MASSACHUSETTS LICENSED ATTORNEY
Bankruptcy Attorney Serving Mansfield, Massachusetts
If you are dealing with overwhelming debt, collection lawsuits, wage garnishment, foreclosure, or financial pressure, Attorney Michael Goldstein helps people living in the Mansfield area and Bristol County evaluate Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy options and understand the right next step.
Michael Goldstein is a Massachusetts bankruptcy attorney who helps clients determine whether Chapter 7 can eliminate qualifying unsecured debt, or whether Chapter 13 may offer a better path to protect property and catch up on missed payments.
Serving Bristol County & Surrounding Communities
What Bankruptcy Options Are Available for Mansfield Residents?
For most individuals and families in Mansfield who are struggling with debt, the primary consumer bankruptcy options are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. The right option depends on your income, assets, debts, and goals.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 may help qualifying individuals eliminate many unsecured debts, including credit card balances, personal loans, medical bills, and certain older tax debts. It is often worth considering when income is limited and available exemptions protect the property you need to keep.
MDOR & IRS Workouts
If IRS tax debt, collection notices, levies, or unaffordable payment demands are creating financial pressure, Attorney Michael Goldstein helps Mansfield-area individuals and business owners evaluate tax-resolution options. Depending on the situation, that may include an Offer in Compromise, an installment agreement, penalty relief, or other strategies for resolving tax debt.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 may help individuals with regular income protect property and repay certain debts through a court-approved plan, usually over three to five years. It can be especially useful when you need time to catch up on mortgage arrears, vehicle payments, or other secured obligations.
Meet With a Bankruptcy Attorney Serving Mansfield
If debt has become difficult to manage, Attorney Michael Goldstein helps individuals and families in Mansfield and surrounding Massachusetts communities understand their bankruptcy and debt-relief options.
Consultations are available by appointment as well as by phone and video?. During the consultation, Michael can review your income, debts, assets, mortgage or vehicle arrears, collection activity, and other financial circumstances to help determine whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or another strategy may make sense.
What Problems Can Bankruptcy Help Solve?
Bankruptcy can address more than credit-card balances. Depending on your circumstances, Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may help address several different types of financial pressure.
Credit Card Debt
Many unsecured credit-card balances can potentially be discharged through bankruptcy.
Medical Debt
Unsecured medical bills are commonly among the debts addressed in a consumer bankruptcy case.
Collection Lawsuits
Filing bankruptcy generally triggers the automatic stay, which can stop most creditor collection activity.
Wage Garnishment
The automatic stay can stop many ongoing wage garnishments, subject to applicable exceptions.
Foreclosure Risk
Chapter 13 may provide homeowners with time to address qualifying mortgage arrears through a repayment plan.
Vehicle Arrears
Chapter 13 may provide a structured way to address certain delinquent vehicle payments while keeping the vehicle.
Personal Loans
Many unsecured personal loans may be treated similarly to other unsecured debts in bankruptcy.
Certain Tax Debts
Some older income-tax debts may qualify for discharge, while other tax obligations may require a different strategy.
Overwhelming Payments
Bankruptcy may provide a way to discharge qualifying debt or reorganize repayment when monthly obligations are no longer sustainable.
Depending on your situation, filing bankruptcy may stop collection activity through the automatic stay and create a path toward either discharging qualifying debt or restructuring repayment.
How Do I Know Whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Is Better for Me?
The answer usually depends on what financial problem you are trying to solve. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 provide different forms of relief.
| Consideration | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Discharge qualifying debts | Reorganize debt through a repayment plan |
| Typical plan length | No three-to-five-year repayment plan | Generally three to five years |
| Mortgage arrears | Does not generally provide a long-term cure mechanism | May allow qualifying arrears to be addressed over time |
| Vehicle arrears | Limited ability to cure missed payments | May allow certain arrears to be addressed through the plan |
| Property concerns | Nonexempt property may be exposed | Can sometimes provide greater flexibility to retain property |
| Income considerations | Means-test and eligibility analysis applies | Requires sufficient regular income to fund a feasible plan |
Chapter 7 may be a better fit when your primary problem is unsecured debt such as credit cards, medical bills, or personal loans and you do not need a repayment plan to catch up on secured obligations.
