We’ve Helped 15,000 Western New York Residents Get a Fresh Start From Their Debts. You Deserve a Fresh Start Too.
Bankruptcy Lawyers Serving the Buffalo Niagara Region
We are the largest, most-experienced consumer bankruptcy law firm in the Buffalo Niagara Region. Do not be misled by other bankruptcy lawyers claiming to be the "best" or the "most-qualified." The most important statistic you should look at when hiring your lawyer is a simple one: How many cases like yours have they actually handled?
Why does this number matter so much? Simple: Because there is no such thing as an "easy bankruptcy." No two clients who come into our office need exactly the same thing. Of course, they all need help with financial problems. That's obvious. But the reasons they end up in our office matter deeply. Did they lose a job? Are they going through a divorce? Have they suffered a disability? Are they in immediate financial danger? The list is nearly endless.
Until a bankruptcy lawyer has handled at least a few thousand cases, they simply don't have enough real-life experience to advise a client with true confidence and ability. Even the smartest lawyer can be blind-sided by the unexpected until they truly learn all the angles. Here is an example of a case we are handling right now that might seem "easy" to another bankruptcy lawyer:
Client is in debt because of a medical condition. They clearly need a bankruptcy, and at first glance, chapter 7 bankruptcy looks like the right option because the client has pretty low income and no assets to worry about. I guarantee you almost every other bankruptcy lawyer would file a chapter 7 for that client. But we dug deeper and asked the client an extra question: Do you expect to incur more medical debt over the next few years. Client said "yes." Not only is it possible, but the new debt could be another $20,000 or more.
If that client files chapter 7, they will discharge the debt they have now, but the chapter 7 won't help with any new medical debt. That means the client will end up right back in financial distress a few years after filing chapter 7 bankruptcy. However, by filing chapter 13 bankruptcy, the client retains the option to discharge any new debt they might incur over the next five years. In this particular case, the chapter 13 only requires that they pay $50 a month to their unsecured creditors for this huge benefit, and even that $50 isn't hurting the client because the chapter 13 is reducing the payment on their car by $100 per month.
This is just one example of why our firm consistently helps clients in ways other lawyers don't even think about. When you file 15,000 bankruptcy cases over 25 years, you learn a lot. We have the real knowledge and experience you want behind your case.
We have offices in the following locations in the Buffalo Niagara Region:
Williamsville(Administrative Offices) 336 Harris Hill Road Williamsville, NY 14221 (716)853-1366 Buffalo 50 Fountain Plaza, Suite 1400 Buffalo, NY 14202 (716)919-6900 Orchard Park 3959 North Buffalo Road Orchard park, NY 14127 (716)366-2514 Springville 29 Mechanic Street Springville, NY 14141 (716)929-2224 Niagara Falls 640 Park Place Niagara Falls, NY 14302 (716)284-1141 Lockport 210 Walnut Street Lockport, NY 14094 (716)438-9378 Batavia 56 Harvester Avenue Batavia, NY 14020 (585)345-0264 Olean (opening soon) Fredonia 1 Park Place, Suite 212 Fredonia, NY 14063 (716)362-0693 Jamestown 23 East Third Street Jamestown, NY 14701 (716)372-1054Here are some important details about filing bankruptcy in the Buffalo area:
1. All cases are filed electronically. The days of filing paper copies of bankruptcy petitions are long gone.
2. Once your bankruptcy is filed, your case will be assigned to one of the three Buffalo area judges as follows:
Hon. Carl L. Bucki
Judge Bucki handles cases in the following counties: Erie, Chautauqua, Allegany and Cattaraugus
Hon. Michael J Kaplan
Judge Kaplan handles cases in the following counties: Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, Orleans
Hon. Paul R. Warren
Judge Warren handles cases in the following counties: Erie (and all Rochester Division cases)
3. Your case will be assigned to a chapter 7 or chapter 13 trustee, depending on the type of case you file:
The chapter 13 trustee for all Buffalo District cases is:
Julie Philippi, 110 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 (716)853-1366
The chapter 7 trustees for the Buffalo District are as follows:
Daniel Evans Brick, 91 Tremont Street, North Tonawanda, NY 14120 (716)693-2335 Wendy J. Christophersen, 403 Main Street, Suite 500, Buffalo, NY 14203 (716) 852-7373 Joseph G Frazier, 280 East Avenue, Lockport, NY 14094 (716) 439-8619 Morris L. Horwitz, P.O. Box 716, Getzville, NY 14068 (716)830-3279 Mark J. Schlant, 404 Cathedral Place, 298 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 (716)855-3200 Regina A. Walker, 300 International Dr., New York, NY 14221 (716) 626-3510
4. Your court hearing will be held about a month after bankruptcy is filed. The address for your hearing depends on the county in which you file. These are the court addresses:
Buffalo
2 Niagara SquareBuffalo NY 14202
Hearings are held in Buffalo several times a month for clients who reside in Erie County, including Buffalo
Niagara Falls
1925 Main Street2nd Floor Hearing RoomNiagara Falls, NY 14305
Hearings are held once a month in Niagara Falls for anyone who resides in Niagara County, including Niagara Falls and Lockport
Mayville
Gerace Office BuildingLegislative Chambers3rd Floor CourtroomNorth Erie StreetMayville, NY 14757
Hearings are held once a month in Mayville for anyone who resides in Chautauqua County, including Jamestown, Dunkirk and Fredonia
Olean
Cattaraugus County Courthouse21 Leo Moss DriveOlean, NY 14760
Hearings are held once a month in Niagara Falls for anyone who resides in Cattaraugus or Allegany County, including Olean
Batavia
Genesee County Courthouse7 Main Street3rd Floor CourtroomBatavia, NY 14020
Hearings are held once a month in Niagara Falls for anyone who resides in Genesee, Orleans or Wyoming counties, including Batavia and Medina
