Shipman, Shaiken & Schwefel, LLC
Consumer and business bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
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Drowning in debt in Hartford? Bankruptcy is a legal reset, not a moral failure, and most Connecticut cases are filed at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut at 450 Main Street downtown. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt — credit cards, medical bills, old loans — in about three to four months if you pass the means test. Chapter 13 sets up a three-to-five-year repayment plan that can save a home or a car from foreclosure or repossession. Connecticut's exemptions let you protect a generous chunk of home equity and basic property along the way. Hartford bankruptcy lawyers usually charge a flat $1,000–$1,800 for a Chapter 7 (plus the $338 court filing fee) and $3,000–$4,500 for a Chapter 13, often paid through the plan.
Updated June 6, 2026
Consumer and business bankruptcy, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and debt relief
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The two common consumer filings do different jobs. Chapter 7 is liquidation, but for most people nothing actually gets sold — Connecticut's exemptions usually protect everything they own — and it erases most unsecured debt in three to four months. Chapter 13 is a court-supervised repayment plan lasting three to five years; people choose it to catch up on a mortgage, keep a car, or deal with debts Chapter 7 cannot touch. Which one you qualify for turns largely on the means test, which compares your income to the Connecticut median for your household size.
The moment you file, the automatic stay stops collection cold — calls, lawsuits, wage garnishments, and most foreclosure and repossession activity have to pause. Connecticut filers get to use state exemptions, including a homestead exemption that protects a substantial amount of home equity, plus protection for a vehicle, household goods, and tools of the trade. Before filing you must complete a short credit-counseling course, and a second debtor-education course before your debts are discharged. Cases are administered through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Connecticut, with the Hartford court handling much of the state.
Not everything goes away. Most student loans, recent taxes, child support, and alimony generally survive a bankruptcy, while credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans are typically wiped out. On cost, Hartford lawyers commonly charge a flat $1,000–$1,800 for a straightforward Chapter 7 plus the $338 filing fee, and $3,000–$4,500 for a Chapter 13 — a chunk of which is often paid through the repayment plan rather than up front. A good lawyer's first job is to tell you honestly whether bankruptcy is even the right tool, or whether negotiation or another option fits better.