Long Beach · Bankruptcy
We checked peer rankings, bar directories, and each firm's own practice pages to find Long Beach's most credible bankruptcy firms. Here are 9 worth a call, with fees, focus, and what to ask.
If debt has become unmanageable in Long Beach, bankruptcy is a legal tool — not a moral failing — that can stop collection calls, halt a foreclosure, and give you a fresh start. The lawyer you choose determines how smoothly it goes and whether you keep what the law lets you keep.
This guide lists Long Beach-area bankruptcy firms with verifiable experience and free consultations, including board-certified specialists. Most consumer cases are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13; we explain the difference and the real costs below.
Use this list as a starting point, not a final verdict. Call two or three firms, compare what they tell you, and pick the one that explains your options most clearly. Every firm here offers a free consultation, so a second opinion costs you nothing but an hour of your time.
How we picked these 9: 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 Long Beach-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 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
Founding attorney Steven Lever has focused exclusively on bankruptcy for more than 25 years, handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases and insolvency proceedings for Long Beach individuals and families.
Why they made the list: A lawyer who files bankruptcies and nothing else will spot exemptions and traps a generalist misses.
Practice focus: Consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, foreclosure defense
A leading Southern California consumer bankruptcy firm that has helped more than 40,000 people since 1998. Both named partners are board-certified in consumer bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.
Why they made the list: Board certification plus tens of thousands of filings is about as proven as consumer bankruptcy gets.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and debt restructuring
With more than 75 years of combined experience and an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, the firm's Long Beach bankruptcy attorneys report over 25,000 clients served across consumer filings.
Why they made the list: A large, well-rated team can move a straightforward filing quickly and predictably.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals and small business owners
A Long Beach bankruptcy attorney helping financially distressed individuals and small business owners discharge debt through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, with client reviews praising responsiveness.
Why they made the list: A solo office is a fit when you want the lawyer who answered the phone to handle your whole case.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, automatic stays, reorganization
Founder Caroline Kim represents Long Beach individuals and families in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, including automatic stays, claims objections, cash collateral, and reorganization disputes.
Why they made the list: Comfort with the contested side of a case helps if a creditor pushes back after you file.
Practice focus: Chapters 7, 11, and 13 with tax-debt focus
Attorney Victor J. Yoo represents debtors and creditors in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 cases and is one of the few California attorneys who concentrate on discharging tax debt in bankruptcy.
Why they made the list: The right pick when back taxes are the core of your debt problem, not just credit cards.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and foreclosure defense
A Long Beach-area bankruptcy and foreclosure firm offering free case evaluations and handling consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings alongside loan-modification and foreclosure matters.
Why they made the list: A fit when stopping a foreclosure is the urgent reason you are considering bankruptcy.
Practice focus: Consumer bankruptcy and debt relief
An experienced bankruptcy firm with a Long Beach office handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer filings and debt-relief strategy for individuals across the South Bay.
Why they made the list: A regional firm with multiple offices offers flexibility on where you meet and file.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 13, and business reorganization
A bankruptcy firm serving Long Beach in consumer and business filings, including Chapter 11 reorganizations for small businesses and individuals with higher debt loads.
Why they made the list: A fit when your debt is large or business-related enough to need Chapter 11.
Tell us what happened. We'll connect you with one of these Long Beach firms or a similar one. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Look for a bankruptcy focus. You want a Long Beach lawyer who files bankruptcies regularly and knows California's exemptions, not a generalist handling one now and then.
Ask Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 — and why. A good lawyer explains which chapter fits your income and assets and the trade-offs, rather than pushing one by default.
Confirm the flat fee and what it covers. Chapter 7 is usually a flat fee plus the court filing fee. Ask exactly what is included and what is extra.
Check board certification if your case is complex. For higher-asset or business-related debt, a board-certified specialist or a firm comfortable with Chapter 11 matters.
Read recent reviews, not just the average. A high star average matters less than what recent clients say. On Google, Avvo, and Yelp, read the newest Long Beach reviews and watch for patterns in how the firm communicates and returns calls.
Trust your read of the consultation. You may work with this person for months. If they talk over you, dodge questions, or rush you at the free meeting, that rarely gets better after you sign.
Bankruptcy in Long Beach is more affordable than many people expect, and most firms offer payment arrangements:
Ask whether the firm offers installment plans for the Chapter 7 fee, since the case is usually filed once the fee is paid.
How fast you get relief in Long Beach depends on the chapter you file:
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.
A Chapter 7 attorney fee is typically $1,200-$2,500 plus a $338 court fee. Chapter 13 uses a court-set fee, often around $4,000, much of it paid through your plan.
Often no. California's exemptions protect a certain amount of home equity and a vehicle. A lawyer can tell you what you keep before you file.
Chapter 7 erases qualifying debt in a few months if your income qualifies. Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan, which can save a home from foreclosure. A lawyer matches the chapter to your situation.
Yes. The automatic stay takes effect the moment you file and halts collection calls, garnishments, and most lawsuits.
Chapter 7 reports for up to 10 years and Chapter 13 for up to 7, but many people start rebuilding credit within a year or two of discharge.
For most Chapter 7 cases, only a brief meeting with the trustee, which your lawyer attends with you. Many are now handled by phone or video.
We cross-referenced peer-review directories - Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Expertise.com, and FindLaw - with each firm's own published practice pages. Every firm appears in at least two independent sources and has a verifiable Long Beach-area bankruptcy practice. We take no payment for placement.
No. Using this directory and requesting a consultation is free, and the firms here offer free initial reviews. You decide whether to hire anyone, and there is no obligation.
Write down what happened while it is fresh, keep every document and message, note any deadlines you have been given, and avoid posting about it online. Then book a free consultation before making decisions you cannot undo.
Usually yes. You are not locked in to the first bankruptcy firm you meet, and you can change counsel if the relationship is not working. Ask any new firm how a mid-case switch would affect your fee and timeline before you move.
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.