It's not just you. Washingtonians across Everett are feeling the pinch. With costs skyrocketing on everyday expenses, people are leaning more and more on debt to make ends meet. The average cost of living in the city is 29% higher than in the rest of the country, so there is already enough pressure on Everett families to manage expenses. Unfortunately, with experts predicting costs will continue to rise, it's easy to go from bridging the gap between paychecks with your credit card to facing huge debt.
In our over 30 years of combined experience helping Washingtonians find debt relief, we see how even the most responsible people can end up in overwhelming debt in just a few short months. Fortunately, legal debt relief is available for our Everett neighbors.
If you're feeling the pressure of increasing costs, don't wait. Contact our law offices today for a free consultation with a knowledgeable and caring debt relief attorney. We'll review all your legal options and find your way out of debt for good.
Everett Bankruptcy Lawyers Offering Expert Debt Relief GuidanceAs Everett's trusted bankruptcy attorneys, our legal team has experience handling cases just like yours. We'll help you find lasting relief no matter the circumstances of your debts. When you work with us, we take care of everything, including:
Once you've found relief, we don't just stop there. Our Everett attorneys are committed to helping our community get out of debt for good. We'll also help you rebuild your financial health and build toward a secure future.
Do I Qualify For Legal Debt Relief In Washington State?Washington state has many avenues for debt relief, each with specific qualifications under the law. Here are the basic qualifications to be eligible for these debt relief programs:
Unlike other states, Washington does not have a state-sponsored debt relief program. However, our Everett-based attorneys can help you find accredited organizations and programs available to assist you. Further, make sure to consult with our knowledgeable lawyers to assess your financial situation and determine the most suitable path forward, no matter what debt relief option you are considering.
Is Washington State Bankruptcy Right For Me?Bankruptcy offers some Everett residents the relief they need. However, it's always a good idea to explore other legal debt relief options, as they may better suit your particular situation and debt type, be less expensive than bankruptcy, and even help you improve your credit. If you are considering filing for bankruptcy, always consult a qualified debt relief attorney like those on our legal team.
Should I File For Chapter 7 Bankruptcy In Washington State?Chapter 7 bankruptcy, known as "liquidation," is when the Snohomish County Bankruptcy Courts sell off a debtor's non-exempt assets to repay creditors. The earnings from the sale go to the creditors. Then, the Washington state bankruptcy judge typically discharges the remaining unsecured debts.
We recommend you consider filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy if:
Chapter 13 bankruptcy, known as "reorganization," allows Washingtonians with regular income to come up with a repayment plan for all or part of their debts. The plan will last for a period of three to five years while retaining their assets.
We recommend you consider filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy if:
If you have too much credit card debt in Snohomish County, there are legal options to help you regain control. These include Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which eliminates credit card balances, and Chapter 13, which allows you to restructure payments into a manageable plan. Debt settlement and negotiation with creditors also help lower what you owe. Knowing your options can prevent lawsuits, wage garnishment, and financial hardship. Regardless of which you choose, Washington state law protects you from aggressive collection practices under the Washington State Collection Agency Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Can Foreclosure Attorneys Help Me Keep My Everett Home?If you're a homeowner in Everett facing foreclosure, you have legal protections that may help you keep your property. Washington state's Foreclosure Fairness Act requires lenders to offer mediation, giving you a chance to negotiate alternatives like loan modifications or repayment plans. Filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy can also stop home foreclosure. The courts can allow you to catch up on missed mortgage payments over time.
Is There Legal Relief For Medical Bills In Everett?If you're overwhelmed by medical debt in Everett, you may have options to reduce or eliminate what you owe. Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out medical bills, while Chapter 13 allows you to repay them in a structured plan. Washington state law regulates how medical providers and collection agencies handle unpaid bills, ensuring fair treatment. Moreover, hospitals like Providence Regional Medical Center offer financial assistance programs that may help lower or eliminate medical debt. Understanding your rights can help you avoid lawsuits and collection actions from medical creditors.
How To Get Out Of The Payday And MoneyTree Debt Cycle In Snohomish CountyIf you are in the payday loan debt cycle with lenders like MoneyTree, there are ways to break free. Washington state law limits payday lending, but high interest rates can still trap borrowers. This is where filing for bankruptcy could come in, as it can eliminate payday loan debt. Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes it out completely, while Chapter 13 allows you to settle it through a repayment plan. Debt settlement or negotiating directly with payday lenders may also help. If payday lenders are threatening legal action, understanding your options can protect your finances.
