MASSACHUSETTS LICENSED ATTORNEY
If debt has become harder to manage because of a job loss, reduced income, divorce, illness, business problems or simply balances that have grown beyond what you can realistically repay, understanding your options is the first step.
Attorney Michael Goldstein helps Massachusetts individuals and business owners evaluate Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure and debt-relief options, IRS tax solutions, and small-business legal needs. The goal is not to push you toward a particular legal solution, but to understand your situation and determine which options make financial and legal sense.
Core Legal Services
Attorney Michael Goldstein focuses his Massachusetts practice on three areas where legal and financial decisions often intersect: bankruptcy and debt relief, IRS tax problems, and practical legal counsel for small businesses.
When debt is no longer realistically manageable, bankruptcy may provide a way forward, but the right solution depends on your circumstances. Attorney Michael Goldstein helps Massachusetts individuals and business owners evaluate Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and business bankruptcy based on income, assets, debts, creditor activity and what they need to protect.
Facing IRS collection action or unaffordable tax debt? Attorney Michael Goldstein helps Massachusetts individuals and business owners evaluate Offers in Compromise, installment agreements, Currently Not Collectible status, penalty relief, and other tax-resolution options.
Practical legal guidance for Massachusetts business owners, including business formation, contracts, operating agreements, ownership issues, risk assessment and ongoing legal counsel. Defined-scope and flat-fee programs are available for businesses that want predictable legal costs.
A fresh start is possible
You’re making minimum payments, but the balances aren’t meaningfully declining.
You fell behind after a job loss, illness, divorce or reduction in income and never fully caught up.
You’re behind on your mortgage or car and can’t see how you’ll pay the arrears.
You’re using savings, credit or one account to keep another account current.
You’re considering using retirement money or home equity to pay unsecured debt.
Your income has recovered, but the debt accumulated during the difficult period hasn’t.
If several of these sound familiar, the question may no longer be simply how to make the next payment. It may be time to understand what your legal options would actually change.
Know your legal options
When Michael handles your matter, Michael is the attorney responsible for your legal representation. You are not passed off to an associate or junior attorney. Experienced paralegal staff may assist with information gathering, document and petition preparation, and administrative support, but Michael reviews the work, provides the legal advice, and personally oversees your case from start to finish.
If you are considering bankruptcy, you probably have questions about what will happen to your home, car, income, property, and existing debts. These are some of the questions Massachusetts consumers commonly ask when deciding whether bankruptcy makes sense.
No. Filing bankruptcy does not automatically mean losing your home, car, retirement savings, or personal belongings. Massachusetts and federal bankruptcy exemptions may protect some or all of your property. What you can protect depends on the property you own, its equity, the exemptions available to you, and your individual circumstances.
Read: Will I Lose Everything If I File Bankruptcy? →Not necessarily. Income is an important part of Chapter 7 eligibility, but earning more than the Massachusetts median income for your household size does not automatically mean you cannot qualify. The means test considers additional financial information and allowable expenses, and eligibility depends on your particular circumstances.
Learn More About Chapter 7 Bankruptcy →Chapter 7 is generally designed to discharge qualifying debts without a repayment plan, while Chapter 13 uses a court-approved repayment plan that can provide additional tools for people who need to catch up on mortgage or vehicle arrears, protect certain property, or address debts that may not be eliminated in Chapter 7. The better option depends on your income, debts, assets, and goals.
Compare Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 in Massachusetts →Not every debt should necessarily be treated the same way. If you want to keep a home or financed vehicle, continuing certain secured payments may be important, while the strategy for unsecured debts such as credit cards may be different. Before changing payments, it is important to understand how bankruptcy would affect each obligation and the property connected to it.
Read: Which Bills Should You Keep Paying Before Filing Bankruptcy? →Potentially. Chapter 13 can be particularly important for homeowners who have fallen behind but now have enough income to resume their regular mortgage payments. A Chapter 13 plan may provide a structured way to address qualifying mortgage arrears over time, and filing bankruptcy can trigger the automatic stay, which generally stops most collection activity while it remains in effect.
Learn How Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Works →There is no minimum amount of debt that automatically makes bankruptcy the right choice. A more useful question is whether you have a realistic path to repaying what you owe while continuing to afford housing, transportation, food, taxes, and other necessary expenses. If balances continue growing despite payments, you are using new debt to pay old debt, or you cannot realistically catch up on arrears, it may be worth evaluating your bankruptcy options.
Explore Your Chapter 7 Options →You do not need to decide whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is right for you before speaking with an attorney. A consultation can help you understand how bankruptcy could affect your debts, income, home, vehicle, and other property before you decide what to do next.
Discuss Your Situation →ABOUT MICHAEL
Attorney Michael Goldstein brings both legal and financial experience to client problems. Licensed in Massachusetts and admitted to the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts, Michael has represented individuals facing financial problems and advised business owners on legal and financial risk.
That background matters whether you’re deciding if bankruptcy makes financial sense, trying to protect a home while catching up on debt, resolving an IRS problem, or evaluating the risks in a business contract or transaction.
When you hire Michael, you work directly with Michael. No associates and no hand-offs. You get practical legal advice from the attorney responsible for understanding your situation.
What you pay attorney goldstein
Before representation begins, you will receive a clear written scope of services and a flat fee for the work covered by your agreement. You will know what your legal fees will be before signing the retainer, without open-ended hourly billing or unexpected invoices.
If additional legal work becomes necessary, the scope and flat fee will be explained and approved before that work begins.
CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
★★★★★
“Very experienced and smart lawyer. Mr. Goldstein made my business purchasing process very easy and smooth. I always seek his legal advice for business.”
Kaffmandu LLC
Verified Avvo Review ·
★★★★★
“Mike Goldstein has helped me and my wife get through some very difficult periods. He has always been thoroughly professional and incredibly sensitive to our concerns.”
Andy F
Verified Avvo Review
★★★★★
“Attorney Goldstein helped me review my contract while I was purchasing a business. He was professional, thorough, and made everything much easier to understand throughout the process.”
Edward
Verified Google Review
GET IN TOUCH
Whether you’re dealing with debt that has become difficult to manage, an IRS problem, or a legal issue affecting your business, you don’t need to know which legal solution you need before contacting an attorney.
Tell Michael what’s happening. He can help you understand the available options and what makes sense to investigate next.
Massachusetts · Maryland · Washington, D.C.
(781) 745-3792
Contact via the form →