Bankruptcy is a legal reset, not a moral failing - and Iowa's exemption rules let most people keep their home, car, and retirement. These are the Des Moines firms that file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases day in and day out, with free consultations to tell you where you stand.
Updated January 23, 202612 min readEditorially independent
If you are behind on bills, dodging collection calls, or facing a wage garnishment or foreclosure in the Des Moines area, bankruptcy may give you a fresh start faster than you think. Cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa, which sits in Des Moines, and Iowa's exemption laws are relatively generous - many filers keep their house, a vehicle, and their retirement accounts.
Most consumers choose between Chapter 7, which wipes out qualifying debt in a few months, and Chapter 13, which sets up a three-to-five-year repayment plan and can stop a foreclosure. Which one fits depends on your income, your assets, and what you are trying to protect. A good bankruptcy lawyer runs the means test, explains the trade-offs in plain English, and makes sure you do not lose property you could have kept.
The firms below all have a verifiable Des Moines-area bankruptcy practice and appear in independent directories such as Super Lawyers, Justia, Avvo, or Martindale-Hubbell. Several have decades of experience and belong to national consumer-bankruptcy organizations. All offer a free consultation, so you can get a straight answer before you decide anything.
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 Des Moines-area bankruptcy practice. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
1
Miller Law Firm, P.C.
Des Moines, IAConsumer bankruptcy
Practice focus: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, debt discharge, foreclosure and garnishment relief
Principal John M. Miller has practiced Iowa bankruptcy law since 1980, making Miller Law Firm one of the most experienced consumer bankruptcy practices in the Des Moines area. The firm focuses heavily on Chapter 7 and walks clients through whether bankruptcy can discharge their debts.
Why they made the list: More than four decades of Iowa bankruptcy experience and a practice built specifically around consumer debt relief.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 for individuals and businesses
Cutler Law Firm guides both individuals and businesses through Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 proceedings in the Des Moines area. The firm's breadth lets it handle straightforward consumer cases as well as business reorganizations.
Why they made the list: Handles the full range of consumer and business bankruptcy, including the more complex Chapter 11.
Practice focus: Chapter 13, Chapter 7, foreclosure and repossession defense
Michael L. Jankins has more than 25 years of bankruptcy experience and is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. The firm helps Des Moines residents stop foreclosures, repossessions, and garnishments and repay debt through Chapter 13 plans.
Why they made the list: Deep Chapter 13 experience and membership in the national consumer-bankruptcy bar.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 for consumers and businesses
This West Des Moines firm brings a combined 150 years of legal experience, and its bankruptcy attorneys guide consumers and businesses through Chapter 7, 11, and 13 cases. The depth of the bench is useful when a case has business or real-estate wrinkles.
Why they made the list: A well-established firm with substantial combined experience across all consumer and business chapters.
Practice focus: Consumer and business bankruptcy, debt restructuring
Wandro & Associates is a Des Moines litigation firm that is regularly listed among the area's bankruptcy practices. It handles consumer and business debt matters and can pair bankruptcy with related litigation when needed.
Why they made the list: Recognized in Des Moines bankruptcy directories with the backing of a broader litigation firm.
Practice focus: Chapter 11 reorganization, creditor rights, complex insolvency
Nyemaster Goode is one of Iowa's largest firms and handles the business end of bankruptcy - Chapter 11 reorganizations, creditor representation, and complex insolvency - rather than routine consumer filings. It is the firm to call when a business is the one in distress.
Why they made the list: Statewide reputation for complex business reorganization and creditor-rights work.
Practice focus: Bankruptcy, creditor rights, debt and collection matters
Brick Gentry is a full-service West Des Moines firm whose attorneys appear in Super Lawyers bankruptcy listings for the area. The firm handles bankruptcy and related creditor and debtor matters as part of a broad business and litigation practice.
Why they made the list: Super Lawyers recognition for bankruptcy and the resources of an established regional firm.
Tell us about your debts and we will match you with vetted Des Moines bankruptcy attorneys. Free, confidential, no obligation.
How to choose between them in Des Moines
Decide who handles consumer vs. business cases. If you are an individual drowning in credit-card or medical debt, you want a consumer-focused firm like Miller or Jankins. If a business is failing, a firm with Chapter 11 depth like Cutler or Nyemaster Goode fits better.
Ask how many cases the lawyer files a year. Consumer bankruptcy rewards volume and routine. A firm that files cases every week in the Southern District of Iowa knows the trustees and the local practices.
