relief through a filing can cut your total obligation significantly.
• Student loan concerns. Getting student loans discharged is not impossible, but can be very difficult. We advise Fairfield residents on what’s actually available, including hardship-based arguments under current law, and talk honestly about what options exist outside of bankruptcy, too.

Why Choose The Law Offices of Neil Crane as My Bankruptcy Lawyer in Fairfield, CT?

43 Years Focused on Bankruptcy and Debt Relief

Neil R. Crane opened this firm in 1983. He’s spent the time since doing one thing: helping people get out from under debt they can’t manage on their own. He has helped clients with more than 15,000 cases over four decades, spanning Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 proceedings.

Neil graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Law in 1983. He’s admitted to the Connecticut Bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, and the U.S. District Courts for both the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. His memberships include the Connecticut Bar Association, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. He’s carried a Distinguished rating from Martindale-Hubbell for multiple consecutive years and received their Client Champion Award in 2020.

He’s also been quoted in The New York Times, interviewed by the BBC on mortgage defaults and consumer debt, and has gone to Congress to lobby for consumer rights. He speaks regularly at CLE seminars across Connecticut.

We offer free initial consultations to Fairfield residents considering bankruptcy.

What Is Important to Understand About Bankruptcy Cases?

Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 and What Qualifies

Most personal bankruptcies fall into one of two buckets. Knowing the difference early saves time.

• Chapter 7 is liquidation. Non-exempt assets can be sold to pay creditors, and then qualifying debts are wiped out. You need to pass the means test, which measures your household income against the Connecticut median. Fall below it, and you generally qualify.
• Chapter 13 is reorganization. You keep your property but commit to a repayment plan lasting three to five years. A trustee collects your monthly payment and distributes it to creditors. Homeowners who need to cure a mortgage default often end up here.
• Exempt property is what you get to keep. Connecticut lets filers choose between state and federal exemption schedules. Depending on your situation, one set may protect more of your equity, your car, or your retirement savings than the other.
• The automatic stay goes into effect the second your petition hits the court’s docket. Creditor calls stop, lawsuits pause, garnishments halt, and foreclosure proceedings freeze.
• Discharge is the finish line. It’s the court order that officially eliminates your qualifying debts. But not everything qualifies. Child support obligations survive. Most student loans survive. Certain tax obligations do too.

What Are Important Aspects of a Bankruptcy Case?

The means test is the gatekeeper for Chapter 7. It compares your current monthly income to what a Connecticut household of your size typically earns. If you’re above the line, Chapter 13 is likely your best route.

Financial disclosure has to be complete and accurate. Every asset, every debt, every source of income, every monthly expense. The court requires it, and getting it wrong, even accidentally, can disqualify you. Creditors can also push back. They have the right to challenge your discharge if they think a particular debt involved fraud.

Exemption planning decides what property stays with you.

What Is the Bankruptcy Case Timeline?

No two cases move at the same speed, but here’s a general picture of what Fairfield residents can expect for the case timeline:

You’ll need to take a credit counseling course from a provider approved by the U.S. Department of Justice before you can file. That’s a federal requirement and is not optional.

Once the petition is filed, the court sets a 341 meeting of creditors, usually 20 to 40 days out. You’ll answer questions under oath about your financial situation. It sounds intimidating, but in most cases, it’s brief.

For Chapter 7, discharge typically comes about 60 days after that meeting. Start to finish, most Chapter 7 cases close in three to four months. Chapter 13 is a different timeline entirely. The repayment plan runs for three to five years, and discharge occurs only after all payments are made.

Before the court issues a discharge in either chapter, you also need to complete a debtor education course. It’s separate from the pre-filing credit counseling requirement.

What Should You Bring to Your Bankruptcy Consultation?

Walking in prepared makes the first conversation far more productive. Your bankruptcy attorney in Fairfield can provide a more accurate assessment rather than a general one.

Bring recent pay stubs and tax returns from the last two years. Pull together a list of everything you owe: credit cards, medical debt, personal loans, any judgments or garnishments already in place. If you own a home, bring your mortgage statements and any letters from the lender. Bank statements from the past few months help round out the picture, along with a rough breakdown of what you spend monthly on housing, utilities, insurance, and getting around.

We’ll go through all of it during your consultation, talk about what you’re trying to accomplish, and lay out which chapter of bankruptcy fits your circumstances.

What Are Important Connecticut Legal Resources for Bankruptcy Cases?

If you want to research bankruptcy law on your own before meeting with a Fairfield, CT bankruptcy attorney, these are solid starting points. All of them are maintained by federal or state agencies.

• The U.S. Courts bankruptcy page covers the federal process, compares chapters, and explains basic filing requirements.
• The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut posts local rules, forms, and procedural guidance specific to filings in this state.
• The Connecticut Judicial Branch publishes information on state exemption laws and civil proceedings that can overlap with a bankruptcy case.
• The Federal Trade Commission has consumer-oriented resources on debt management, credit counseling, and spotting debt relief scams before they cost you money.
• The U.S. Trustee Program lists approved credit counseling and debtor education providers, both of which are mandatory steps in any bankruptcy filing.

Reach Out to The Law Offices of Neil Crane to Schedule a Consultation

If financial hardship in Fairfield has you weighing whether bankruptcy is the right step, call us. We offer free initial consultations. We’ll review your numbers, talk through your options, and give you a clear picture of what filing would actually look like. No pressure, no obligation. Contact us to set up a time to speak with a Fairfield bankruptcy lawyer.