Student Loan Defense Attorney Serving New York and Nassau County
Most bankruptcy attorneys tell clients that student loans are outside their scope. Aronow Law P.C. handles student loan defense, consolidation, recertification, income-driven repayment, and collector harassment alongside bankruptcy — in a single engagement, with the same attorney. If you are carrying student debt alongside other financial problems, you should not have to manage those issues with two different firms.
Student Loans Handled Alongside Bankruptcy in a Single Engagement
Federal Loan Defense, Consolidation, and Recertification Available
Collector Harassment on Student Debt Has Legal Consequences
Free Consultations With No Time Limit
23+ Years of Consumer Debt Law in Nassau County
Why Student Loans Require a Different Kind of Debt Attorney
Federal student loans do not behave like other debt. They are generally not dischargeable in bankruptcy under the standard test. They are administered by federal servicers operating under a separate regulatory framework. And they carry their own set of income-based repayment options, consolidation pathways, hardship programs, and collector rules that most debt attorneys never work with.
That gap leaves many clients in a difficult position: they retain a bankruptcy attorney who resolves their credit card debt, medical bills, and creditor judgments — and walk away from the engagement still carrying six figures in student loan debt with no plan for it. Aronow Law closes that gap. Student loan issues are evaluated and addressed within the same engagement as the bankruptcy or debt defense matter, not deferred to a future attorney-client relationship that often never materializes.
Student Loan Services at Aronow Law
Child Support
We help parents establish and modify child support orders in accordance with Florida guidelines. Our approach ensures your child’s needs are met while maintaining fair obligations for both parents.
Federal Student Loan Defense — Protecting Your Rights When You Are in Default
Federal student loan default carries serious consequences: wage garnishment without a court order, tax refund seizure, Social Security offset, and loss of eligibility for income-driven repayment plans. Aronow Law works with clients who are in default or approaching it to evaluate every available defense and resolution pathway — rehabilitation, consolidation, administrative forbearance, and hardship programs — before those consequences become irreversible.
Collector Harassment Defense — When the Calls Cross a Legal Line
Private student loan collectors are subject to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Federal loan servicers operate under a separate set of federal rules, but harassment and abuse prohibitions apply to them as well. When collectors call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., use threatening or abusive language, misrepresent the amount owed, or contact you after a written request to stop — those are violations, not just annoyances. Aronow Law pursues legal claims against collectors who cross that line.
Student Loan Consolidation — Simplify Repayment and Restore Eligibility
Federal Direct Consolidation combines multiple federal loans into a single loan with a single servicer and a single monthly payment. Consolidation can restore eligibility for income-driven repayment plans, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and other programs that are unavailable to loans in default. It can also convert certain loan types — older FFEL loans, Perkins loans — into Direct Loans eligible for programs they previously did not qualify for. Aronow Law guides clients through the consolidation process and evaluates whether it is the right tool given their loan types, repayment history, and goals.
Student Loan Recertification — Maintaining Income-Driven Repayment Eligibility
Income-driven repayment plans require annual recertification of income and family size. Missing a recertification deadline can result in a payment spike, capitalization of unpaid interest, and loss of repayment plan eligibility. Aronow Law assists clients with the recertification process — including clients who missed a deadline and need to restore their plan — and evaluates whether the current repayment plan still makes sense given changes in income or family circumstances.
Student Loans and Bankruptcy:
What Is Actually Possible
Federal student loans survive a standard Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy discharge in most cases. That is the rule — but the picture is more nuanced than a blanket statement that student loans cannot be touched in bankruptcy.
First, filing bankruptcy still provides meaningful relief for clients carrying student loans alongside other debt. Discharging credit cards, medical bills, and creditor judgments through Chapter 7 eliminates competing obligations and frees up income to address student loans directly. Many clients who felt trapped by the combined weight of multiple debt categories find the student loan balance far more manageable once the surrounding debt is gone.
Second, a hardship discharge of student loans — through an adversary proceeding filed within the bankruptcy case — is available in limited circumstances. The standard under the Brunner test requires showing that repayment would impose an undue hardship based on current income, that the hardship is likely to persist, and that the borrower has made good faith efforts to repay. This is a difficult standard, but not an impossible one. Aronow Law evaluates whether the facts of a client's situation support pursuing a hardship discharge as part of the bankruptcy engagement.
