Spokane, Washington
Drowning in debt in Spokane? Bankruptcy can stop the calls, the garnishments, and the foreclosure clock. Here are the attorneys who file these cases day in and day out.
Bankruptcy in Spokane is filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington. For most individuals it comes down to two choices: Chapter 7, which wipes out qualifying unsecured debt in a few months, or Chapter 13, which reorganizes debt into a three-to-five-year repayment plan and can save a home from foreclosure. The moment you file, an automatic stay stops most collection, garnishment, and foreclosure activity.
Washington lets filers choose between the state exemption set and the federal exemptions, which protect things like your home equity, car, and household goods. Picking the right set, and qualifying under the means test for Chapter 7, is exactly where an experienced local attorney earns the fee. A mistake can cost you property you could have kept.
The firms below were chosen for verifiable Spokane bankruptcy practices and long track records. Most offer a free consultation and flat fees, so you can understand your options before committing.
Spokane bankruptcies are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington, which sits in Spokane. Whether you qualify for Chapter 7 depends on the means test, which compares your household income to the Washington state median. Getting that analysis right, and choosing the exemptions that protect the most property, is exactly where a local bankruptcy attorney earns the fee.
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 Spokane-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, Chapter 11, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Robert Hahn's firm has handled bankruptcy in Spokane since 2006, and Hahn reports representing more than 10,000 bankruptcy clients over his career.
Why they made the list: One of the highest case volumes and longest track records in Spokane bankruptcy.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt relief, foreclosure defense
Offering debt-relief solutions since 1973, the firm's Kevin O'Rourke is a past president of the Bankruptcy Bar Association and a former adjunct bankruptcy professor at Gonzaga Law.
Why they made the list: Bar leadership and a half-century of Spokane bankruptcy experience.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
Jason Couey has helped hundreds of Eastern Washington clients file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 since 2003 and offers free phone or Zoom consultations across the region.
Why they made the list: Accessible, consumer-focused filing with remote consultation options.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals and entrepreneurs
McBride Law has served the Spokane community since 1986, representing individuals and small-business owners in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.
Why they made the list: Nearly four decades of local consumer and small-business bankruptcy work.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, 11, 12, and 13 bankruptcy
This financial law firm represents Spokane clients in the full range of consumer and business bankruptcies, including Chapter 11 reorganizations and Chapter 12 farm cases.
Why they made the list: Depth across complex business reorganizations as well as consumer filings.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
Patrick McBurney is a Washington bankruptcy attorney focused on helping consumers eliminate or restructure debt through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
Why they made the list: A consumer-focused practice centered on individual debt relief.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy
A bankruptcy-focused practice serving Spokane County filers through both Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 13 repayment plans.
Why they made the list: A dedicated consumer bankruptcy practice for Spokane-area filers.
Buried in debt in Spokane? Tell us about your situation and we'll connect you with one of these bankruptcy firms or a similar one for a free, confidential consultation.
Know which chapter fits before you commit. Chapter 7 erases qualifying debt fast but requires passing the means test; Chapter 13 keeps a home out of foreclosure through a repayment plan. A good lawyer tells you which one you actually qualify for in the first call.
Pick experience with the Eastern District. Local trustees and the Spokane bankruptcy court have their own habits. Firms like Robert C. Hahn III and Southwell & O'Rourke file here constantly and know the process cold.
Ask about exemptions for your specific property. Washington filers choose between state and federal exemptions. Which set protects more of your home equity, car, and savings depends on your facts, so ask each firm to walk through yours.
Get the all-in cost. A low advertised fee may exclude the filing fee and credit-counseling courses. Ask for the total out-of-pocket and whether the fee can be paid over time.
Confirm the means-test analysis up front. Your eligibility for Chapter 7 hinges on the means test against the Washington median income. A lawyer who runs the numbers correctly can usually tell you in the first meeting which chapter you qualify for.
Most Spokane consumer bankruptcies are handled for a flat fee. Typical ranges:
Weigh the fee against what bankruptcy stops: garnishments, lawsuits, and foreclosure. For many filers, the relief and fresh start far outweigh the cost.
A Spokane bankruptcy follows a clear sequence:
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 straightforward Chapter 7 commonly runs about $1,200 to $2,000 in attorney fees plus the court filing fee. Chapter 13 fees often follow court-approved guidelines and can be paid largely through the plan.
Chapter 7 wipes out qualifying unsecured debt quickly if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 reorganizes debt into a repayment plan and can stop a foreclosure. A lawyer will tell you which you qualify for.
Filing triggers an automatic stay that immediately halts most garnishments, collection calls, lawsuits, and foreclosure actions while your case proceeds.
Often not. Washington's exemptions protect a certain amount of home equity, a vehicle, and household goods. Whether your property is fully protected depends on the exemption set and your equity.
A Chapter 7 generally remains on your credit report for up to 10 years and a Chapter 13 for up to seven, though many people begin rebuilding credit within a year or two.
Most consumer filers attend only a short meeting of creditors with the trustee, not a courtroom trial. Your lawyer prepares you for it.
Most student loans, recent income taxes, child support, and alimony generally survive bankruptcy. A lawyer can tell you which of your specific debts would actually be discharged.
Sometimes. In Chapter 7, part of an undisbursed tax refund can become part of the bankruptcy estate. Timing your filing and applying exemptions can often protect it.
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.