Mesa Arizona Bankruptcy Services

The Chapters of Bankruptcy

Have you been struggling financially as a result of credit card debt, medical costs, payday advances, house foreclosures, judgments, wage garnishments, repossessions, or another kind of financial debt? Are you interested in receiving a new beginning financially? If the answer is YES, then declaring bankruptcy could be a solution for you and the Mesa bankruptcy lawyers at Fife & Cesta can help. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation in Mesa Arizona.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

A chapter 7 bankruptcy is known as a liquidation proceeding and was created to help people get out from under their debt and start fresh.

If a person cannot afford to payback their debts, they would file a chapter 7 bankruptcy. The debtor would turn over all non-exempt property to their bankruptcy trustee who then converts it into cash for distribution to the creditors. Please note that a debtor is allowed to keep certain exempt property.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

A chapter 13 bankruptcy is also known as a reorganization bankruptcy.

A Mesa chapter 13 bankruptcy is where a debtor would pay off their debts over three to five years. This type of bankruptcy was created for individuals who want to keep their non-exempt personal property.

What can I expect during the bankruptcy process?

• You will need to meet with a bankruptcy attorney to complete a means test to make sure you qualify for bankruptcy.  Is your existing monthly income greater than the median income? If the answer is yes then you’ll need to file a chapter 13 bankruptcy. If your answer is no then you will need to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy.
• Your bankruptcy attorney in Mesa Arizona will give you a list of documents he or she will need in order to prepare your bankruptcy for filing. A few examples are:  paystubs, bank statements, credit report, tax returns, list of debts and creditors, list of personal property, list of monthly expenses etc.
• You will also need to complete a pre-filing consumer credit counseling class through a provider approved by the court. This class will need to be completed before you can file your bankruptcy.
• Once you have completed your pre-filing counseling class and your bankruptcy lawyer has reviewed all your financial documents, the lawyer can then file your bankruptcy.
• About 7-10 days after your bankruptcy has been filed, your court appointed bankruptcy trustee will send you a request for documentation. The trustee will probably ask for the same documents your attorney requested. For example, paystubs, bank statements, credit report, tax returns, list of debts and creditors, list of personal property, list of monthly expenses etc. You must provide the requested documents to the trustee by the deadline given. You can also contact your bankruptcy attorney if you need help with this step.
• Once your bankruptcy has been filed, the bankruptcy court will schedule a meeting of creditors hearing within 45-90 days. During the hearing, your court appointed bankruptcy trustee will interview you for about 10-15 minutes and ask you a few general questions. This is a mandatory hearing and you must bring current picture identification and your social security card. The meeting of creditors hearing also gives the creditors a chance to appear and ask you questions if needed. Your bankruptcy attorney should attend the meeting of creditors hearing with you.
• The next step is to complete the post-filing consumer credit counseling class. You will need to complete this class before you can get a discharge from your bankruptcy.
• The court allows the bankruptcy trustee and your creditors to file an objection within 60 days from the meeting of creditors hearing. Objections are rare but in some cases they do occur. If the trustee and/or creditors do not file an objection, the court will discharge your bankruptcy within 60-90 days of the meeting of creditors hearing.
• If you filed a chapter 13 bankruptcy, you would receive your bankruptcy discharge once you have finished repaying your debts. This process usually takes three to five years.

Is filing for bankruptcy the best option for you?

Filing a bankruptcy in Mesa Arizona can help solve the following problems:

• Are your paychecks being garnished by a creditor?
• Is your house scheduled for foreclosure?
• Do you want to stop creditors from calling you all day every day?
• Have you been laid off from your job or a decrease in pay?
• Have you recently been divorced?
• Do you have any pending lawsuits or judgments?
• Do you have a substantial amount of debt?

Mesa Bankruptcy Lawyers-City Information

Mesa General Information

You can view facts about Mesa Arizona by surfing through the city’s website. The website provides information like their landmarks, city population, crime rate, police department and the city laws for Mesa, which any bankruptcy lawyer must abide by.

Landmarks in Mesa AZ

The Mesa Museum of Natural History is one of the premier museums in Mesa AZ! The “Dinosaur Mountain” is the biggest dinosaur display west of the Mississippi River. A mini-environment re-creates the Mesa Petrified Forest including an aquarium with live offspring of ancient creatures such as sturgeon and turtles who have not transformed in 65 million years. You can also visit the museum’s continuously flowing 50-foot-high indoor waterfall .

The Mesa Arizona Temple was built in 1927, the Temple for Latter Day Saints has welcomed millions of visitors of all faiths from across the world. This worldwide gathering place is built on 20 acres in central Mesa. When visiting Mesa, you should plan a visit at the Mesa Arizona Temple and walk through the magnificent grounds of the temple.

The Superstition Springs Park is located in Mesa AZ. The park is named after the legendary lost gold mine, this park is located 40 miles east of Mesa. The park offers a assortment of hiking trails, nature trails, campsites, picnic amenities, and programs during the year.

Arizona Courts in Mesa

The Mesa Bankruptcy court is located at 230 N. First Ave, Suite 101, Mesa, AZ 85003. Below is the phone number and office hours for the bankruptcy court:

• Phone: 602-682-4000 Mesa Bankruptcy Court
• Court Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., M-F

Below are the driving directions to the bankruptcy courthouse in Mesa:

• Driving: Take 7th Street North exit off I-10. West on Van Buren. Southwest corner of 1st Avenue and Van Buren.

Light Rail:

• From the east, take the westbound train to the Van Buren / Central Ave stop. Walk west on Van Buren one block to 1st Avenue. Cross both 1st Avenue and Van Buren.
• From the north/west, take the eastbound train to the Van Buren / 1st Ave stop. Cross both 1st Avenue and Van Buren. The court is on the Southwest corner of 1st Avenue and Van Buren.

This is the court where bankruptcy lawyers in Mesa would attend the hearings with their clients.

The Mesa Municipal Court is located at 250 E. 1st Avenue, Mesa, Arizona 85210. Below is their phone number, business hours, and directions:

• 480-644-2255
• Monday – Thursday 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM except holidays
• COURT DIRECTIONS: The northwest corner of 1st Avenue and Pomeroy Street which is one block South of Main Street and one block West of Mesa Drive.

Sometimes a bankruptcy client will have to attend hearings at the Mesa Municipal Court regarding garnishments from their creditors.

Mesa Police Stations

Police Department
130 North Robson
Mesa, AZ 85201

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 1466
Mesa, AZ 85211

Important phone numbers:
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-Emergency: 480-644-2211
General Information: 480-644-2030

Mesa On Patrol is a new program designed to get everybody living in Mesa involved in Crime Avoidance. The City of Mesa asking everybody to take the time to report wary and illegal activity in an effort to further decrease crime in the City of Mesa. Their phone number is 480-644-2211.