Why hire my firm for your personal bankruptcy filing?
I am a Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy in the State of Michigan.
There are tens of thousands of licensed attorneys in Michigan, but only a handful are Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law. Many of these board certified attorneys do not represent the people filing bankruptcy (the debtors), but rather limit their practice to the representation of creditors or trustees interests in consumer bankruptcy cases. A board certified attorney is recognized as an expert and a specialist in bankruptcy law and not a general practitioner. Achieving board certification in consumer bankruptcy is not easy. To become certified, a lawyer must prove that they have significant experience in consumer bankruptcy and that they devote the majority of their practice to consumer cases. The candidate must pass rigorous written exams both on bankruptcy and ethics, and is also required to stay up to date on relevant bankruptcy law by attending continuing legal education seminars. Additionally, the attorney must demonstrate that he has litigated various complex matters and earn positive references from other fellow attorneys from both the debtor and creditor side.
I was born in Detroit, Michigan and have lived in the metro Detroit area my entire life. My parents immigrated to Detroit after World War II. They literally came here with nothing, other than a suitcase. Growing up, I witnessed first-hand, the stress that financial problems can cause on a family. There were seven of us living in a 2 bedroom, 1 bath tiny house. Quite often, my aunt would stay with us to help take care of me and my four siblings. Despite the cramped living conditions, I remember being happy. Then the recession hit.
The recession of the early 1970’s resulted in my father losing his job as a meat cutter in Detroit. That, coupled with the oil embargo causing a huge rise in energy costs, forced us to heat our home with a wood stove. One thing I remember looking forward to was the free lunches I received at school. These experiences and having lived through hard times with limited financial resources myself allows me to relate on a personal level to my clients when they come to my office seeking a bankruptcy consultation. My goal is to help each client eliminate or restructure their debt and relieve financial pressures in the process.
I have been a specialist practicing exclusively in the field of consumer bankruptcy since 1992. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Michigan State University in Forensic Science and my Juris Doctor degree from the University of Detroit, School of Law. I have been certified and re-certified in consumer bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification sponsored by the American Bankruptcy Institute. My professional associations include memberships in the Michigan Bar Association, Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Association; National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys; and the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI). I have been a contributing author, speaker, and panelist with the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI), Michigan’s Institute for Continuing Legal Education (ICLE), the Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy Association (CBA) as well as various metro Detroit credit counseling agencies. I have been recognized by and received awards in consumer bankruptcy by Lawyers.com, Martindale-Hubbell since 2012, as featured in Crain’s Detroit Business. I was selected by Thomson Reuters as a Michigan Super Lawyer every year from 2012 to 2020. My firm has a A+ Rating and am accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and maintain a rating of 10 (Superb) attorney with Avvo.
Every bankruptcy case is unique, especially yours.
More than likely, you will only file bankruptcy once in your life, if at all. There are many attorneys who dabble in bankruptcy law, but few are masters of it. Consumer bankruptcy is all I do. I have handled over 20,000 bankruptcy cases in the past 30 years and have seen just about every type of case. We never begin working on your case until after an in depth, personal, face to face consultation and then devote the time and resources needed to your individual case to insure that we navigate it through the bankruptcy court with ease. Bankruptcy law is quite complex and is always changing and evolving, which is why I attend at least 20 hours of continuing legal education each year, even though the State Bar of Michigan requires no CLE to maintain your license. I enjoy the nuances of bankruptcy and continue to learn something new on an ongoing basis. I approach my cases not only as the role of attorney, but counselor as well. As much as I like my clients, I don’t want to see them back in bankruptcy court ever again. I want them to learn from the bankruptcy process as well, which is why I use the best credit counseling and debtor education services available and assist my clients each step of the way through the process and afterwards to really get the most of their fresh start, free from the burden of overwhelming debt.
Fast, personalized service
Attorney Walter Metzen is a board certified specialist in consumer bankruptcy law and focuses his practice on handling individual bankruptcy and consumer debt matters with attention to detail and individualized service. If you are considering filing a personal bankruptcy case in the metro Detroit area, be assured that my office will thoroughly evaluate your particular case and advise you accordingly to achieve the maximum benefit the federal bankruptcy laws can provide. Call 313-962-4656 or 800-398-DEBT or contact us online to schedule a free consultation to meet with a bankruptcy lawyer and get answers to your questions specifically tailored to your specific financial concerns.
Notable Cases
This case revolved around the definition of property of the bankruptcy estate and my arguments relied primarily on United States Supreme Court Bankruptcy case law. The District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan found in favor of my client.
IN RE: GORDON C. VAUGHN, Debtor,
TIDEWATER FINANCE COMPANY, Appellant. Case No. 03-CV-70906-DT. United States District Court, E.D. Michigan, Southern Division. January 6, 2006.
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