About Our Thurston County Bankruptcy Lawyers

Get to know our experienced Olympia bankruptcy lawyers.

Erin M. Lane is an experienced and aggressive Thurston County bankruptcy attorney. She started doing bankruptcy work because she is passionate about helping people, good people. The overwhelming majority of our Olympia bankruptcy clients are good people, who often through no real fault of their own, suddenly find themselves drowning in a sea of debt.

Washington Law Group is a regional bankruptcy legal services law firm with offices throughout the Greater Puget Sound Region. A good bankruptcy law firm not only understands the Bankruptcy Code, it understands how to maximize each client’s relief under it.

Our debt relief attorneys are here to help. Erin is one of the founding partners at Washington Law Group, and among that many things that sets her apart from so many other local bankruptcy lawyers is the simple fact that she really cares about her clients and the results that she achieves for them.

Compassion is one of the driving forces in her life. And, having been a bankruptcy attorney for many years now, she understands that our clients often feel like they are drowning. Even the thought of filing for bankruptcy can be completely overwhelming and paralyzing. Erin and her team are here to help you understand your legal rights and options.

Your creditors truly want you to believe that filing for bankruptcy means that you are a complete failure in life and that your life as you know it will somehow end. This is complete rubbish!

Erin and her team want you to understand that if you qualify, filing for bankruptcy is your absolute legal right. And, there is absolutely no shame in doing so. In fact, for many of our clients, it’s really their only option for taking back their financial lives and rebuilding their credit. The bankruptcy laws were specifically put in place to help good, honest, and hard-working people who fall on difficult financial times.

Whether through an unforeseen medical emergency, loss of employment, having to care for an elderly parent, divorce, the sudden death of a spouse, or a host of other reasons that often hit out of the blue with no warning, financial chaos and bankruptcy often go hand in hand with a personal tragedy. Erin is here to help, and she will be with you every step of the process.

Our Thurston County debt relief lawyers not only serve Olympia, but all surrounding cities as well. These include but are not limited to the residents of Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Rainier, and Rochester. Get the bankruptcy help and information you need to make a truly informed decision about what is best for you and your family.

Bankruptcy is one of the most powerful financial tools on the planet!

If your financial situation is dire, you’ve probably been considering bankruptcy as a last-ditch option to get a fresh start. Much of what you read on the internet is misleading or completely wrong. In fact, many people believe that filing for bankruptcy will ruin their credit forever. The truth is that bankruptcy is often the best way to resolve debt problems, restore good credit, and put a stop to harassment from bill collectors. Bankruptcy is one of the most powerful financial tools on the planet. If you can qualify, it at least warrants strong consideration.

Because so many people view bankruptcy as a last resort, they continue to make payments to creditors long after there is any hope of ever paying off the debt. Debt collectors know this, so they perpetuate this myth to prevent you from talking to a lawyer and taking the next step. If you’re at the breaking point and you’re ready to hit the financial reset button, we can help determine whether bankruptcy is right for you.

Simply give us a call and talk to one of our Thurston County bankruptcy lawyers. This free consultation will allow you to make an informed decision regarding your finances.

Why bankruptcy laws were created.

Why do bankruptcy laws even exist? When a person becomes mired in uncontrollable debt, they are no longer a viable consumer. They don’t go out to eat or buy gifts for their family members because they don’t have any money. This puts a strain on the nation’s economy. The more people who have unmanageable debt, the more damaging it is to the economy.

Now consider that around 1,000,000 people in the United States declare bankruptcy every year. If there were no way for these people to resolve their financial situation, we would be in a lot of trouble. Bankruptcy laws were created to help people eliminate debt so that they can become consumers once again. Best of all, it works.

Many people mistakenly believe that filing for bankruptcy makes them a failure or deadbeat, but this is obviously not true at all. Most people who declare bankruptcy are hardworking people who had a run of bad luck. In fact, medical bills are the most common reason for declaring bankruptcy. Getting sick doesn’t make you a failure, and declaring bankruptcy is often the most responsible financial decision a person can make.

What happens after you file for bankruptcy in Olympia?

You’ve probably never filed for bankruptcy before, so you probably have questions about the process. First of all, you have legal rights in regards to your finances, and it’s our job to ensure those rights are protected. Bill collectors and creditors do not like it when you talk to one of our Olympia bankruptcy attorneys because they know you’ll be made aware of your rights. If you mention a lawyer, they may threaten you or say just about anything to prevent you from making that call. Don’t listen to them.

