Chandler, Arizona
Drowning in debt in Chandler and weighing bankruptcy? Here are the firms that handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases here, with what they charge and who they fit.
If your debts have outrun your income and the calls have started, bankruptcy is not failure, it is a legal tool the system built on purpose. The two consumer options are Chapter 7, which can wipe out most unsecured debt in a few months, and Chapter 13, which reorganizes what you owe into a three-to-five-year payment plan and can save a house from foreclosure. A good Chandler bankruptcy lawyer's first job is telling you, honestly, which one fits, or whether you need either.
Chandler bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona, which sits in Phoenix. Whether you qualify for Chapter 7 turns on the means test, which compares your household income to the Arizona state median. Arizona also has its own set of exemptions, the property you get to keep, and choosing them correctly is exactly where a local attorney earns the fee.
Most consumer bankruptcy lawyers charge a flat fee, and many advertise low or '$0 down' upfront options that fold the cost into a payment plan. The firms below all have verifiable Chandler-area bankruptcy practices and handle consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.
One practical note for Chandler filers: the 341 'meeting of creditors' is now usually held by video or phone through the District of Arizona, so you rarely set foot in the Phoenix courthouse. Your lawyer prepares you for the handful of questions the trustee asks, and for most consumer cases the meeting is over in minutes.
How we picked these 7: We cross-referenced peer rankings and directories (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell, Justia, Expertise.com, FindLaw) and each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm below appeared in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Chandler-area bankruptcy practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt settlement, foreclosure defense
A high-volume consumer bankruptcy practice serving Chandler and Maricopa County that has filed hundreds of cases and offers $0-down and payment-plan options to make filing accessible.
Why they made the list: Accessible pricing and a large consumer caseload across Chapter 7 and 13.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
Martin Berkley has practiced bankruptcy law exclusively since 1990 and has personally handled thousands of Arizona Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, a rare single-focus practice.
Why they made the list: Decades of bankruptcy-only experience and personal attention to each filing.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 bankruptcy, debt relief
Benjamin Wright's firm helps Chandler-area individuals and businesses across all consumer and small-business chapters, with a Spanish-speaking attorney and strong client reviews.
Why they made the list: A full range of chapters and bilingual service for the East Valley.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, debt relief, asset protection
Stone Rose Law focuses on tailoring Chapter 7 solutions to each client's situation so filers reduce debt pressure while protecting as much property as Arizona's exemptions allow.
Why they made the list: A personalized approach to Chapter 7 eligibility and exemption planning.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, foreclosure prevention, debt settlement
This bankruptcy practice serves Chandler and surrounding areas with Chapter 7 and 13 filings, foreclosure prevention, and debt settlement, and advertises same-day emergency filings when a creditor action is imminent.
Why they made the list: Fast, emergency-capable filing for clients facing immediate foreclosure or garnishment.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, estate planning
James Gentile handles consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases for clients in Chandler, Apache Junction, and Casa Grande, and pairs bankruptcy with estate planning for a fuller financial reset.
Why they made the list: Local, long-tenured practice combining debt relief with estate planning.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, debt resolution
A long-established East Valley firm serving Chandler-area clients with consumer bankruptcy alongside a broader civil practice, drawing on decades of local experience.
Why they made the list: An established general-practice firm with deep East Valley roots.
Tell us about your debt situation and we'll match you with a Chandler bankruptcy attorney who can tell you which chapter fits. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Confirm the means-test analysis up front. Your eligibility for Chapter 7 hinges on the means test against the Arizona median income. A lawyer who runs the numbers correctly can usually tell you in the first meeting which chapter you qualify for.
Ask how Arizona exemptions apply to you. Arizona's exemptions decide what property you keep. A local attorney who knows the homestead and vehicle exemptions can protect far more than a form-filling service.
Understand what the flat fee covers. Most consumer bankruptcy is flat-fee. Confirm whether the fee includes the credit counseling, the filing, and the meeting of creditors, and how court filing fees are handled.
Ask who actually attends your hearing. In a smooth consumer case you and your attorney attend one short trustee meeting. Confirm your lawyer (not just a paralegal) prepares you for it and is reachable if the trustee requests more documents.
Consumer bankruptcy in Chandler is usually flat-fee, plus the court's filing fee. As rough guidance:
Be wary of anyone promising debt relief for pennies; the real cost is modest and the value of getting the chapter and exemptions right is enormous.
A Chapter 7 case moves quickly; Chapter 13 stretches over years by design:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a win, a number, or a court ruling, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a named partner at intake, then never hear from them again while an unsupervised junior runs the file. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a volume-mill signal.
No verifiable track record. Look for named results, peer rankings, board certifications, or bar recognition — not "we have helped thousands of clients."
Vague fees. Every legitimate firm will put the fee structure, what is covered, and what triggers extra charges in a written engagement letter.
Most of the firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial call. Use it. Bring a written list and write down the answers, then compare across two or three firms before you sign anything.
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most bankruptcy matters, gather:
If you are not sure whether something is relevant, bring it anyway. It is easier for a lawyer to set aside what does not matter than to chase down what you left at home.
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Often, no. Arizona's homestead and vehicle exemptions protect a significant amount of equity, and in Chapter 13 you can keep secured property by staying current on payments. A lawyer can tell you what is protected in your case.
Most student loans, recent income taxes, child support, and alimony generally survive bankruptcy. A lawyer can tell you which of your specific debts would actually be discharged.
It depends on the means test, which compares your household income to the Arizona median. If you are below the median you usually qualify; above it, a lawyer looks at your allowed expenses to see whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 fits.
A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for up to seven (Chapter 13) or ten (Chapter 7) years, but many people see their scores begin to recover within a year or two as the old debt is cleared and they rebuild.
Usually yes, at least temporarily. Filing triggers an automatic stay that halts most garnishments, repossessions, and foreclosure actions while the case proceeds.
You can, but consumer bankruptcy has strict rules, deadlines, and exemption choices where mistakes are costly. Given the modest flat fees, most people are better served hiring an attorney.
Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt in a few months but requires passing the means test. Chapter 13 reorganizes your debt into a multi-year payment plan and is often used to catch up on a mortgage or keep property.
You generally cannot keep a card with a balance through bankruptcy, but most people can obtain a secured card soon after discharge and rebuild steadily. Many filers see meaningful score recovery within a year or two as old debt clears.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you a lot. — The LawFirmSquare team
LawFirmSquare is a directory. We do not represent clients or refer cases for a fee.