Fresno Bankruptcy Attorney

Posted by: California Bankruptcy Attorney

On March 14, 2010, the Fresno Bee reported the depressing news that job recovery in Fresno is expected to be slower than in most of the country. Fresno, unlike its coastal neighbors in Los Angeles or in the Bay Area, lacks big corporate headquarters. In Fresno County, the Bee stated, January 2010 unemployment rates stood at a jaw-dropping 18.2% -- one of the highest in the nation. With nearly one out of five people looking for work, but without the recovering corporate giants that are starting to hire again in other parts of California, it seems that any given Fresno bankruptcy attorney will still have plenty of business.

Poverty is not new in Fresno; in the rich state of California, Fresno has always stood out as one of the poorer regions. Even in good times, Fresno had a higher unemployment rate than most of California. Yet something new is happening in Fresno that hasn't been seen before: even mid-level managers and highly skilled executives are out of work, and staying out of work. For a Fresno bankruptcy attorney, people are walking into their offices who they never would have expected to see before – people with post-graduate degrees and years of experience in their field.

Hiring a Fresno bankruptcy attorney can go a long way in saving your assets in bankruptcy. An attorney can help you file for a chapter of bankruptcy that will save more of your assets and helps you rebuild your credit after bankruptcy.

Residents Aren't the Only Ones Looking for a California Bankruptcy Attorney

To make matters worse, several of Fresno's bigger businesses are going belly-up as a result of the recession. Gottschalks, a Fresno-based retailer, filed for bankruptcy in January 2009. If creditors reject the payment plan the court has worked out, their Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan may convert into a Chapter 7 liquidation, and Gottschalks would likely completely disappear, leading to yet more job loss. Besides Gottschalks, Jack-in-the-Box's Fresno properties were recently sold at auction. Other industries in the Fresno area show no sign of recovering any time soon.

Filing for Bankruptcy in Fresno

Finding a Fresno bankruptcy attorney, or another bankruptcy attorney in California, should be your first step if you're considering bankruptcy. A Fresno bankruptcy attorney can help you determine which type of bankruptcy you qualify for – Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Most people don't realize that Chapter 7, in which unsecured debts are mostly discharged, is still an option for them. Bankruptcy laws changed in 2005, but a skilled California bankruptcy lawyer should be able to help you qualify if you're on the edge of eligibility.
Consider that if you file for bankruptcy without the aid of a Fresno bankruptcy attorney, you may be acting in a way that is penny wise but pound foolish. A bankruptcy lawyer in California may be able to help you stop a home foreclosure or car repossession; fighting a home foreclosure without the assistance of a Fresno bankruptcy attorney is unlikely to lead to the conclusion you're hoping for. In short, the legal fees involved in hiring a Fresno bankruptcy attorney are well worth it. Don't try filing for bankruptcy without a bankruptcy expert.

You can call (877) 427-2752 and get help from a bankruptcy lawyer in California and get all the information you need about bankruptcy.