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Professional Bankruptcy Representation That Positions You for Financial Success

These are difficult times. U.S. foreclosure filings surged 26% in 2026; auto loan late payments and credit card delinquencies have hit historic highs; 6% of 401(k) participants took a hardship withdrawal in 2025/2026; subprime borrower delinquencies reached 6.8%; and repossessions and underwater loans are surging as car payment terms stretch longer. If you’re feeling the stress of overwhelming debt, you’re clearly not alone. Filing for bankruptcy could provide a solution.

Over 100 Years of Bankruptcy Expertise on Your Side

When you consider bankruptcy in Southfield and Metro Detroit, you want to know you are getting advice from caring professionals who understand how the system works, know bankruptcy law inside and out, and comprehend its power to help people get a fresh start on their financial lives. The bankruptcy law firm of Gold Lange, Majoros, & Smalarz, P.C. provides you with that kind of guidance. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we know how the bankruptcy trustees will view and handle your case and how different creditors will handle your bankruptcy.

We know when bankruptcy will work for you. And if it doesn’t, you can rely on our experienced and thoughtful bankruptcy attorneys to point you in the direction of whichever bankruptcy alternatives will be right for you. We’ll never push you into a bankruptcy for the sake of filing a bankruptcy. Instead, we focus on what you really need and how we can really help you.

There are numerous options.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

With Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’re able to sell off some of your assets to pay off a part of your debt. Once that payment is satisfied, the rest of the amount you owe is erased. It’s one of the quickest, simplest, and most effective ways to get rid of debt.

We generally find that people will benefit from a Chapter 7 bankruptcy if they face certain types of obstacles:

•   Burdensome credit card debt

•   Heavy medical debt

•   Student loans

•   Failing business

•   Old tax debt

A Chapter 7 can eliminate credit and medical debt. It can also help eliminate debt and reject contracts associated with your business. While student loans cannot be eliminated in bankruptcy except under very rare circumstances, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help you eliminate other debts, thereby freeing up money to pay those loans.

Chapter 11 Business Bankruptcy

Chapter 11 bankruptcy is also known as “reorganization” bankruptcy. It is designed primarily for corporate entities and enables your struggling business to remain operational while you restructure your finances. These cases are complex, legally intensive, and can last anywhere from months to several years.

Once you file for Chapter 11, it pauses nearly all collections, foreclosures, and creditor lawsuits. This allows you and your attorney time to reorganize and propose a plan that details how you intend to pay back portions of your debt. Affected creditors then vote on the plan, which a federal bankruptcy judge must officially approve.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Like Chapter 7, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is also for individuals but doesn’t require you to sell off any assets. You do, however, have to work within the parameters of a debt repayment plan and make more manageable monthly payments for three to five years. Once you’ve made payments for the required time period, whatever is left owing to your creditors often gets eliminated just like in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

We often recommend Chapter 13 to individuals with a steady income and who are looking to save their houses and/or cars from foreclosure and/or repossession, or who wish to eliminate second and third mortgages if their house is worth less than what they owe.

Creditor Representation

Our work includes representing more than just debtors. We also represent creditors in bankruptcy proceedings, bankruptcy trustees, and businesses seeking protection in Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

As a result, our firm’s attorneys incorporate a wide variety of perspectives into the strategic guidance we provide for you. We understand how debtor’s counsel and bankruptcy trustees think. Our team puts that knowledge to work for you.

Bankruptcy Litigation

We regularly provide legal representation to people and businesses facing bankruptcy litigation. Specifically, we can help you if you face adversarial proceedings involving:

•      Fraudulent conveyances

•      Preferential transfers

•      Motions to dismiss

•      Challenges to discharge of your debts

Facing an adversarial proceeding can be stressful. You can turn to us with confidence. Our extensive experience means we know how adversarial proceedings work.

Emergency Bankruptcy Filings

In cases where time is of the essence to avoid repossession or a sheriff’s sale of your house or car, we recommend filing an emergency bankruptcy. Not every attorney in Metro Detroit offers this, but we do.

Emergency filings require the ability to quickly (and correctly) analyze the details that can make or break a bankruptcy case. Because of our experience, we perform this analysis with ease. We have been down this road many times before.

We act fast to file an emergency bankruptcy petition to get you quickly protected from your creditors. You can rely on us to correctly determine whether your cause is better served by a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 13 and how quickly it must be filed.

Giving You Peace of Mind During Bankruptcy

We’re here to ease you through your bankruptcy. Here’s what some of our clients have to say:

“Honestly, the best law firm we have ever worked with. We were very stressed out and nervous about the whole process, but John was great. He explained everything step by step and made sure we were very comfortable the whole way through. He communicated every update in real time and answered all our emails quickly. At the end we got the exact result we were looking for, and we can now work on rebuilding.”

-Char Elian

“Working with this firm and attorney Jason has been awesome. Realistic, quick, honest, and professional. He has helped through literally every step of the way. Always available for all questions. Has great ideas to bring to the table. I can’t tell you how good this process has been, especially when doing something very difficult. It has changed my life. I highly recommend working with Jason and the whole team!”

-Stephanie Sakellis

Are You Ready to Discuss Your Options?

Our attorneys invite you to contact our office to schedule a complimentary initial consultation to learn more about which bankruptcy option might be right for you. Please give our lawyers a call at 248-462-7698. If you prefer, you can also contact us by email by clicking here.