If you decide to declare bankruptcy, every Washington State bankruptcy case follows the same basic legal process. And, this is what you should expect:

• Contact a Thurston County bankruptcy lawyer – This may sound easy enough, but taking that first step can be difficult. We offer a free consultation, so there is no risk in giving us a call. There is no reason to be embarrassed or fear your creditors. To prepare for this conversation, we ask that you prepare to present some financial information including your annual income, taxes, outstanding bills, lawsuits, and foreclosure papers, if any. We can analyze this information and determine whether you qualify for either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. If not, we will tell you up front so that you can explore other options.
• Your decision to file – Once you know the facts, you can then decide if you want to take the next step and petition the court for bankruptcy. If so, your Olympia bankruptcy lawyer will start working on your case, which means that if creditors or bill collectors try to contact you, simply forward the calls to us. None of them will be able to contact you once you file, and if they do we will make them stop.
• Meetings with your attorney – This part of the process is relatively straightforward, but you may need to meet with your lawyer from time to time to sign paperwork or review certain items. If you have questions, you are always welcome to ask.
• Signing the paperwork – Once we have everything in order, you simply stop by our law office and sign the paperwork. We will then be ready to take it to the Western Washington Bankruptcy Court.
• Filing your bankruptcy case in court – If you live in Olympia, your case is heard in the bankruptcy court for Western Washington. There are two federal bankruptcy courthouses in the region. These bankruptcy courts are located in Tacoma and Seattle. Your case will be heard at the United States District Court in Tacoma. Upon filing, the “automatic stay” goes into effect, which means that bill collectors can no longer attempt to contact you in any way. If they try, let us know. There are penalties for violating this court order that include punitive damages. All wage garnishments, lawsuits, foreclosure, repossessions, and tax collections also stop.
• Meeting with creditors – Somewhere around 30 to 45 days after you file, a Meeting of Creditors is held. This isn’t as bad as it sounds, and your lawyer will be at your side throughout this process. They will also ensure you are fully prepared and know what to expect. Our experience is always at your disposal, and it makes these meeting far easier.
• Discharge of debt – After your meeting with creditors, it takes about 3 months to discharge your debt if you filed Chapter 7. For Chapter 13 bankruptcies, your trustee tells you how to finalize your debt consolidation plan. If you keep up with your payments for the full term, which is 3 to 5 years, your leftover debt is then discharged.
• A fresh financial start – You’re all done. Your credit score will start to improve, and you’ll quickly get offers for lines of credit. If nay old creditors or debt collection agencies try to contact you, simply let us know so that we can put a stop to it.

Olympia, Washington, and the bankruptcy court.

Olympia is the beautiful capital of Washington State. It was incorporated way back in 1859 when life was a lot different for the average person. Located at the southern end of Puget Sound, Olympia is a jumping-off point for everything from Seattle to Olympic National Park and the Olympic Mountain Range.

Olympia has a lot to offer residents and visitors alike. There are countless business and employment opportunities for anyone that would like to call Olympia home. Residents will find this page on the municipal website especially useful, as it outlines various city services and public use areas. However, just because Olympia is a prosperous city does not mean that its residents are immune to financial problems. One illness could mean acquiring unmanageable debt and if that happens, it may be time to consider bankruptcy.

If you decide to file after talking to one of our Olympia bankruptcy attorneys, your case will be heard in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington. You can keep track of your case on the “Upcoming Motions Calendar” page of the United States Bankruptcy Court website page for the Western District of Washington, which can be accessed by following the link. Your Olympia bankruptcy attorney will ensure that you know about all important meetings, so you never have to worry about missing an important date.

About our team of qualified Thurston County bankruptcy lawyers.

We know how difficult it can be when you’re being harassed by creditors and feel like there’s no way to fix your financial situation. Our attorneys routinely see how hard working people fall behind on bills through no fault of their own, and it’s why we take bankruptcy cases very seriously. Bill collectors and collection agencies often use unscrupulous tactics to get money from debtors, which is why we fight back on behalf of our clients.

We handle countless bankruptcy cases every year. While every person’s financial situation is unique, we know how to maximize the amount discharged so that you get maximum financial relief. In most cases, all unsecured debt is discharged including credit card debt and medical bills. The harassment stops, your credit rating improves, and you can enjoy the many benefits of being a viable consumer in America.

Best of all, bankruptcy is affordable. Our lawyers charge a flat fee so that you know exactly what to expect. In some situations, we can even set up a payment plan. If you’re worried about the cost of bankruptcy, we can discuss some methods to secure the necessary funds which you likely haven’t thought of.

It all starts with a free consultation. Contact our law office and speak to a qualified Olympia bankruptcy lawyer one-on-one. They will help you determine whether you qualify for bankruptcy so that you can make the best decision possible in regards to your finances. Our Olympia, Washington bankruptcy law firm is dedicated to helping good people through tough times.

Contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced Olympia bankruptcy attorney. We will seek maximum financial relief on your behalf.

(360) 350-4830