If you live in Shively and the debt keeps growing, you can wipe the slate clean. Nick Thompson helps Shively residents file for bankruptcy, stop wage garnishment, and end the collection calls for good. The first meeting is free, and Nick will give you an honest read on your options.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Two kinds of bankruptcy cover most personal cases. Chapter 7 erases most credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans in about 4 to 6 months. A means test checks that your income sits below the Kentucky median. Chapter 13 is a 3 to 5 year payment plan for people who want to keep a home or car and catch up on what they owe. We look at your numbers and tell you which one works.
Relief starts on day one
Filing triggers the automatic stay, a court order that stops most collection at once. It ends garnishment, repossession, foreclosure sales, and those daily calls and letters. Most lawsuits stop too. Creditors cannot come after you again until the court allows it. A pending utility shutoff can be paused too. That is real breathing room while your case moves forward.
The kinds of debt we clear
Bankruptcy was built for everyday debt. We help clients erase credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, payday loans, and the balance left after a car is repossessed. Some older income tax debt can qualify when it meets the timing rules. A handful of debts are different, like child support, most student loans, and recent taxes. If a creditor is garnishing your paycheck now, filing can stop it fast. We review your full list at the first meeting.
Keeping what you own
Most people keep their home, their car, and their belongings. Kentucky filers can choose the federal exemption list, which protects home equity, a vehicle, household goods, and retirement accounts for most families. We check each item against the limits and use the set that protects the most. Retirement accounts like a 401(k) or IRA are generally protected in full.
How the process works
Filing is more straightforward than it looks. It begins with a free consultation about your debts, income, and goals. We gather your paperwork next, such as pay stubs, tax returns, and titles. Nick prepares and files your petition, and the automatic stay starts that day. You attend one hearing, the 341 meeting of creditors, held by Zoom in this district. You join from home. In a Chapter 7, the discharge usually arrives a few months after that meeting. We prepare you for the 341 meeting ahead of time, so you know what the trustee will ask before the day.
Right here in the southwest end
Shively is its own city inside Jefferson County, built around the US 60 and Dixie Highway junction and the old bourbon distilleries that gave it its name. Our east Louisville office is a short drive on the Watterson Expressway. Wherever you are in the city, we can get your case moving.
A local attorney since 1991
Nick has practiced law for more than 35 years and prepares every client’s petition himself. Your first consultation is free.
Call 502-625-0905 today. We serve all of Jefferson County plus Oldham, Bullitt, Spencer, Nelson, and Meade. We will explain your choices in plain words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Shively is one of the areas we serve most. Call 502-625-0905 to set up a free visit.
The same day you file. The automatic stay stops most garnishment and collection calls at once.
No. Your 341 meeting of creditors is held by Zoom, so you join from home.
Usually yes. Kentucky exemptions protect a vehicle up to a set value for most filers.
Yes. Your first consultation is free. Call 502-625-0905.