CONTACT US
(509) 326-5160
1312 North Monroe ST
Suite 232
SPOKANE, WA 99201
JASON@JASONCOUEY.COM
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Why choose the law office of jason couey?
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Jason Couey has helped hundreds of clients through the bankruptcy process since 2003. Our office can help stop harassing creditor calls, stop wage and bank account garnishments, stop collections, stop home foreclosure, and stop law suits. We can also help you get rid of credit card debt, medical bills, pay day loans, personal loans, and many other debts that are weighing you down and stressing you out.
When you call our office, you will speak directly with Jason Couey about your individual legal needs. Jason's wife and legal assistant, Kate, can also help you with any general questions you may have about the process. CALL FOR AN "ON DEMAND" FREE CONSULTATION NOW. (509) 326-5160.
On Demand consultations are provided on an "as available" basis if Mr. Couey does not have a current appointment or is on the phone already. Available during working hours.
We help clients in the Eastern District of Washington who reside in the counties of Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima County. The Eastern District of Washington maintains courtrooms in Spokane, Yakima, and Richland.
A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the most common case I file for clients. Filing a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is used to “discharge” aka "get rid of" unsecured debt, such as credit card debt, medical bills, pay day loans, personal loans, collections, and most judgments that have resulted from a law suit. A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can stop harassing creditor calls, stop collection letters, stop lawsuits, stop wage garnishment, stop bank account garnishment, and prevent automobile repossession and home foreclosures. However, if you need to get caught up on mortgage payments or automobile payments, a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy may be the better option.
In a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, the likelihood that you will have to sell any property to pay creditors is extremely low. Most filers keep everything that they own. However, on the small chance that you have property that cannot be claimed exempt by the bankruptcy laws, you may file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy, which will allow you to keep all your property and protect it from creditors.
There are three primary reasons why you may want to file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy:
1) Your house is in foreclosure and you want to save your house. A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy allows you to keep your house by making the monthly mortgage payment while also paying the mortgage arrears (back mortgage payments) over the course of 36 to 60 months.
2) You have filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy within the last 8 years. If you filed a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in the last 8 years, you cannot file another Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. You may file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy with the benefit of the discharge if it has been 4 years since your Chapter 7 Bankruptcy was filed. However, if the main reason for filing a Chapter 13 is to get caught up with your back mortgage payments and/or stop a foreclosure, you can still file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy rather than receiving a discharge of your unsecured debts.
3) You make too much gross income to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. How much income is too much? It depends on the gross income you earned the 6 months prior to the month you intend on filing your case. There are many factors that go into determining whether you make too much gross income to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, so calling our office about this determination is very important.
the bankruptcy process
Before retaining my services, give us a call for a Free Bankruptcy Consultation at 509-326-5160 set a specific date & time for a Free Phone Bankruptcy Consultation, or Free Zoom Bankruptcy Consultation by clicking here:
RETAINING MY SERVICES & PAYING THE FEES
I offer alternative ways of processing a bankruptcy case. When you deliver your paperwork to me (see options below), you will be paying me for my services and retaining me as your attorney to represent you through the bankruptcy process at that time.
I can accept the retainer fee with 1) Cash; 2) Cashier’s Check; 3) Money Order; 4) Personal Check 5) Zelle; 6) Venmo; 7) Cash App; or 8) Apple Pay.
CHOICE #1 – MAIL, FAX, and/or EMAIL THE PAPERWORK TO MY OFFICE:
If you decide to mail all the paperwork to my office, please mail it to “Law Office of Jason Couey, 1312 N. Monroe St, Suite 232, Spokane, WA 99201.” I will retrieve the paperwork from my office once it is delivered. I will email you once I pick up your paperwork.
If you decide to email the paperwork, please email the paperwork as PDF documents if possible. Email the documents to jason@jasoncouey.com I will email you a verification that I received the documents.
If you decide to fax the paperwork, please fax them to (509) 204-3205. I will email you a verification that I received the documents.
After I receive your paperwork and I have been retained, I will download and email your bankruptcy credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. The reports provide a liens and judgments report, eight-year bankruptcy search, credit score, post-bankruptcy credit score predictor, a list of your creditors, bankruptcy-specific addresses, account numbers, and approximate amount of debt owed to each creditor. I will also scan and email you copies of the Attorney Fee & Retainer Agreement, and the Informational Disclosures signature page, along with a link to make an appointment to go through the Questionnaire Form over the phone, and to discuss the next steps.
