Behind on debt in Fresno? Bankruptcy may stop the bleeding today.
Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that stops most collection calls, wage garnishments, repossessions, and foreclosure dates the moment you file. Fresno cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division. The firms below all have verifiable Fresno consumer or business bankruptcy practices.
Most Fresno bankruptcies are Chapter 7 (a fresh start that wipes out qualifying unsecured debt) or Chapter 13 (a court-supervised repayment plan that can save a home from foreclosure). Some of the firms below also handle Chapter 11 business reorganizations. California lets you choose between two exemption systems to protect property, which is one reason a knowledgeable local lawyer matters.
How we picked these firms: We reviewed peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell), Avvo and Justia ratings, state-bar certifications, published verdicts and settlements where available, and client review patterns. Firms that appeared consistently across at least two independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
We verified nine Fresno bankruptcy firms across at least two independent sources. Rather than add an unverified name to reach a round number, we list the nine we could confirm.
These firms were selected from Justia, Avvo, and Expertise listings and cross-checked against State Bar bankruptcy-specialist certifications. Bankruptcy is a smaller specialty in Fresno than injury or family law, so this list reflects the firms we could independently verify rather than padding it.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Why they made the list: The firm's attorneys are State Bar of California certified bankruptcy specialists and report filing more than 1,000 Chapter 7, 11, and 13 cases in the last decade. Office at 7650 N Palm Ave, Suite 101.
Practice focus: Business bankruptcy, Chapter 11 reorganization, debtor-creditor
Why they made the list: Riley C. Walter, a long-recognized Central Valley bankruptcy and reorganization attorney, joined Wanger Jones Helsley in 2019 when his Walter & Wilhelm practice merged in. Strong fit for business and farm reorganizations.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
Why they made the list: A Fresno solo practice focused on stopping repossessions and foreclosures and restructuring consumer debt. Office at 4905 N West Ave, Suite 102.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
Why they made the list: A Fresno solo bankruptcy practice handling consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. Office at 2344 Tulare St, Suite 301.
Practice focus: Consumer bankruptcy, debt relief
Why they made the list: Attorney Katy L. McCully brings about 17 years of bankruptcy experience. Office at 550 W Alluvial Ave, Suite 104.
Practice focus: Chapter 13 reorganization, foreclosure defense
Why they made the list: Focuses heavily on Chapter 13 reorganization, helping clients protect retirement accounts and keep their homes.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy, credit-card and medical debt
Why they made the list: A boutique practice with offices in Fresno and Madera offering personal attention and free, confidential consultations on Chapter 7 debt relief.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
Why they made the list: A Fresno-area bankruptcy practice listed in directory rankings, with offices serving Fresno and Visalia. Office at 1222 W Shaw Ave.
Practice focus: Consumer bankruptcy, debt relief
Why they made the list: Represents Fresno debtors facing financial distress and offers no-cost initial consultations. Office at 2440 W Shaw Ave, Suite 114.
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Request Free Consultation →The automatic stay works immediately. The moment you file, federal law imposes an automatic stay that halts most collection efforts, including garnishments, repossessions, and a scheduled foreclosure sale. This is often the single biggest reason people file when they do.
Chapter 7 versus Chapter 13. Chapter 7 erases qualifying unsecured debt in a few months if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 sets up a three-to-five-year repayment plan that can cure mortgage arrears and stop a foreclosure. Which one fits depends on your income, assets, and goals.
California exemptions protect your property. California lets you choose between two exemption systems (commonly called the 703 and 704 sets) to protect equity in your home, car, retirement, and household goods. Picking the right set is a real decision a local lawyer makes with you.
Where it is filed. Fresno bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division. Your meeting of creditors (the 341 meeting) is handled through that court's trustees.
Consumer Chapter 7 bankruptcies in Fresno are usually a flat fee plus the court filing fee. Chapter 13 fees are partly set by the court and often paid through the plan. Business and Chapter 11 cases are billed hourly. The ranges below reflect the Fresno market.
| Matter type | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Chapter 7 attorney flat fee (consumer) | Roughly $1,200 to $2,500 in the Fresno market. |
| Court filing fee (Chapter 7) | $338 federal filing fee (set by the court, subject to change). |
| Chapter 13 attorney fee | Often a court-approved no-look fee of roughly $4,500 to $6,000, frequently paid through the plan. |
| Court filing fee (Chapter 13) | $313 federal filing fee (set by the court, subject to change). |
| Business / Chapter 11 reorganization | Billed hourly; commonly $10,000 and up depending on complexity. |
Most Fresno firms that show up on Google for bankruptcy work are competent. A few are exceptional, and a handful are volume shops. Three checks separate them.
