I am a lawyer, not a law firm.
Retain me as your lawyer, and what you see is what you get. From your initial consultation to the end of your case, you work with and are personally served by me — not a paralegal, not a secretary, not an associate attorney.

I am a Heart of Texas bankruptcy lawyer. From my Waco office, I serve the entire Heart of Texas area, including Bosque, Falls, Freestone, Hill, Limestone, and McLennan counties.

In my practice, I focus on solving consumer issues. The core of this is helping people file bankruptcy, but it also includes protecting people from abusive debt collection and from other unfair and deceptive acts.

I make house calls! Would you prefer to meet with me at your home, your workplace, or your favorite coffee shop? You can. Or you can make an appointment to meet me at my Waco office.

I also offer evening and weekend hours. You don't have to take time off from work and cool your heels in a waiting room to meet with me. My practice is what some lawyers call a Third Wave practice. Technology allows me to take my office with me wherever I go.

Bankruptcy is designed to give individual debtors a fresh start while treating creditors fairly. It is provided for in the United States Constitution and administered by federal courts. You don't have to be rich to file bankruptcy — or poor, or employed, or out of work, or insolvent, or a home-owner.

It offers breathing room and powerful tools to deal with debts. The 'automatic stay' puts the brakes on foreclosure and repossession, puts debt collection calls on hold, and generally forces creditors to back off and wait for the case to finish, or for permission from the bankruptcy judge. In many cases the court will 'discharge' debts — order creditors to never again try to collect the debts from the debtor; Debts that qualify for this are called 'dischargeable' debts.

Bankruptcy does not mean losing everything you own. In fact, most Heart of Texas filers aren't forced to give up any property in bankruptcy.

But the Bankruptcy Code is complex. Just under 10,000 bankruptcy cases were filed in the Western District of Texas in the past year. Of these, more than 50% were filed under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, and almost 49% were filed under Chapter 13. Which chapter is better? That depends on your circumstances. Professional guidance is crucial; mistakes can lead to loss of property, or even criminal charges in extreme cases.

Get professional advice. Your first consultation with me is free, so make an appointment today. We'll discuss your situation and concerns, and review both your bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy options.

Don't wait for a crisis. The sooner you investigate your options, the more and better options you're likely to have. Sadly, too many people wait until they are at the edge of ruin, until they have tried every other possibility, before they seek help from a bankruptcy lawyer. They exhaust all of their resources, take out terrible high-interest loans, use up their savings, and even mortgage their homes, all to keep their creditors at bay just a little bit longer.

Educate yourself.

• The Attorney General of Texas: Basic information on frauds & scams.
• Money, Credit, and the Law: Learn more about your legal rights.
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Western District of Texas bankruptcy information.
• Lawyers.com: Bankruptcy in Texas.

Know what you want. Are you comfortable dealing directly with your creditors? Do you prefer big law firms, with paralegals and waiting areas? Or do you like the idea of a mobile, flexible, modern attorney who will work personally with you every step of the way? If so, give me a call. I'm ready to help.