Falling behind on bills in Oldham County can feel like a weight you carry everywhere. It does not have to stay that way. Nick Thompson helps people in La Grange and across Oldham County file for bankruptcy and stop debt collection. His office is a short drive down I-71, and your first visit is free.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, and which one fits
Almost every personal case is either a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt in about 4 to 6 months. That includes credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. To qualify, you take a means test that compares your income to the Kentucky median. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan that runs 3 to 5 years. It fits people who earn too much for Chapter 7, or who need to catch up on a house or car. At the end of a Chapter 13 plan, the rest of the qualifying debt is erased. We look at your income and your goals and tell you which chapter gives you the cleanest start.
What filing stops right away
The day your case is filed, a court order called the automatic stay takes effect. It stops most collection in its tracks. Wage garnishment stops. Collection calls and letters stop. A foreclosure sale is put on hold. Repossession and most lawsuits stop too. Creditors have to leave you alone until the court says otherwise.
Debts we can usually clear
Bankruptcy is built for everyday debt. We regularly help clients clear credit card balances, medical bills, personal loans, old utility bills, and the leftover balance after a car is repossessed. Some older income tax debt can also qualify when it meets strict timing rules. A few debts are treated differently. Child support, most student loans, and recent taxes usually are not erased. We review your full list up front so there are no surprises.
Will you keep your home and car
Most people keep everything they own. Kentucky lets filers choose the federal exemption list, which protects home equity, a vehicle, household goods, and retirement savings for most families. We review what you own and apply the set of exemptions that protects the most. If something is close to a limit, we tell you before you file, not after.
How filing works from La Grange
The process is simpler than most people expect. First, we meet for a free consultation and look at your debts, income, and goals. Next, we gather your paperwork, such as pay stubs, tax returns, and titles. Then Nick prepares and files your petition, and the automatic stay begins that day. You attend one required hearing, the 341 meeting of creditors. In the Western District of Kentucky, that meeting is held by Zoom video, so you join from home in La Grange with no trip to a courtroom. In a Chapter 7, your discharge usually arrives a few months after that meeting.
Serving Oldham County
La Grange is the Oldham County seat, known for the CSX train that runs right down Main Street past the county courthouse. Our office sits east of there on Stone Creek Parkway, a straight run down I-71. We help clients across the county, from La Grange to Crestwood, Pewee Valley, Goshen, and Buckner.
Why work with Nick Thompson
Nick has practiced law for more than 35 years, in Kentucky since 1991. He prepares each client’s petition himself, so the person who reviews your case is the person handling it. Your first consultation is free.
Call 502-625-0905 to talk about your options. We will explain, in plain words, which path clears your debt fastest.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Your 341 meeting is held by Zoom, so you join from home. We handle most other steps by phone or video too. Call 502-625-0905.
Yes. We help clients in La Grange, Crestwood, Pewee Valley, Goshen, and Buckner.
It depends on your income and your goals. Chapter 7 erases debt fast. Chapter 13 sets a plan and can save a home. We compare both in your free consult.
Your first consultation is free. We go over fees and payment options at that meeting, before you owe anything.
Yes. The automatic stay takes effect the day you file and stops most wage garnishment right away.