Bankruptcy — Frequently Asked Questions
Law Office of Stephen E. Robertson PLLC · Click any question to expand the answer
If unpaid bills, collection calls, or mounting debt are keeping you up at night — you may qualify for relief sooner than you think.
- ✓Bankruptcy can eliminate credit card debt, medical bills & utility arrears
- ✓Filing triggers an automatic stay — creditors must stop contacting you immediately
- ✓Chapter 7 can be completed in as little as 3–6 months
- ✓Bankruptcy does not ruin your credit forever — it can be rebuilt
- ✓Most cases are “no asset” — you keep what you need to live
Creditor harassment and wage garnishment don’t have to be your reality. Bankruptcy law gives you powerful, immediate tools to protect yourself.
- ✓The automatic stay halts all collection activity the moment you file
- ✓Wage garnishments stop — protecting your paycheck
- ✓Foreclosure proceedings can be paused
- ✓Harassing calls from debt collectors must legally cease
- ✓Our attorneys file quickly so you get relief fast
The Bankruptcy Code was designed by Congress specifically to give honest people a second chance. Tens of thousands of North Carolinians use it every year.
- ✓Discharge qualifying debts and start fresh with a clean slate
- ✓Your credit score can recover and improve after bankruptcy
- ✓Chapter 13 lets you keep assets while restructuring what you owe
- ✓Bankruptcy alternatives available if filing isn’t right for you
- ✓We guide you through every step — no judgment, just solutions
One of the biggest myths about bankruptcy is that you’ll lose everything — including your car. In reality, North Carolina exemptions are designed to protect what you need most.
- ✓NC’s motor vehicle exemption can protect up to $3,500 in vehicle equity
- ✓Chapter 13 lets you keep your car AND catch up on missed payments over time
- ✓“Cramdown” may reduce what you owe on your car loan to its current value
- ✓Chapter 13 can also stop foreclosure and protect your home
- ✓Household goods, tools of trade & retirement accounts often fully exempt
- ✓Most consumer bankruptcy cases are “no asset” — you keep what you need to live
Not every firm is as experienced in bankruptcy. We are — and our credentials speak for themselves.
- ✓Our lead bankruptcy attorney is a former Chair of the NC Bar’s Bankruptcy Section
- ✓She teaches Bankruptcy Law at Elon University School of Law
- ✓We handle Chapter 7, 11, 12, 13, Sub Chapter V & business bankruptcy
- ✓Over 20 years serving Greensboro, Durham & NC communities
- ✓Compassion, Responsiveness & Accessibility — our firm motto
Business bankruptcy isn’t about failure — it’s about using the law to restructure, recover, or wind down on your own terms.
- ✓Chapter 11 lets businesses reorganize and continue operating
- ✓Sub Chapter V offers a faster, lower-cost reorganization for small businesses
- ✓Automatic stay stops creditor lawsuits and repossessions immediately
- ✓We handle tax resolution and IRS debt as part of your plan
- ✓Protect personal assets while resolving business obligations