Bankruptcy Attorney Serving Nassau County and Long Island

Bankruptcy is not the end of the road. For most Nassau County residents carrying unsustainable debt, it is the legal mechanism that stops the damage, protects what they have built, and creates a workable path forward. Aronow Law P.C. has guided individuals and families through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York and New Jersey for more than 23 years.

What Bankruptcy Does

and Who It Is For

Bankruptcy is a federal legal process that gives individuals and businesses a court-supervised way to resolve debt they can no longer manage. When you file, an automatic stay goes into effect immediately — stopping creditor calls, wage garnishments, lawsuits, and foreclosure proceedings while your case is processed.

Bankruptcy does not mean losing everything. New York State provides significant exemptions that protect home equity up to $204,825 per person on deed, for New York residents, as well as vehicles, retirement accounts, household goods, and other assets in most Chapter 7 cases. Understanding what you keep is often the most important part of the initial consultation.

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13:

Which Path Fits Your Situation

Aronow Law handles both primary forms of consumer bankruptcy. The right chapter depends on your income, your assets, the type of debt you carry, and what outcome you are trying to achieve.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy — Discharge Unsecured Debt and Start Fresh

Chapter 7 is the faster path. Qualifying debts — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, most judgments — are discharged, typically within 90 days To qualify, your income must fall at or below New York's median income threshold, or you must pass a "means test" based on disposable income. Many Long Island residents with regular income well over $150,000 can still qualify. Chapter 7 does not address mortgage arrears or protect a home from foreclosure the way Chapter 13 does — which is why the right chapter matters.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy — Restructure Your Debt and Keep Your Assets

Chapter 13 creates a court-approved repayment plan, typically three to five years, that allows you to catch up on mortgage arrears, keep assets that would not survive a Chapter 7 liquidation, and pay down non-dischargeable debts like certain tax obligations. It is the right tool for homeowners facing foreclosure who want to keep their property, and for individuals whose income disqualifies them from Chapter 7.

Where Most Bankruptcy Attorneys Stop — and Where We Don't

Most Nassau County bankruptcy attorneys file the case and consider the matter closed. If you have federal student loans in default, a suspended vehicle registration, or an active wage garnishment running alongside your bankruptcy, those issues remain unresolved.

Aronow Law handles them all in a single engagement. Bankruptcy, student loan defense, wage garnishment relief, and suspended registration are regularly resolved together for clients whose financial situations involve more than one category of debt. If you are carrying overlapping problems, you do not need to find a different attorney for each one.

Whether you also have MCA’s, SBA loans, EZ Pass debt, child support arrears, IRS, NYS or NYS sales tax debt, and more, Aronow Law will tell you if it can be discharged and how.

Other things to do in bankruptcy are:

• Remove second mortgage or home equity line of credit
• Save your home and stop a bank or tax foreclosure auction
• Stop a rental eviction
• Stop a car repossession or auction sale
• Remove judgment liens and UCC-1’s
• Discharge EZ Pass Debt
• Remove a suspension on your license and/or registration
• Stop a wage garnishment immediately
• Reduce or Discharge student loans
• Discharge Tax Debt Through Bankruptcy
• Discharge SBA Loans Through Bankruptcy
• Repay Child Custody Arrears Through Bankruptcy
• Get rid of unwanted timeshares
• And much much more! You will be surprised what can be accomplished when it's done properly with your best interests are the primary goal.
  

Bankruptcy Is Not Always the Right Answer — We Will Tell You Either Way

Before recommending a bankruptcy filing, Aronow Law evaluates your full debt picture. In some situations, debt settlement, a creditor defense strategy, or a loan modification produces a better outcome than bankruptcy — particularly for clients with assets they want to protect or debts that would not be dischargeable in any case.

The consultation is not a sales call. If bankruptcy fits your situation, we will tell you exactly which chapter and why. If something else fits better, we will tell you that instead.

New York Bankruptcy Exemptions: What You Keep

One of the most persistent misconceptions about bankruptcy is that filing means losing your home, your car, and your savings. New York State law provides a set of exemptions that protect specific assets from liquidation in a Chapter 7 case.

Key exemptions available to New York residents:

• Homestead exemption: Up to $204,825 for each party on deed in home equity protected for most New York residents
• Vehicle exemption: Up to $5,500 in vehicle equity protected
• Retirement accounts: 401(k), IRA, and most qualified retirement accounts are fully exempt under both federal and New York law
• Household goods and clothing: Protected up to applicable limits
• Wildcard exemption: An additional amount that can be applied to any property including cash
• Other exemptions when utilized and asserted properly will protect most, if not all, of your assets but less us review your case and explain your asset protection plan
  

Exemption amounts are set by New York State and subject to periodic adjustment. Confirming which exemptions apply to your specific assets is part of what Aronow Law covers in your initial consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bankruptcy in Nassau County

Ready to Find Out If Bankruptcy

Is the Right Move?

A free consultation with Aronow Law is the most efficient way to understand what bankruptcy does, whether you qualify, and whether it is the right tool for your situation. The call has no time limit, costs nothing, and Darren takes it personally. Aronow Law serves clients across Nassau County, Suffolk County, and the five boroughs from the firm's office in Woodbury, NY.