Drowning in debt? Start here.
New Orleans bankruptcy cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana on Poydras Street. Whether you file Chapter 7 to wipe out debt or Chapter 13 to reorganize it depends on your income against the Louisiana median — and a good lawyer runs that math before you file anything.
We verified the New Orleans-area bankruptcy firms below through Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, and board certifications. We confirmed nine firms by at least two independent sources and list those, noting each firm's actual location across the metro area.
How we picked these 9: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Avvo, Martindale), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
John Menszer has practiced in New Orleans since 1993 and has helped hundreds of individuals reach financial stability through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Consumer-focused, with plain-English guidance.
Practice focus: Consumer bankruptcy, debt reorganization, debt settlement
Christopher A. Sisk, a New Orleans native, concentrates his practice on consumer bankruptcy, debt reorganization, and negotiated settlements, with strong client reviews for accessibility.
Practice focus: Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy
A New Orleans practice that walks debtors through their options and handles Chapter 13 reorganizations and Chapter 7 filings in the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Practice focus: Consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Consumer bankruptcy attorneys who have helped people solve financial difficulties since 1992 and have handled over five thousand bankruptcy matters across southeast Louisiana.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
More than 20 years helping people overwhelmed by debt, serving the New Orleans and Baton Rouge areas with a focus on consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.
Practice focus: Consumer bankruptcy and debt relief
Jenny Abshier began her bankruptcy practice in 2011. The firm, with offices in Metairie, the Northshore, and LaPlace, represents individuals and small businesses across southeast Louisiana.
Practice focus: Board-certified consumer bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and 13
Robin De Leo, a board-certified consumer bankruptcy specialist, founded the firm in 1998 and serves the Northshore and greater New Orleans area. Certification is a meaningful credential in consumer bankruptcy.
Practice focus: Business bankruptcy, restructuring, creditors' rights
A national business law firm headquartered in New Orleans since 1974, handling complex bankruptcy, restructuring, and insolvency matters — the right fit for a business reorganization rather than a simple consumer filing.
Practice focus: Restructuring, Chapter 11, creditors' rights
A respected New Orleans business firm whose attorneys are recognized by Super Lawyers for restructuring and bankruptcy work, generally on the business and Chapter 11 side.
Tell us about your debt and we'll match you with experienced New Orleans bankruptcy attorneys. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →Most consumer cases are Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt (credit cards, medical bills) in about three to four months and is available if your income is below the Louisiana median or you pass the means test. Chapter 13 sets up a three- to five-year repayment plan and is used when you earn too much for Chapter 7 or want to catch up on a mortgage or car.
Cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana at 500 Poydras Street. You'll complete a credit-counseling course, file your petition and schedules, and attend a 341 meeting of creditors — usually a short, routine hearing.
The moment you file, an automatic stay stops most collection calls, wage garnishments, and foreclosure or repossession efforts. For many people, that pause is the first real relief they've had in months.
Chapter 7 attorney fees in the New Orleans area generally run $1,000 to $1,800 for a typical consumer case, paid before filing, plus the court filing fee (currently $338). Chapter 13 fees are higher — often $3,000 to $4,500 — but are usually built into your repayment plan, so you pay over time rather than all at once.
Most consumer bankruptcy lawyers quote a flat fee for a standard case. Ask what's included: the petition, the 341 meeting, and any routine motions should be covered, while unusual complications may cost extra.
Be cautious with bargain-basement fees. An experienced filer who gets your exemptions and schedules right the first time is worth far more than a cut-rate price that leads to a dismissed case.
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can promise a specific result. If a firm guarantees a bankruptcy outcome before reviewing your file, walk away.
The disappearing senior partner. You meet a name partner at intake, then never speak to them again while a junior runs the file unsupervised. Ask in writing who your day-to-day lawyer will be.
A non-attorney petition mill. “Bankruptcy preparers” who aren't lawyers can't give legal advice and can't represent you at the 341 meeting. For anything beyond the simplest case, you want an actual bankruptcy attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. A reputable firm gives you the engagement letter in writing and time to read it. High-pressure intake is a sign of a volume mill, not a careful practice.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about the cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate firm puts the fee, what it covers, and what triggers extra charges in writing.
Most consumer bankruptcy firms offer a free consultation. Bring a list of your debts, income, and assets, and ask these before you choose.
Louisiana exemptions are their own system. What property you keep depends on Louisiana's exemption laws, including a homestead exemption that protects equity in your home up to a set limit. A local lawyer applies these correctly so you don't lose property you were entitled to keep.
The means test uses Louisiana figures. Whether you qualify for Chapter 7 turns on your income against the Louisiana state median for your household size. A firm that files here every week knows the current numbers.
Consumer and business cases are different worlds. A simple consumer filing and a business reorganization call for different firms. Several practices above focus on consumers; a couple handle complex business restructuring. Match the firm to your situation.
Tell us what happened. We'll match you with vetted New Orleans firms from the list above. Most respond within one business day.
Yes. Filing triggers an automatic stay that immediately halts most collection efforts, wage garnishments, and foreclosure or repossession actions while your case proceeds.
Attorney fees typically run $1,000–$1,800 plus the $338 court filing fee, paid before the case is filed. Chapter 13 fees are higher but usually folded into your repayment plan.
Chapter 7 erases qualifying debt quickly if your income is low enough; Chapter 13 reorganizes debt into a 3–5 year plan and can save a home from foreclosure. A lawyer runs the means test to tell you which fits.
Often not. Louisiana exemptions, including a homestead exemption, protect a certain amount of equity. Chapter 13 can also let you catch up on missed payments. Ask a local lawyer about your specific equity.
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 filing because the old debt is gone.
A straightforward Chapter 7 usually finishes in about three to four months from filing to discharge. Chapter 13 runs the length of the repayment plan, three to five years.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases like mine have you filed in the Eastern District in the last year? The answer tells you most of what you need to know. — The LawFirmSquare team