Your Fresh Start Begins Today

Our firm brings over 30 years of experience and more than 20,000 filed bankruptcy cases to the table to work for you.

I am Walter A. Metzen, a Board Certified Specialist in Consumer Bankruptcy. I have practiced personal bankruptcy in Michigan for over 30 years and have represented over 20,000 bankruptcy clients wipe out hundreds of millions dollars of debt during that time.

I specialize in helping individuals and married couples who are in financial distress. I enjoy seeing my clients breathe a huge sigh of relief at my initial office consultation, when I tell them that I can help them. I enjoy seeing the smiles on my client’s faces after their bankruptcy hearing. I like hearing how their lives have improved dramatically after their bankruptcy filing.

When you hire my bankruptcy law office to represent you, you will not sit down with a legal assistant or paralegal. You will meet with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who has been to bankruptcy court thousands of times and has the legal experience to handle your particular bankruptcy matter.

My office prides itself on providing high quality legal services with very reasonable fees.  The amount you are quoted will be reasonable and fair and will include all of your costs and court filing fees. No hidden fees. When you hire my office, your credit counseling briefing is included. A bankruptcy specific credit report is included. A public records search for judgments that may be on your credit report is included. The debtor education course that is mandatory and required by bankruptcy law is included. I will work hard to help you utilize the bankruptcy laws to protect your assets while at the same time obtaining a Federal Court Order called the Bankruptcy Discharge.

How bankruptcy can help

Having practiced bankruptcy as long as our firm has, it’s an understatement to say that the process can seem intimidating, with a lot attached to the concept. If you’re considering bankruptcy you’ve probably already dealt with collection harassment, struggled to get a bill paid on time, or have even been threatened with lawsuits by creditors. This is where bankruptcy can help the most. Filing for bankruptcy offers the chance at a fresh start that’ll stop harassing creditor calls and predatory collection attempts in their tracks. 

If you’re just familiarizing yourself with bankruptcy, it’s important to know that there are two main types that are useful for consumers: Chapter 7, and Chapter 13. With our help, we’ll work together to choose between the two the best option that will help you and your individual needs the most, and determine whether bankruptcy even is the best solution for you to begin with. The very act of filing for bankruptcy, regardless of Chapter, will offer you protections throughout the duration of your case from repossessions, foreclosures, and further collection attempts. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

One of the most common types of bankruptcy, Chapter 13 allows you to put together a payment plan that you’re capable of handling. An experienced attorney will help you create this plan to allow you to keep enough to pay for your living expenses, as well as the payment of secured debts like car loans and mortgage payments. Money that’s left beyond this plan can be used to pay your unsecured creditors. With some planning and guidance, your remaining debts after three to five years will be discharged or forgiven, and you’ll officially be able to begin your debt-free life. This ultimately allows you to pay much less for your unsecured debts than you’d originally be forced to pay.

Learn more about Chapter 13 Bankruptcy here.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

The second most common type of bankruptcy, Chapter 7 bankruptcy, is another popular choice for our clients that qualify. Under a chapter 7 plan you’ll surrender property that isn’t exempt to your bankruptcy trustee, who then sells that property and uses the proceeds to pay your unsecured debt. When that property has been successfully sold, your remaining debt will be discharged.

While this sounds intimidating at first, keep in mind that an experienced bankruptcy attorney will know the ins and outs of the proper exemptions that can be applied to your case, allowing you the potential opportunity to keep things like your home or your car.

Learn more about Chapter 7 Bankruptcy here.

Firm Awards & Recognition

Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist: Awarded by the American Board of Bankruptcy Certification, Board Certified status recognizes an attorney as an expert and a specialist in bankruptcy law. While there are tens of thousands of licensed attorneys in Michigan, only a handful are actually Board Certified in Consumer Bankruptcy Law.  Walter Metzen has been a Board Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist since 2005.

10.0 Superb Avvo Rating: Avvo is a recognized source within the legal community both among lawyers and consumers. Each lawyer on the platform is given a rating that’s based upon reviews not only from actual consumers, but other lawyers as well, in addition to factors like career achievements, recognition within the industry, and years of experience. We’ve proudly achieved and maintain a 10.0 Superb – the highest available – rating on the platform.

Thomson Reuters as a Michigan SuperLawyer: Recognized as a SuperLawyer every year from 2012 to 2023 as an outstanding consumer bankruptcy attorney who has attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.

American Bankruptcy Institute: Contributing member, author, speaker and panelist on consumer bankruptcy-related topics including ethics and the discharge of student loans in bankruptcy cases.

Institute for Continuing Legal Education: Contributing member, author, speaker and panelist on consumer bankruptcy-related topics including handling consumer bankruptcy cases in Michigan.

Hour Detroit Magazine: Recognized as a top attorney in Michigan based on peer recognition and professional achievement.

What you get when you hire bankruptcy attorney Walter Metzen:

Experience. I have filed over 20,000 bankruptcy cases in the Eastern District of Michigan. I have personally handled nearly every type of bankruptcy scenario imaginable.

Specialization. I am board certified in Consumer bankruptcy by the American Board of Certification.  There are only a handful of certified attorneys in Michigan.

Accessibility. You want an attorney who will take the time to carefully explain the bankruptcy process to you. My clients often tell me that they really appreciated that I took the time to explain to them how their bankruptcy filing would progress and that I explained it very thoroughly and put their mind at ease.  I am always reachable either in-person, on the phone or via email.  Same day and evening appointments are available, just give me a call.

Value. When you hire a bankruptcy attorney you want value. You want to know that you are getting the most for your hard-earned money. I offer very high-quality bankruptcy representation and legal services at a very reasonable fee. I am also known to have a soft heart, especially for people on a fixed income or the elderly and those with disabilities and I very often lower my bankruptcy fees substantially for these types of cases. In all of my cases, the amount of debt eliminated far exceeds the nominal fees associated with the filing.

Respect. You deserve to be treated with respect. Most people suffering from financial difficulties have been repeatedly knocked down by garnishments or calls from debt collectors for months before they see me. Many people come to my office with their head hanging low. I want you to walk with your chin up! I fully understand that it is not easy for you to come into the office and but have tremendous respect for you because you are actively looking for help with your financial difficulties. I understand that life happens. I understand that it is very difficult to get ahead in today’s difficult economy and with skyrocketing costs of living and food and gas prices increasing every day; it is difficult to make ends meet. I have represented my own friends and family members file bankruptcy and use the Federal bankruptcy laws to help them get out from overwhelming debt. I understand that the bankruptcy laws are there to help everyone and no one is immune from devastating debt. It could happen to anyone. I am here to help.

The Law Offices of Walter Metzen & Associates have helped thousands of Michigan residents obtain a fresh start they deserved. Feel free to check our Bankruptcy Frequently Asked Questions page and Consumer Bankruptcy Blog. Curious if you can get a credit card after bankruptcy? Wondering if you can purchase a home after Bankruptcy? Maybe you have already have a creditor meeting scheduled and wondering where the Detroit Bankruptcy Court is located? Interested in learning about Dos and Don’ts before filing bankruptcy? You can find answers to all of your questions in our FAQs and Blog. If you still have questions, call our office today to schedule your free initial consultation with attorney Metzen.

Filing Personal Bankruptcy Is About Starting Over.

Bankruptcy Attorney Walter Metzen & Associates Can Help You Get Started Again.

Call 313-962-4656 or email us to schedule a free initial consultation!