Drowning in debt? These Saint Paul bankruptcy firms handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.
Saint Paul bankruptcy cases are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota, which has a St. Paul location. The right attorney tells you honestly whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 fits, and whether bankruptcy is even your best move.
Calling a bankruptcy lawyer can feel like admitting defeat. It is the opposite. For many Saint Paul families, a well-timed Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 stops wage garnishment, ends collection calls, and clears a path to rebuild credit faster than years of minimum payments would.
The firms below are established Minnesota consumer bankruptcy practices that appear across independent directories such as Justia, Avvo, and Expertise.com. Most offer a free consultation, and several focus on bankruptcy almost exclusively.
How we picked these 10: We cross-referenced peer rankings and public directories — Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, Martindale-Hubbell, Expertise.com and FindLaw — along with State Bar recognition and published client reviews. Firms that appeared 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 →
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Formerly Kain & Scott, LifeBack Law Firm focuses exclusively on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 and has built one of the largest review footprints of any Minnesota bankruptcy practice. Attorney Wesley Scott leads a team known for a client-friendly, low-pressure intake.
Why they made the list: Bankruptcy-only focus and a very large base of published client reviews.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
The attorneys here have offered Minnesota debt-relief solutions for more than 40 years and handle both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 with free consultations. A long-running, no-frills consumer bankruptcy practice serving the Saint Paul metro.
Why they made the list: One of the longest-running consumer bankruptcy practices in the metro.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
A Saint Paul firm on North Snelling Avenue that handles consumer bankruptcy alongside other practice areas, guiding individuals through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.
Why they made the list: Convenient Saint Paul office handling everyday consumer filings.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
A Saint Paul-area firm that concentrates on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 and also helps clients stop repossessions and rebuild credit after filing.
Why they made the list: Pairs filings with practical credit-recovery help.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 13
Offers individual and small-business clients in Saint Paul help across Chapters 7, 11, and 13, including more complex matters than a typical consumer-only shop.
Why they made the list: Handles Chapter 11 and small-business cases, not just consumer filings.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Serves individuals and businesses needing a bankruptcy attorney in Saint Paul and nearby communities, advising clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 from start to discharge.
Why they made the list: Straightforward guidance for first-time filers.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Founding attorney Jeffrey Butwinick has practiced bankruptcy law since 2002 and has handled hundreds of cases for Saint Paul-area clients.
Why they made the list: Two decades of focused consumer-bankruptcy experience.
Practice focus: Bankruptcy, creditor and debtor
An independent Minnesota firm serving the Saint Paul area since 1996, with bankruptcy attorneys who represent individuals, businesses, and creditors. A fit for more complex or business-related matters.
Why they made the list: Larger firm able to handle business and creditor-side bankruptcy work.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Attorney Richard Schreiber has practiced bankruptcy law for over 20 years, is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, and holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Why they made the list: Long-tenured consumer-bankruptcy attorney with national association membership.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Becky A. Moshier brings more than three decades of experience to Saint Paul bankruptcy clients from her office on University Avenue West.
Why they made the list: Experienced solo attorney with a central Saint Paul office.
Tell us about your situation and we will connect you with vetted bankruptcy attorneys in Saint Paul. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Match the firm to your case type. For a straightforward consumer Chapter 7 or 13, a focused consumer-bankruptcy shop with a clear flat fee is ideal. If you own a business, have unusual assets, or may need Chapter 11, lean toward a firm like Wartchow or Nilan Johnson Lewis that handles those too.
Compare the flat fees and what each includes. Most of these firms quote a fixed price; ask what happens if a creditor objects or your case gets complicated, and whether Chapter 7 fees can be paid over time before filing.
Use the free consultations to gauge candor. The best bankruptcy lawyer will sometimes tell you that bankruptcy is not your best move, or that a different chapter fits better. Meet two firms, ask the questions below, and choose the one that explains the means test and your exemptions clearly.
Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt, like credit cards and medical bills, usually in about three to four months. You must pass a means test based on your income relative to the Minnesota median. Most filers keep their everyday property thanks to exemptions.
Chapter 13 is a three- to five-year repayment plan, used when you earn too much for Chapter 7 or need to catch up on a mortgage or car loan to avoid foreclosure or repossession. A good lawyer will tell you which chapter actually serves you, not just which is easier to file.
Chapter 7 attorney fees in the Twin Cities are usually a flat $1,200 to $2,000, plus the court filing fee of about $338. Because fees are generally paid before filing in Chapter 7, ask whether the firm offers a payment plan up to your filing date.
Chapter 13 attorney fees commonly run $3,000 to $4,500, and much of that can be paid through your repayment plan rather than up front. The Chapter 13 filing fee is about $313. Every firm on this list will quote a flat fee in writing.
