You are drowning in bills, facing a lawsuit or garnishment, or trying to stop a foreclosure, and you want a Detroit lawyer to tell you whether bankruptcy is the right move. Most consumers file either Chapter 7, which wipes out qualifying debt, or Chapter 13, which sets up a 3-to-5-year repayment plan. Below are vetted Detroit firms that handle both, most offering a free first consultation.
Updated April 17, 2026
A bankruptcy lawyer looks at your income, debts, and assets and tells you whether filing makes sense, which chapter fits, and what you would keep. Chapter 7 erases qualifying unsecured debt in a few months if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 lets you catch up on a house or car over a court-approved plan. The right choice depends on your income, your assets, and what you are trying to protect.
A Detroit bankruptcy lawyer files your case in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, applies Michigan's exemptions to protect your property, and deals with creditors, the trustee, and the automatic stay that stops collection. Filing also stops most garnishments and foreclosure dates, at least temporarily.
Talk to a Detroit lawyer who handles this if any of the following fits your situation.
Step 1 is a consultation and the means test, which compares your income to Michigan's median to see whether you qualify for Chapter 7. Step 2: gather documents, pay stubs, tax returns, debts, and assets, and complete required credit counseling. Step 3: file the petition, which triggers the automatic stay that stops most collection, garnishment, and foreclosure. Step 4: a meeting of creditors (the 341 meeting) with the trustee, usually about a month later. Step 5: in Chapter 7, a discharge in a few months; in Chapter 13, a 3-to-5-year plan, then discharge.
Detroit bankruptcy lawyers commonly charge a flat fee of about $1,000 to $1,800 for a straightforward Chapter 7, plus the court filing fee (around $338). Chapter 13 fees are higher, often $3,000 to $4,500, and are largely paid through your repayment plan, so little is needed up front. Most bankruptcy lawyers offer a free first consultation, so you can learn where you stand before spending anything.
Updated April 17, 2026. Verified across Super Lawyers, Avvo, Justia, FindLaw, and firm records. We do not accept payment for placement. Where a firm's aggregate client rating is not yet compiled, we say so rather than invent one.
Walter Metzen has been a board-certified consumer bankruptcy specialist since 2005, recognized as a Super Lawyer for more than a decade, with over 35 years of experience and thousands of cases. A strong fit for filers who want a recognized specialist.
A firm focused solely on representing consumers in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, offering free consultations and reasonable fees. A fit for filers who want a practice concentrated on personal bankruptcy.
A Michigan firm handling Chapter 13 debt consolidation and Chapter 7 debt elimination, with offices serving the Detroit metro. A fit for clients who want a larger consumer practice with several locations.
A full-service Michigan firm with an experienced bankruptcy and restructuring team across Chapter 7, 11, and 13 in the Eastern and Western Districts. A fit when a case involves a business or more complex restructuring.
A Detroit-area firm focused on consumer bankruptcy and debt relief, handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals and families. A fit for filers who want a focused consumer practice and direct attorney contact.
Tell us briefly what you need. We route a confidential request to a best-fit Detroit firm in this directory. No obligation, and most offer a free first consultation.