Bankruptcy Attorney in Pasadena, CA
Fast Debt Relief Solutions. Hedtke Law Group helps Pasadena residents file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy from our office in neighboring Arcadia, about 15 minutes east on the 210 Freeway or a short ride on the Metro A Line. If a paycheck is being garnished or a creditor has sued you, we can usually tell you in one free consultation which option fits.
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Attorney Neil R. Hedtke · State Bar of California #273319 · about 3,000 bankruptcy cases filed since 2010 · West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran · 5-star rated on Google
Wage garnishment and collection lawsuits in Pasadena
Many Pasadena clients first call us after receiving court papers. Collection cases against Pasadena residents are often filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, and once a creditor wins a judgment it can ask for a wage garnishment or a bank levy. California generally limits a wage garnishment to 20 percent of disposable earnings, but for a family already stretched thin that is often the difference between paying rent and falling behind.
Filing bankruptcy triggers the automatic stay. From the moment the case is filed, most garnishments, levies and collection lawsuits must stop. In Chapter 7, the underlying credit card and medical debt is usually discharged within a few months. In Chapter 13, you repay what you can afford over three to five years under court protection.
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 for Pasadena households
Chapter 7 is the faster option. It suits people whose income is below the California median for their household size, or who pass the means test after allowed expenses. Most Chapter 7 cases close without any property being taken, because California’s exemptions protect household goods, a modest car, retirement accounts and part of your wages.
Chapter 13 fits Pasadena homeowners who are behind on the mortgage, people with income above the median, and anyone with property worth more than the exemptions allow. See our Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 pages for the details of each.
Which court handles a Pasadena bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is federal. Pasadena cases are filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California, generally in its Los Angeles Division. Mr. Hedtke is admitted to practice before that court. We prepare the petition, file it electronically, and prepare you for the meeting of creditors with the trustee.
How the process works
- Free consultation by phone or at the Arcadia office. Bring pay stubs, your most recent tax return, and any lawsuit or garnishment papers.
- We check the means test and California exemptions and recommend Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or an option other than bankruptcy.
- You complete the required credit counseling course and we prepare and file your petition. Garnishments and lawsuits stop under the automatic stay.
- You attend the meeting of creditors. In a typical Chapter 7 case the discharge follows a few months later.
Your attorney
Neil R. Hedtke graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1992, served five years as a U.S. Army Engineer Officer, and earned his law degree at the University of La Verne College of Law. He was admitted to the California bar in 2010 and has filed about 3,000 bankruptcy cases since. Read more about Mr. Hedtke or verify his license on the State Bar of California website.
Pasadena clients often tell us they waited too long because they assumed bankruptcy meant losing everything. Most people keep their belongings, and the first meeting is free, so it costs nothing to find out where you stand.
Questions we hear from Pasadena residents
Can bankruptcy stop a wage garnishment in Pasadena?
Yes. Filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case triggers the automatic stay, which requires most creditors to stop garnishing wages as soon as the case is filed. Garnishments for child support and some taxes follow different rules.
Do I have to go to court in downtown Los Angeles?
Most clients never see a courtroom. The main event is the meeting of creditors with the bankruptcy trustee, and we prepare you for it and tell you in advance whether it will be held by video or in person.
Will I lose my car if I file Chapter 7?
Usually not. California exemptions protect a limited amount of vehicle equity. If you have a car loan, you can typically keep the car by staying current on payments. We check your numbers before you file.
How soon can I get a free consultation?
Call (626) 593-1558. We are open Monday to Friday 9 to 5 and Saturday 10 to 1, and we can often talk the same week.
Getting to our office from Pasadena
From central Pasadena, take the 210 Freeway east and exit at Santa Anita Avenue in Arcadia. The office is near the Metro A Line Arcadia Station, so you can also ride the train from Memorial Park, Lake or Sierra Madre Villa station.
Hedtke Law Group
255 E Santa Clara St, Suite 210, Arcadia, CA 91006
Phone: (626) 593-1558
Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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Related help
Clients from nearby San Marino and Alhambra use the same Arcadia office. For other problems, see stopping creditor calls, foreclosure defense and car repossession, or start with our main bankruptcy options page.