Bankruptcy can discharge credit card balances, medical debt, most personal loans, and many older tax debts. The automatic stay stops garnishments and collection calls the moment you file.
It generally does not erase recent taxes, most student loans, child support, or alimony. If your main problem is one of those, a lawyer may steer you toward a different solution before you file.
Look for a firm that files bankruptcy regularly in the Minnesota court, quotes a clear flat fee, and explains the means test in plain English. Beware anyone who pushes you to file before reviewing your full financial picture.
Bring recent pay stubs, a list of debts, and your last two tax returns to the free consultation so the attorney can give you a real recommendation, not a generic one.
Saint Paul cases go to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota, in the Warren E. Burger Federal Building on North Robert Street downtown. Your lawyer files the petition electronically, and the automatic stay stops collection the same day.
About a month after filing, you attend a short 341 meeting of creditors, where a trustee asks routine questions under oath. With a prepared attorney, most consumer 341 meetings last only a few minutes, and creditors rarely appear.
Knowing the local trustees and how they handle exemptions is exactly the kind of local knowledge the firms above bring, and it is what keeps a routine filing routine.
Filing the petition is the easy part. The value is in the analysis before you file: whether you pass the means test, which exemptions protect your property, whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 actually serves you, and whether bankruptcy is even your best option versus negotiation.
A strong bankruptcy lawyer asks about your whole picture, recent tax debt, a house you want to keep, a car loan, a possible inheritance, before recommending a chapter. A weak one funnels everyone toward the same filing.
Look for a firm that files in the Minnesota court regularly and knows the local trustees. The 341 meeting and exemption questions go far more smoothly when your lawyer has stood in that room hundreds of times.
Do not run up new debt, take cash advances, or make large payments to one creditor or a family member right before filing. These can be treated as fraud or as preferences the trustee claws back. Talk to a lawyer before moving any money.
Do not drain a retirement account to pay debts you could discharge in bankruptcy. Retirement funds are often protected, and cashing them out to pay credit cards is a costly mistake people make right before they file anyway.
Do not hide assets or income. Bankruptcy is sworn under oath, and the trustee checks. Full honesty with your own lawyer is what lets them protect you; surprises are what get cases dismissed.
The automatic stay is the legal shield that snaps on the instant you file. It forces creditors to stop calling, stop garnishing wages, and pause foreclosure or repossession while your case proceeds.
Exemptions are the rules that let you keep property, your home equity up to a limit, a vehicle, retirement accounts, even in bankruptcy. Good lawyering is largely about applying these correctly so you keep what the law allows.
Discharge is the court order that legally erases qualifying debts at the end of your case. It is the finish line, the point at which you no longer owe the wiped-out balances.
The means test compares your income to the Minnesota median to decide whether you qualify for Chapter 7. The 341 meeting is a short, routine session where a trustee asks you questions under oath about your filing.
Bankruptcy is a tool, not a failure, and for many families it is the fastest path to a fresh start. The firms above focus on consumer bankruptcy, quote clear flat fees, and will tell you honestly whether filing is right for you.
Bring your pay stubs, debts, and recent tax returns to a free consultation, ask the questions above, and pick the firm that explains your options in plain English. Acting sooner usually means more relief, faster.
Most firms on this list offer a free or low-cost initial consultation. Use it. Bring your questions, write down the answers, and compare at least two firms before you sign anything.
Usually not. Minnesota exemptions protect a significant amount of home equity and a vehicle. In Chapter 13 you can keep property while catching up on missed payments. Your lawyer will run the numbers before you file.
Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for up to 10 years and Chapter 13 for up to 7 years. That said, many people see their scores start to recover within a year or two because the old debt is gone.
The automatic stay takes effect the moment your case is filed and stops most wage garnishment, bank levies, and collection calls immediately. That relief is one of the main reasons people file.
Yes. Federal law requires a brief approved credit counseling course before filing and a debtor education course before your debts are discharged. Both can be done online and your attorney will point you to approved providers.
A bankruptcy filing is part of the public court record, but in practice almost no one will know unless they are a creditor or specifically search for it. It is not announced or published in the newspaper.
You can, but bankruptcy has strict rules, and mistakes on exemptions or the means test can cost you property or get a case dismissed. Given the flat fees most Saint Paul firms charge, representation is usually worth it.
It comes down to your income, your assets, and what you are trying to protect. A free consultation with any firm here will give you a clear recommendation based on your actual numbers.
Generally no. You must list all debts, and most card issuers close accounts once you file. After your case, you can rebuild credit and qualify for new cards, often within a year or two.
Filing triggers an automatic stay that halts foreclosure and repossession at least temporarily. Chapter 13 can let you catch up on missed payments over time and keep the home or car. Your lawyer will explain what fits your situation.
Yes, but there are time limits between filings, and they vary by chapter. A lawyer can tell you whether and when you are eligible, and whether a different solution makes more sense this time.