Contact
(844) 562-3572
[email protected]
TextBack Number
+1 877-721-2590
Deliveries:
354 Eisenhower Parkway
Suite 1250
Livingston, NJ 07039
- Additional Office Locations
(844) 562-3572
[email protected]
TextBack Number
+1 877-721-2590
Deliveries:
354 Eisenhower Parkway
Suite 1250
Livingston, NJ 07039
Bankruptcy isn’t a billboard promise. It’s a federal legal process — and when it’s the right fit, it works. Talk to a licensed bankruptcy attorney at The Law Office of Barry E. Janay, P.C. about whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13, or a business reorganization is right for your situation.
If you’re here, you’re probably exhausted. Creditor calls. Late notices. Wage garnishment letters. Maybe a lawsuit. Maybe a foreclosure notice or a repossession threat. You’ve seen the billboards promising fast bankruptcy relief, and you’re not sure who to trust.
We’ll be straight with you: bankruptcy is a powerful legal tool, but it’s not the right answer for everyone, and it’s not as simple as the ads make it sound. The federal Bankruptcy Code has specific eligibility rules, means tests, deadlines, and disclosures. Some debts can be wiped out. Others can’t. Some property is protected. Other property isn’t. And what looks like a “simple” Chapter 7 can quickly become a Chapter 13 — or be dismissed entirely — if it’s filed wrong.
Our job is to look at your full financial picture, tell you honestly whether bankruptcy makes sense, and if it does, file it correctly the first time so you actually get the fresh start the Code is designed to provide.
Who We Help
Eliminate qualifying unsecured debt and rebuild
Chapter 7 may be right for you if:
Stop foreclosure or repossession and pay back what you can over 3–5 years
Chapter 13 may be right for you if:
Subchapter V, Chapter 7, or Chapter 11 — built for owners.
Business filings may be right for you if:
Setting honest expectations is the most important conversation we have with new clients.
Our Process
A short, confidential conversation to understand your debt picture, income, and goals. No commitment.
If we’re a fit, we send an engagement letter, intake forms, and a clear document list — pay stubs, tax returns, creditor statements, asset records.
We run the means test, review your exemptions under NJ or NY law, and recommend the chapter that gives you the strongest outcome.
Once we file your petition, the automatic stay takes effect immediately — creditor calls stop, garnishments stop, and most lawsuits pause.
We prepare you for the meeting of creditors, handle objections and trustee inquiries, and shepherd your case through plan confirmation (Chapter 13) or discharge (Chapter 7).
Your Team
Bankruptcy Lead
Bayley leads the firm’s bankruptcy and debtor protection practice. She handles consumer and small business filings from initial screening through discharge, and is the first attorney most clients work with at the firm.
President & Managing Attorney
Barry founded The Law Office of Barry E. Janay, P.C. and has practiced in New Jersey and New York for more than 20 years across estates, business law, litigation, and now bankruptcy. He provides supervisory oversight on every bankruptcy matter the firm handles.
Bankruptcy attorney fees vary based on the chapter you file under, whether assets are involved, whether your case is a business filing, and whether there are complications like prior dismissals, lien strips, or adversary proceedings.
We’re transparent about cost from the first call. At your free 15-minute screening, we’ll:
We accept payment plans for most consumer matters. You’ll never get a surprise invoice from us.
Not necessarily. New Jersey and New York both have homestead exemptions, and Chapter 13 specifically exists to help homeowners catch up on missed mortgage payments and keep their homes. The right answer depends on your equity, your mortgage status, and which state’s exemptions apply. We’ll walk through this at your screening.
In most cases, yes — the moment your case is filed, the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 takes effect and stops most wage garnishments, with limited exceptions for domestic support obligations and certain tax collections.
A Chapter 7 filing generally appears on your credit report for up to 10 years. A Chapter 13 filing generally appears for up to 7 years. That said, many clients begin rebuilding credit within months of discharge.
Legally, yes. Practically, we strongly recommend you don’t, particularly for Chapter 13 or any case involving real estate, a business, or non-exempt assets. The U.S. Trustee Program publishes data showing that pro se filers are significantly more likely to have cases dismissed.
Chapter 7 is a liquidation — qualifying unsecured debts are discharged, typically in 3–6 months. Chapter 13 is a reorganization — you propose a 3–5 year repayment plan that lets you catch up on secured debts like a mortgage or car loan while paying creditors a portion of unsecured debt.
You’ll attend a meeting of creditors (often called the “341 meeting”), which is usually conducted virtually now. Most consumer cases never require a courtroom appearance before a bankruptcy judge.
Subchapter V is a streamlined small business reorganization under Chapter 11, created to make business reorganization faster and less expensive. Eligibility depends on your aggregate debt level and whether your debts arise from commercial or business activity. We’ll evaluate this with you at the screening.
No. We’re a multi-practice firm with an established bankruptcy practice led by a dedicated attorney. You will work directly with your attorney — not a paralegal or a call-center intake.
Whether bankruptcy is right for you or not, you’ll leave the call with a clearer picture of your options.
Call (844) 562-3572 · Text 877-721-2590