Repossession Lawyers In Everett Fight To Help You Keep Your VehicleIf you're behind on car payments and worried about repossession, you may have options to keep your vehicle. Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets you restructure missed payments and reduce the loan balance in some cases. Washington state law requires lenders to follow strict procedures when repossessing a vehicle, protecting you from illegal actions. Even if the creditor has already repossessed your car, you may still have a chance to get it back. The faster you act, the more options you have to keep your vehicle.
What Washington State Law Says About Creditor HarassmentState and federal laws will protect you if you are facing creditor harassment. The Washington State Collection Agency Act and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibit excessive calls, threats, and misleading statements from debt collectors. You may have the right to take legal action and sue for damages if a creditor violates these protections. Sending a cease-and-desist letter or working out a settlement can also stop aggressive collection tactics.
Is There a Legal Way to Stop Creditor Lawsuits and Repossession Actions in Everett?If you're facing a creditor lawsuit or repossession in Everett, filing for bankruptcy gives you immediate legal protection. The automatic stay stops lawsuits, repossessions, foreclosures, and wage garnishments the moment you file, giving you time to address your debts and prevent further legal action.
Everett Bankruptcy Attorneys Answer Your Most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)In our combined 30 years of fighting for debt relief for our neighbors across Washington state, we understand your concerns. Here are the answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about legal debt relief in Everett:
A: Chapter 7 bankruptcy liquidates non-exempt assets to discharge most unsecured debts, while Chapter 13 sets up a repayment plan over three to five years. Chapter 7 is ideal if you have limited income and cannot repay debts, whereas Chapter 13 is if you have a regular income and want to keep your assets while catching up on payments.
A: Yes, filing for bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay, immediately stopping most wage garnishments. However, garnishments for certain debts like child support may continue.
A: While bankruptcy will affect your credit, it's not permanent. When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it will show on your credit report for ten years and seven years for Chapter 13. The good news is you can start rebuilding right away by making on-time payments, using a secured credit card, and keeping an eye on your credit report for mistakes. The Fair Credit Reporting Act ensures credit agencies report bankruptcy correctly, giving you a chance to move forward and improve your financial future.
A: A Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically takes between four to six months from filing to discharge, while a Chapter 13 repayment plan lasts three to five years. The timeline may vary based on court schedules and any challenges from creditors. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Western District of Washington State oversees Everett bankruptcy cases.
A: No, there is no minimum debt requirement to file for bankruptcy under federal law. However, Chapter 13 has a maximum debt limit, which currently caps secured and unsecured debts at specific thresholds that adjust periodically.
A: Yes, most retirement accounts, including 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions, are protected under Title 11. Washington state follows federal exemptions for retirement savings, meaning these funds are generally safe from creditors in bankruptcy.
A: Washington state allows you to choose between federal and state exemptions. State exemptions protect homesteads up to a certain value, personal property, tools of the trade, and other assets. On the other hand, federal exemptions may offer more protection for specific assets depending on your financial situation.
A: Filing for bankruptcy immediately stops a bank levy under the automatic stay provision. If creditors have already taken the funds, you can sometimes recover them by notifying the creditor and court. Washington law also allows some exemptions, which may protect certain funds from seizure.
A: Yes, but typically only for the 341 Meeting of Creditors, a short hearing where creditors can ask questions about your finances.The 341 Meeting, required under federal law, is conducted by a bankruptcy trustee rather than a judge.
A: Yes, bankruptcy can discharge many types of judgments, except for debts like child support, student loans, and certain taxes. If the judgment created a lien on your property, you may need to file a motion to avoid the lien in Washington state courts.
Our attorneys love working in Everett, as it’s a great place to call home where there's so much to enjoy. For example, Jetty Island in the summer is unbeatable. We also always enjoy a lazy Sunday at the Everett Farmers Market to grab fresh-grown produce and check out local vendors. Let's not forget about the Fisherman's Village Music Festival or a night out at one of the live music spots downtown.
Unfortunately, it's hard to enjoy any of it when you're drowning in financial stress. Instead of taking the ferry to Whidbey for the weekend or grabbing drinks at Scuttlebutt, you're stuck worrying about bills and collection calls.
We see it all the time. Debt doesn't just hit your bank account. It takes away your ability to live here. Instead of catching a game at Funko Field or spending a day with the kids at the Imagine Children's Museum, you're cutting corners, skipping outings, and missing out on what makes Everett so great. Even when you do go out, the stress alone can be exhausting and makes it hard to focus on anything but the next payment due.