Chapter 13 may be more appropriate when you need time to stop a foreclosure, catch up on missed mortgage or vehicle payments, address certain priority debts, or protect property that could create problems in Chapter 7.
Compare Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 in Massachusetts →Will Everyone Know If I File Bankruptcy?
Many people considering bankruptcy are concerned about privacy and whether friends, family members, employers, or neighbors will automatically learn about the filing.
Bankruptcy cases are public court records, but that does not mean the filing is automatically announced to the people around you. Watch Attorney Michael Goldstein explain how bankruptcy records work and what most clients can realistically expect.
Common Questions About Bankruptcy in Mansfield, Massachusetts
Do I Qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Mansfield, MA?
Chapter 7 eligibility depends on more than one income number. Household size, average income during the applicable lookback period, allowable expenses, prior bankruptcy filings, assets, and the types of debt involved can all affect the analysis.
Learn about the Chapter 7 means test in Massachusetts →Can Chapter 13 Stop Foreclosure in Mansfield?
Filing Chapter 13 generally triggers the automatic stay, which can stop many foreclosure actions while the stay remains in effect. If you have enough income to maintain required ongoing payments, a Chapter 13 plan may also provide time to address qualifying mortgage arrears.
Learn how Chapter 13 can help stop foreclosure →Will I Lose My House or Car If I File Bankruptcy?
Not necessarily. Bankruptcy exemptions can protect certain property, and the amount of equity you have in a home or vehicle can be important. Chapter 13 may also provide options when retaining property is a major concern.
Learn what can happen to your property in bankruptcy →Can Bankruptcy Stop Wage Garnishment in Massachusetts?
In many cases, filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that stops ongoing creditor collection activity, including many wage garnishments. Exceptions can apply, so the type of debt and nature of the garnishment matter.
Learn about stopping wage garnishment in Massachusetts →Do I Need to Go to Court to File Bankruptcy?
Most consumer bankruptcy cases require participation in a meeting of creditors, commonly called the 341 meeting. Whether additional court appearances are required depends on the chapter filed and whether disputes, objections, motions, or other issues arise in the case.
Learn what happens at a bankruptcy meeting of creditors →Can I Speak With a Bankruptcy Attorney Before Deciding Whether to File?
Yes. A consultation can help you understand what Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 could accomplish before you decide whether filing is appropriate. The discussion can include your debts, income, assets, collection activity, mortgage or vehicle arrears, and other financial concerns.
Schedule a consultation with Attorney Michael Goldstein →Why Work With Attorney Michael Goldstein?
Michael Goldstein helps Massachusetts individuals and families evaluate bankruptcy options based on their income, assets, debts, and long-term goals. The objective is not simply to file a case, but to understand what the filing would accomplish and whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or another solution makes the most sense.
Massachusetts Licensed
Licensed to practice law in Massachusetts.
Federal Bankruptcy Court Admitted
Admitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts.
Direct Attorney Access
Discuss your situation directly with Attorney Michael Goldstein.
Practical Debt-Relief Analysis
Evaluate the legal and financial consequences before deciding how to proceed.
Ready to Talk About Your Debt Relief Options?
If you live in Mansfield or the surrounding area and need help understanding Chapter 7, Chapter 13, tax debt, foreclosure, or other debt-relief options, schedule a consultation with Attorney Michael Goldstein.
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. Attorney Michael Goldstein also serves as Of Counsel to Phillips Law Offices for Massachusetts bankruptcy matters.
GET IN TOUCH
Not Sure What Your Next Step Should Be?
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.
Location
20 Cabot Blvd Ste 300 Mansfield, MA
Phone
(781) 745-3792
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