Get clear on what is included. Ask whether the flat fee covers the means test, the filing fee, the credit-counseling requirement, and the meeting of creditors - and what costs extra.
Bring up your house and car early. Iowa's exemptions are generous, but the details matter. Tell the lawyer what you own and what you owe on it so they can confirm what you keep.
What bankruptcy help typically costs in Des Moines
Consumer bankruptcy in Des Moines is usually priced as a flat fee, plus the court's filing fee:
Initial consultation. Free at every firm on this list.
Chapter 7 attorney fee. Commonly about $1,000 to $2,000 for a straightforward consumer case.
Chapter 13 attorney fee. Often in the $3,000 to $4,500 range, frequently paid through the repayment plan rather than up front.
Court filing fee. A few hundred dollars paid to the court (around $338 for Chapter 7, slightly less for Chapter 13).
Business and Chapter 11 cases are billed differently and cost more. Always get the fee and what it covers in writing before you file.
How long it takes
How long depends on which chapter you file:
Pre-filing preparation. A few days to a few weeks to gather documents and complete required credit counseling.
Chapter 7 discharge. Typically about 3 to 4 months from filing to discharge for a straightforward case.
Meeting of creditors. Usually about a month after filing in both chapters - most consumer meetings are brief.
Chapter 13 plan. A 3-to-5-year repayment plan, with discharge at the end if you complete it.
Red flags to watch for when hiring a bankruptcy lawyer in Des Moines
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.
10 questions to ask in your free consultation
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.
Who, specifically, will handle my matter day to day? Get a name and a direct email, not just the firm.
How many matters like mine have you handled in the last three years? You want a number, not a brochure line.
What is your fee, and what does it cover? Get the structure in writing before you sign.
What out-of-pocket costs am I responsible for, and when? Filing fees, records, and experts add up - ask now.
What is the realistic range of outcomes? A good lawyer gives a range; a weak one promises the high end.
How long will this take? An honest estimate, with the assumptions stated.
What is my deadline, and is it at risk? Many bankruptcy matters carry hard filing deadlines.
How often will I hear from you? Set the communication cadence now.
What can I do to help my own case? The best lawyers will give you homework.
What is the worst-case outcome? A lawyer who refuses to discuss downside risk is selling you something.
What to bring to your Des Moines consultation
You will get more out of the first call if you arrive organized. For most bankruptcy matters, gather:
A short written timeline. Dates, names, and what happened, in order.
The key documents. Any contracts, letters, agreements, court orders, or filings you have received.
Your correspondence. Relevant emails, texts, or messages - and do not delete anything.
Any deadlines you know about. A court date, a signing deadline, or an agency notice.
Your questions. The 10 above are a good place to start.
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.
Talk to a vetted Bankruptcy attorney in Des Moines
Tell us about your situation. We'll match you with one of these firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Frequently asked questions about bankruptcy lawyers in Des Moines
Will I lose my house or car if I file in Iowa?
Often no. Iowa has a generous homestead exemption and protects a vehicle up to a set value and your retirement accounts. Whether you keep an asset depends on its equity and the chapter you file; a lawyer can tell you for sure after reviewing your situation.
What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?
Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt in a few months but requires you to pass a means test. Chapter 13 sets up a 3-to-5-year repayment plan, which can stop a foreclosure and let you catch up on missed payments. Your income and goals decide which fits.
How much does bankruptcy cost in Des Moines?
A straightforward Chapter 7 attorney fee commonly runs about $1,000 to $2,000, plus a court filing fee of roughly $338. Chapter 13 fees are higher but are often paid through the plan. Every firm here offers a free consultation.
Will bankruptcy ruin my credit forever?
No. A Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for up to 10 years and Chapter 13 for 7, but many people start rebuilding within a year or two - especially once the old debt and collection activity are gone.
Can bankruptcy stop a wage garnishment or foreclosure?
Yes. Filing triggers an automatic stay that immediately halts most collection actions, including garnishments and foreclosure sales. That breathing room is one of the main reasons people file.
Which debts cannot be wiped out?
Most taxes, student loans (except in rare hardship cases), child support, alimony, and court fines generally survive bankruptcy. A lawyer can tell you which of your debts are dischargeable.
Do I have to go to court?
Usually just once, for a short meeting of creditors with the trustee - not a judge - about a month after filing. Most consumer cases never require a courtroom hearing before a judge.
Should I just try debt settlement instead?
Sometimes settlement works, but it can be slow, leave you exposed to lawsuits, and create taxable income. A bankruptcy lawyer can compare the realistic outcomes so you choose the right tool.
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.
Helpful next steps
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