Third, Chapter 13 can be used strategically alongside student loans — allowing a client to manage student loan payments at a reduced level through the repayment plan while discharging surrounding unsecured debt. The interaction between student loan repayment and Chapter 13 plan structure requires careful analysis, which is part of what Aronow Law addresses in the initial consultation.
Fourth, some school “loans” are actually “advance on tuitions", which by motion are dischargeable in
Chapter 7; and new regulations are making partial student loan discharges more common under a wider variety of harships..
Testimonials
Best Decision I made was to call Aronow Law and I received the Best Outcome!! Malini is an outstanding advocate for those navigating the legal system. Knows her stuff. Aronow Law provided swift problem free assistance. My experience working with this firm has been awesome. So very thankful. Would tell everyone to call Aronow Law if you are in need of legal services. You'll be very happy you did.
Kobin W.
Google Reviews
This law firm is the best !! I can’t express how above and beyond they went to help. My grandmother saved her house ! Because of them a house she’s been in since she was a baby is now hers to keep and she’s 80 years old….. They went above and beyond answering any questions although we got frustrated at times they never ever disrespected us and keep to professional always !!! Thanks so luv from the Campbell family :)!
Nanamilan2010
Google Reviews
Best decision I ever made. They did an amazing job helping me through this process always answering my questions and helping me through every single step along the way explaining everything to mean. If you are ever looking for an attorney to represent you in the bankruptcy process, he is the one.
Merlo M.
Google Reviews
Aronow Law did an amazing job handling my bankruptcy case. They not only made the entire process smooth and stress-free, but they also went above and beyond by getting my EZPass tolls discharged—something I didn’t think was possible. Thanks to their incredible work, the suspension on my vehicle registration was lifted, and I was finally able to get back on the road. Highly recommend them!
Suhrob s.
Google Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions About Student Loan Defense in New York
Can a bankruptcy attorney help with student loans in New York?
Most cannot — or choose not to. Aronow Law handles student loan defense, consolidation, recertification, and collector harassment as part of the same engagement as a bankruptcy filing. Federal student loans are generally not dischargeable under the standard bankruptcy test, but filing bankruptcy can still provide significant relief by eliminating surrounding debt, and a hardship discharge through an adversary proceeding is available in qualifying cases. The interaction between student loans and bankruptcy is evaluated at the outset of every engagement.
How do I stop student loan collector harassment?
If you are receiving harassing calls from a private student loan collector, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you the right to demand that contact stop — and to pursue a legal claim if it does not. Federal loan servicers are also subject to rules that prohibit abusive contact. A written cease-and-desist through legal counsel carries significantly more weight than a borrower request. If violations have already occurred, those may support a damages claim against the collector.
Can student loans be included in bankruptcy in New York?
Federal student loans survive most bankruptcies but are not entirely untouchable. A properly presented hardship discharge through an adversary proceeding is available in qualifying cases. Chapter 13 can be structured to manage student loan payments during the repayment plan period. And in all cases, discharging surrounding unsecured debt through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 reduces the total burden in a way that makes the student loan balance more manageable after the case closes. Aronow Law evaluates all of these pathways in the initial consultation.
What is the difference between student loan consolidation and refinancing?
Federal Direct Consolidation combines multiple federal loans into one Direct Loan, preserving federal protections including income-driven repayment eligibility and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Refinancing replaces federal or private loans with a new private loan — potentially at a lower interest rate, but at the cost of losing all federal protections and repayment options. For most clients in financial distress, consolidation is the more appropriate tool. Refinancing into a private loan eliminates the safety net that federal programs provide.
What happens if I miss my income-driven repayment recertification deadline?
Missing the recertification deadline typically results in a temporary increase in your monthly payment — sometimes dramatically — and capitalization of any unpaid interest, which adds that interest to your principal balance. Depending on the loan servicer and the timing, it may also affect plan eligibility. In many cases, the plan can be restored, but the process for doing so depends on how much time has passed and which servicer holds the loan. Aronow Law assists clients who have missed a deadline in understanding their options and restoring plan eligibility where possible.
Your Student Loans Should Not Wait While the Rest of Your Debt Gets Resolved.
Aronow Law handles student loan defense alongside every other debt matter the firm takes on — bankruptcy, wage garnishment, creditor lawsuits, and more. Nassau County and Long Island clients do not need a second attorney for their student loans. The consultation is free, has no time limit, and Darren takes the call.
