Our practice areas include, but not limited to the following:

• Personal Injuries
• Medical Malpractice
• Defective Product Liability
• Discrimination/Sexual Harassment
• Wrongful death
• Bankruptcy
• Commercial & Business Law
• Matrimonial Law
• Estate Planning

BANKCRUPTCY

We have represented hundreds of debtors in bankruptcy cases including, Chapter 7 & 11. We offer free consultation, therefore, an attorney will individually answer all of your questions.

What Is Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a legal process that could cancel your obligation to pay most, if not all, of your bills. This is called a discharge of your debts. The discharge will: Stop wage garnishments, bill collector telephone calls and all other collection actions against you. Stop foreclosure on your house and allow you an opportunity to catch up on missed mortgage payments. Prevent repossession of a car.

Note that Bankruptcy will affect your Credit. Unfortunately, if you are behind on your bills, your credit may already be bad. Bankruptcy will probably not make things any worse. Bankruptcy is thus, the legal process in which a person or a company can get a fresh financial start. Bankruptcy law is federal law, therefore, the petitions and court proceedings are in federal courts. Since bankruptcy wipes out your debts, you are likely to be in a better position to pay your current bills, and you may be able to get new credit.

Chapter 7 - Straight Bankruptcy

In a chapter 7 bankruptcy your debts are "canceled" without the need to make any repayment. This is the best and least expensive type of bankruptcy. You can keep all of your exempt property. In New York almost all consumer property is exempt upto an amount, including furniture, TVs, VCRs, basic bank accounts, a car, IRA accounts, pension accounts, and 401(k) accounts. Generally, a basic chapter 7-bankruptcy case will cost between $800.00 to $1,600.00 in legal fees and court filing fees, unless the matter is very complex and entails litigation. You can stop paying your bills immediately after retaining our firm. Chapter 7-bankruptcy protection, is suitable for most people.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 bankruptcy, can stop all creditors including the IRS, bank co-op and mortgage foreclosures action. You can keep all of your property. You are given three to five years to pay your missed secured creditor payments and a fraction (as low as 10%) of your other creditor debts without interest. A chapter 13, also known as "re-organization", is commonly required when faced with a mortgage foreclosure or other extra ordinary circumstances. A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is considerably more complex and accordingly, its cost is greater.

Will Bankruptcy Wipe Out All Your Debts?

Yes, with some exceptions:

Exceptions: Money owed for child support or alimony, fines, and some taxes; debts not listed on your bankruptcy petition; credit obtained by fraud or knowingly giving false information to a creditor; debts resulting from willful and malicious harm to another person; and student loans.

What Property Can I Keep In a chapter 7 case?

You can keep all property, which the law exempts. New York State exemptions include: $10,000 of equity in your home. $2,400 of equity in you car. $400 per household item. $2,500 in savings. IRA; 401(k) and pension plans. But note: The amounts of the exemptions are doubled when a married couple files together. In determining your exempt property remember that value of property is not what you paid for it, but what it is worth today. For many items such as furniture and cars this will be considerably less than what you paid.

COMMERCIAL & BUSINESS LAW

We provide a wide variety of services to our business clients from assisting in selecting the type of organizational entity under which to operate to preparation of agreements/contracts to prosecuting and defending a commercial claim.

The firm negotiates and prepares joint ventures and partnerships agreements for both individuals and corporations within and outside the United States. For example, we have represented both American and Nigerian corporations in connection with joint ventures and other business and commercial ventures. Our services include structuring, negotiating, and documenting the transaction and overseeing compliance with governmental approval and reporting requirements.

MATRIMONIAL LAW

Our firm handles a full range of Family Law matters such as divorce, separation, premarital agreements, paternity, custody, support and other related issues.

ESTATE PLANNING

Estate Planning relates to the distribution of an individual's property at his or her death, taking into account wills, taxes, insurance, property, and trusts so as to gain maximum benefit of all laws and, at the same time, carrying out the person's wishes. Probate is the court proceeding through which a will is proved to be valid and the estate of a decedent is administered. The process, generally, includes collecting a decedent's assets, liquidating liabilities, paying necessary taxes, and distribution of property to heirs. A will is the best way for you to protect your family and distribute your assets in the manner you desire. We will provide the personal attention that you need to prepare your last will and testament. We also handle probate proceedings to prove the validity of a will and to administer the estate of a decedent.