Scope match. A solo who handles your exact situation week in and week out is often a better fit than a large firm that will hand your file to its most junior associate. Match the firm's size and focus to the size and stakes of your matter.
Direct contact. Get the lawyer who will actually do the work on the phone before you sign. If you cannot reach them before they have your signature, that is the level of access you will have for the whole case.
Written terms. Every firm here will give you a written fee agreement. Read it. The fee, the scope, who does the work, and what happens if you switch firms are all in there. Ambiguity on paper is ambiguity for the rest of the matter.
1. Free consultation and the means test. The lawyer reviews your income, debts, and assets, runs the means test, and tells you whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 fits.
2. Credit counseling and preparation. You complete a short approved credit-counseling course, and the firm assembles your petition, schedules, and exemption choices.
3. Filing and the automatic stay. The case is filed in the Eastern District of California, Fresno Division, and the automatic stay stops most collection, garnishment, and foreclosure activity immediately.
4. The 341 meeting. You attend a brief meeting of creditors with the trustee. Most consumer cases never require a hearing before a judge.
5. Discharge. In Chapter 7 the discharge usually comes within a few months; in Chapter 13 it comes after you complete the three-to-five-year plan. A second debtor-education course is required before discharge.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a recovery, a dismissal, or an approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior name at intake, then never speak to them again and a junior or paralegal runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who handles your matter day to day.
Pressure to sign on the spot. A reputable firm hands you the agreement in writing and lets you read it at home. High-pressure intake is the mark of a volume mill.
No verifiable track record. Look for verdicts, settlements, bar certifications, or peer recognition you can check. "We've helped thousands of clients" is marketing, not evidence.
Vague fees. Every legitimate Fresno lawyer gives you a written fee agreement stating the structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you change firms.
Most firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring written questions, write down the answers, and compare at least two firms before you sign.
Hiring the lawyer is the start, not the finish. The firms that earn their reputation in Fresno share a few habits worth holding yours to. They return calls and emails within a day or two, even if the answer is "no news yet." They explain each step before it happens, in plain language, so you are never guessing what comes next. They put the important things in writing, including the fee agreement, the strategy, and any settlement offer, so nothing rests on a hallway conversation you might remember differently later.
Your job matters too. Keep one folder, paper or digital, with every document, bill, letter, and photo connected to your matter. Write down dates and names as things happen, because memory fades and details win cases. Tell your lawyer the bad facts as well as the good ones; surprises that surface later are far more damaging than anything you disclose up front. And do not post about your situation on social media, because the other side will look, and a careless post can undercut an otherwise strong case.
If the relationship is not working, you are allowed to change firms. The rules let you switch counsel, and the fee is sorted out between the lawyers rather than charged to you twice. A good fit should leave you feeling informed and in control of your own decisions, not kept in the dark and pushed toward whatever closes the file fastest.
Yes. Filing triggers an automatic stay that stops most garnishments, repossessions, and a scheduled foreclosure sale immediately. A Chapter 13 plan can also cure past-due mortgage payments over time.
Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt in a few months if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 is a three-to-five-year repayment plan that helps when you are behind on a mortgage or have non-exempt assets to protect. A lawyer matches the chapter to your facts.
A consumer Chapter 7 is usually a flat fee of about $1,200 to $2,500 plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 fees are often court-approved and paid through the plan.
Often no. California exemptions protect equity in your home, vehicle, and retirement up to set limits, and Chapter 13 can let you keep property while you catch up. A local lawyer chooses the exemption set that protects the most.
A Chapter 7 generally reports for up to 10 years and a Chapter 13 for up to 7 years, but many people start rebuilding credit within a year or two of discharge.
You attend a meeting of creditors (the 341 meeting) with a trustee, which is usually brief. Most consumer cases never require a courtroom hearing before a judge.
Some older income taxes can be dischargeable; most student loans are not, absent a separate hardship showing. A lawyer can tell you what qualifies in your case.
Recent pay records, tax returns, a list of debts and creditors, and information on your home, car, and bank accounts. That lets the lawyer run the means test and advise on chapter and exemptions.
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