Everett isn't just a city––it's a community. This means you’re not alone when debt takes over. Our bankruptcy attorneys are here to help. We know how tough it is when debt takes control, so allow us to help you get back on track. Imagine being able to take your family to the Evergreen Arboretum without the weight of overdue bills on your mind. Picture a weekend by Silver Lake or walking the trails at Forest Park without stressing over how you're going to make ends meet.
Financial freedom isn't just about money. It's about getting your life back right here in the city you love. Let's talk about how to make that happen. Contact our local Everett bankruptcy law team. We'll review your case for free and make a plan to get you out of debt for good!
If you are trapped under a seemingly insurmountable amount of debt in Everett, Washington, bankruptcy may offer a relatively easy way to start over.
Most people consider every other option before choosing bankruptcy. However, sometimes waiting too long can be a big mistake, especially if people deprive themselves or their families of necessities or drain a retirement account, only to end up filing bankruptcy anyway. The idea of bankruptcy is to allow someone to get back to a normal cash flow, preserve their financial future of themselves and their children, and go forward with productive lives. It’s good policy to let the creditors know where they stand, give them a fair, legal way to share money (if there is any to be had at all) while giving the borrower a way to continue a dignified and productive life.
Bankruptcy law recognizes that people require certain necessities: health care, transportation and retirement plans, for example. It gives a way to protect these necessities by eliminating debt and bill payments while allowing people to keep most of their property.
By contacting a bankruptcy attorney, people who have too much debt suddenly feel a great relief. They know that some bills will go away forever, and can stop making those payments as soon as they have made the decision to file bankruptcy. As soon as the case is filed, creditors have to stop harassing phone calls, repossessions, garnishments, foreclosures, repossessions–all attempts to collect debt have to stop immediately. The bankruptcy court goes through a process of examining how much income and property a debtor has and determining how much, if anything, creditors receive.
The end result of a bankruptcy is called a discharge. The discharge basically cancels debt. It is an injunction against creditors ever trying to collect a debt again. Some debt can not be discharged, such as some back taxes, student loans, parking and speeding tickets and domestic support obligations such as child support and alimony.
For specific information on bankruptcy in Everett, visit our bankruptcy question pages:
There are two types of bankruptcy for most consumers. The easiest form of bankruptcy is called Chapter 7. If creditors receive payments in a Chapter 7, it is from selling property and dividing the money up among them. Most people who file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy do not lose any property, though. Bankruptcy law sets out exemptions that protect property from being taken during the bankruptcy process. These exemptions exist so people who file bankruptcy can get a fresh start by discharging debt while keeping the property necessary to go forward in life. There are different exemptions for different kinds of property. Retirement plans are 100% exempt. There are generous exemptions for homes, cars, personal belongings and many other types of important property. In Washington state, you can choose between the state’s exemptions and the federal exemptions, which provides a lot of flexibility for protecting property.
In a Chapter 7, a trustee is appointed to the case. Most people who file Chapter 7 only go to one hearing with the trustee about 30 days after the case is filed, called a meeting of creditors. Creditors usually do not appear. The trustee takes sworn testimony from the debtor to verify the documents that have been filed in the case. The trustee also reviews bank statements, tax returns and pay stubs and compares them to the documents in the case. The trustee may have some follow up questions for a complete understanding of the situation and may investigate whether any property could be sold for creditors. In most cases, there is no property available for the creditors and no other hearings that the debtor has to attend. Because a Chapter 7 allows a lot of debt to be discharged with no payment, people with higher incomes may not qualify. One of the bankruptcy forms that must be filled out is a means test. A higher than average incomes is tested against expenses.
If there is income available to creditors after deducting expenses, then the debtor may have to file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Chapter 13 BankruptcyChapter 13 bankruptcy involves a 3 to 5 year plan to pay creditors. Creditors are paid according to the debtors ability to pay. In some Chapter 13 filings, unsecured creditors (such as credit cards, medical bills or payday loans) get nothing. But, they can receive up to 100 percent of what is owed. Even if they receive 100 percent, Chapter 13 offers and orderly way of getting out of debt. Unlike debt consolidation programs, Chapter 13 plans include all debt such as mortgage arrears, car loans, taxes, back child support–basically all debt. It allows home owners to save their homes from foreclosure by catching up on mortgage arrears over five years. It can reduce the monthly payment of a car by lowering the overall amount paid or spreading the payments over a longer term.
In general, the Chapter 13 offers more flexibility in keeping property and paying some debts than a Chapter 7, but it takes longer and is more complex.