Bankruptcy and debt relief in northeast Ohio
Get out from under debt you can't pay
Lake Legal Services helps people across Northeast Ohio file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. We stop the calls, the garnishments, and the foreclosure clock, then walk you through every step.
Attorney Edward Lake, practicing since 1997. Meet in our Belden Village office, by phone, or by video. No obligation to file.
Already a client?
Pay toward your case online with a card.
The automatic stay
Filing stops most collection the day your case is opened
The moment we file your petition, a federal court order called the automatic stay takes effect. Creditors have to stop collecting from you while your case is open.
Wage garnishments
Collection calls and letters
Sheriff's sales and foreclosure cases
Car repossessions
Bank account levies
Creditor lawsuits in municipal and common pleas court
What we do
Four ways we help
Chapter 7
Erase credit card and medical debt
Wipes out credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans. Most cases close in about four months.
Chapter 13
Catch up on a payment plan
A three to five year plan that lets you keep your house or car and pay back what you're behind on.
Foreclosure relief
Stop a sheriff's sale
Behind on your mortgage? Filing stops the foreclosure and can spread your missed payments over a Chapter 13 plan.
Debt relief
Find out if you should file at all
Not everyone needs bankruptcy. We look at your whole situation and tell you straight.
How it works
From first call to discharge
Free consultation
Tell us what you owe and what you earn. We'll tell you which chapter fits, or whether you should file at all.
Gather your papers
We give you a checklist: pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, and your bills. You take a short credit counseling course online.
We file your case
We prepare your petition and file it with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Ohio. Collection stops that day.
Meeting of creditors
About a month later, the trustee asks you a few questions under oath. We prepare you beforehand and attend with you.
Discharge
The court releases you from the debts covered by your case. You start rebuilding.
Who handles your case
Edward Lake has filed and supervised thousands of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases throughout Ohio, first as a manager at one of the state's largest bankruptcy firms and now in his own practice.
About Edward LakeCommon worries
What people ask us first
Will I lose my house?
Ohio law protects a set amount of equity in your home. Many people who file Chapter 7 keep their homes, and Chapter 13 is built for people who want to keep a house they've fallen behind on.
Will my employer find out?
Bankruptcy cases are public records, but the court doesn't notify your employer. If your wages are being garnished, payroll will see the garnishment stop.
What happens to my credit?
A Chapter 7 can stay on your credit report for up to ten years and a Chapter 13 for up to seven. Many people start rebuilding soon after discharge, because the debts pulling their score down are gone.
Talk to us before you make another minimum payment
The first consultation is free. Bring your bills and your questions.