After our phone call, I will start working on your case file. Once our office has completed a draft of your case file, I will have you review case file prior to filing your case. I will e-mail the draft of your case file for review and signing through a legally binding electronic signature gathering company called Foxit Esign I will have tabs where you can initial and places for you to sign electronically with the click of a mouse or tap of your finger. If everything in the draft looks good and there are no errors or omissions, I can file your case electronically with the court.
CHOICE #2 – DROP THE PAPERWORK OFF AT MY OFFICE:
If you decide to drop off all the paperwork at my office, located at 1312 N. Monroe St, Spokane, WA 99201 (parking behind the building). The office is open Monday through Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. There is also a drop box to the left of the office door for documents that can be delivered after office hours or weekends.
After you drop off the paperwork, the receptionist will let me know that you dropped by, and I will retrieve everything from the receptionist.
After I receive your paperwork and I have been retained, I will download and email your bankruptcy credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and Transunion. The reports provide a liens and judgments report, eight-year bankruptcy search, credit score, post-bankruptcy credit score predictor, a list of your creditors, bankruptcy-specific addresses, account numbers, and approximate amount of debt owed to each creditor. I will also scan and email you copies of the Attorney Fee & Retainer Agreement, and the Informational Disclosures signature page, along with a link to make an appointment to go through the Questionnaire Form over the phone, and to discuss the next steps.
After our phone call, I will start working on your case file. Once our office has completed a draft of your case file, I will have you review case file prior to filing your case. I will e-mail the draft of your case file for review and signing through a legally binding electronic signature gathering company called Foxit Esign I will have tabs where you can initial and places for you to sign electronically with the click of a mouse or tap of your finger. If everything in the draft looks good and there are no errors or omissions, I can file your case electronically with the court.
AFTER I FILE YOUR CASE:
After I file your case, I will email you a PDF copy of the Notice of Chapter 7 (or 13) Bankruptcy Filing. The Notice of Chapter 7 (or 13) Bankruptcy Filing will also be mailed to your mailing address. I will request bank statements from all bank accounts that you had open on the date of filing your case at that time. The details of the time frame for the statements needed will be in that e-mail I send you about 1 to 2 days after I file your case.
THE TELEPHONE MEETING OF CREDITORS:
About a month after your case is filed, I will prepare you for, and be on the line during the Phone Meeting of Creditors. The date, time, telephone number and access code for the meeting will be mailed to you by the Bankruptcy Court about a week after your case is filed. Our office will also email you a copy of the same Bankruptcy Notice that the court mails you with all the information you will need to prepare you for the meeting.
BEFORE, OR WITHIN 60 DAYS AFTER THE MEETING OF CREDITORS:
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Personal Financial Management Course -
During the period after your case is filed, you need to complete a Personal Financial Management course also known as a Debtor Education Course. The course can be done online or over the phone. The course takes 2 hours to complete. Upon completion, you will receive a Certificate of Completion, which will likely be emailed to me from the provider of the course. I will remind you of the requirement to take the course after I file your case. You are required to complete this course before your case closes, otherwise, you will not receive the benefit of the Bankruptcy Discharge.
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Reaffirmation Agreement(s) -
If you have a car loan or mortgage loan, the lender will likely e-mail or mail me a reaffirmation agreement. My Attorney Fee & Engagement Agreement, Disclosures, and Information Sheet all discuss Reaffirmation Agreements. I will walk you through this process if it applies to you and your case.
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Pay the Balance of Your Filing Fee if the Whole Amount was Not Paid at Filing -
If you chose to pay your filing fee in monthly installments at filing, you will have a balance owed to the court after your case is filed. The court requires that you pay the filing fee balance within 3 months after your case is filed. You can pay the balance to the court online or through the mail in the form of cashier’s check or money order. The court will provide you with a schedule of when payments are due and how to make the payments.
OPTIONS & INSTRUCTIONS FOR PAYING THE BALANCE OF YOUR FILING FEE: Online − Payment of the remaining filing fees from the Debtor(s) may be paid using a debit card, ACH, or PayPal. Visit www.waeb.uscourts.gov and select Online Payments from the main page. Mail − Payment of the fee from debtors must be in the form of cashier's check or money order in U.S. funds, and made payable to: CLERK, UNITED STATES COURT. Payments should be mailed to U.S. Bankruptcy Court, P.O. Box 2164, Spokane, WA 99210−2164. No cash accepted.
THE DISCHARGE ORDER AND CLOSING OF YOUR CASE:
Approximately 90 days after your case is filed, and if you have done everything required that applies to you as discussed above, you will receive the Bankruptcy Discharge Order. Shortly after the Discharge, your case will close. Once you receive the Discharge Order, I will email you a PDF copy of the Order and let you know that your case Discharged. A paper copy of the Discharge Order will also be mailed to your mailing address and to all your creditors/notice parties.