Jeff Mathias Law Office Appointment Planning

Make sure you are eligible before coming in

2012-01-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

Jeff's Office Appointment Video

If you are under median income, you should be fine for Chapter 7

Eligibility for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Iowa
Check your gross family income against the chart below. If you are below the median income you should have no difficulty getting a full discharge through Chapter 7 Iowa bankruptcy. If you are above median income, be sure to tell Jeff before you come to the office.
Iowa Annual Median Income
1 Person $40,650
2 People $55,217
3 People $62,251
4 People $72,234
5 People $79,734
Exclude Social Security Income
(add $7500 for each individual in excess of 5)
Note- The Means Test does not apply if you have primarily non-consumer debt. Be sure to ask Jeff about this if you have higher income and business or tax debt.
Updated 11-1-11

CURRENT ISSUES: Posted 10/28/11

Tax Refunds- If you expect to get back more than $1,000 in tax refunds ($2,000 joint married both working), get an estimate to Jeff now along with how much you normally get in Earned Income Credit (see pg 2 of your Fed 1040).

Mortgage Modification- If you are attempting to modify, your lender may cancel your modification, claiming it is due to filing bankruptcy. Banks are denying modifications for many bogus reasons right now, but if modifying is your #1 priority, I suggest waiting on your bankruptcy until it is totally finished.

2010-01-04T19:09:00.000-08:00

Look for the Walgreen's, we are in the same complex: Somerfield Village. Map of Jeff's Iowa Bankruptcy office.

Enter through this main entrance and come up to Suite 218.

West Des Moines Iowa Bankruptcy Office
Somerfield Village (50th & Mills Civic Parkway)
4800 Mills Civic Parkway, Ste. 218 (2nd Floor)
West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
Local: 515-261-7526
Toll Free: 1-800-997-1395

If you don't come to Des Moines often, remember to allow about 3o minutes extra for traffic. If you arrive early there is a coffee shop where you can relax for a few minutes. Restrooms are on the 2nd floor, one on each side of the elevator.

From Interstate 35
Take the Mills Civic Parkway Exit and proceed east. At the first major intersection -50th and Mills Civic you will see Walgreen’s and the Somerfield Village Center on your right. You are there! Enter at the main entrance in the above picture and come upstairs to Suite 205. Our section of I35 is in WEST DES MOINES. Do not confuse this with the section of I35 North that leads to Ankeny, which is on the East side of Des Moines.

Exit from Interstate 35 on Mills Civic Parkway, Exit 70.

From Interstate 235 or Interstate 80
Go west to I35 South, Take the Mills Civic Parkway Exit and proceed east. Mills Civic is the next exit South of I235. At the first major intersection -50th and Mills Civic you will see Walgreen’s and the Somerfield Village Center on your right. You are there! Enter at the main entrance in the above picture and come upstairs to Suite 205. Our section of I35 is in WEST DES MOINES. Do not confuse this with the section of I35 North that leads to Ankeny, which is on the east side of Des Moines.

Building lobby. When you arrive...
Climb the stairs and turn left or take the elevator and turn right to Suite 218.
There is an elevator. Restrooms are at the top of the stairs. There is a Quizno’s sandwich shop and a Coffee Café within a few doors of our office if you arrive early or need lunch.

2008-09-02T08:07:00.000-07:00

Jeff,

"Tim and I just received our discharge papers in the mail. Thank you so very much for all your help throughout this process. When I first contacted you, I felt like Tim and I already had a great deal of knowledge about the process just from your website. Every question, even the one on guilt, was answered. We dreaded the thought of going through bankruptcy, but you made it a very smooth process. I was very thankful to have you at our side at the hearing. There were a couple of people there that day that I felt so sorry for, because of their lawyers. I knew we picked the right lawyer to guide us through."

"We finally feel like we can breathe. We've learned so much from our past mistakes. We have a trash can by the front door for all the shredded credit card offers. We're also spending quite a bit of time at home and that's been the best part of it all. We've reconnected."

Thank you, Jeff!
September, 2008 Clients

Office Appointment with Jeff

2007-11-13T15:00:00.000-08:00

Note: If filing jointly, we need BOTH husband and wife to attend this appointment.

During your office appointment we will:

1. Review your income from your last 60 days (two months) paystubs or other documents you bring showing current income. We will also include income from other sources like child support, part-time and business income. Social security is not included in bankruptcy income although I will note the amounts you receive.

If you have a small business we will need to review your gross income and net income (after business related expenses) for the past six months, so bring whatever records you keep on income and expenses.

2. Complete Case Evaluation.
If you have had more than $1,000 in charges/cash advances/balance transfers or other use on any one credit card in the 90 days prior to your appointment we will need to know that.

3. If Jeff feels that he can get you a successful discharge and you would like to go forward, Jeff will accept your fees in cash or money order. If you are not eligible or choose not to go forward at this time, you pay Jeff nothing.

4. Photocopy Photo ID and Social Security card. If you do not have your social security card we will copy your W2 or tax return.

5. Draft Petition:

List & exempt Real Estate and other property. If you own real estate, bring your legal description from your abstract or tax bill. We will list and exempt all retirement accounts so you may want to bring statements or at least have a general idea of how much is in your IPERS, 401k, IRA's or other such account(s).

List all debt including debts you intend to keep. Be sure to bring home and car loan statements even if you intend to keep those; that way we can give the banks notice of your intent to continue payments.

If you can, bring the most recent statement from each of your credit cards. Behind the most recent statement, clip all collecting letters you have on that account. This is the best way to cut down on hassles later.

List lawsuits, judgments, liens and garnishments, so bring these if you have any. If you have a garnishment in progress or pending bring the name and address of the payroll person at work if you can.

List back due child support. If possible, bring the name and full address of the recipient. We will list the recipient plus Iowa Child Support Recovery if applicable.

Schedule Income and Expenses.

6. List last two years income from W2's, 10-99's or tax returns

7. Print, review & sign petition! You will receive a copy of the petition to take home and review at your leisure before Thursday filing.
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“THE LIST” of documents to bring:
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• $1806 in cash or money order ($1500 attorney fee and $306 filing fee)

• Credit Counseling Certificate (two if filing married jointly)- you can get this online at Cricket. Allow TWO DAYS to receive certificate after completion. If you have questions about how to complete the online class, call 1-866-672-2227 and they will talk you through it. Try to bring a hard copy to your appointment.

• All bills you intend to discharge (credit cards, medical etc.), full address. We can reduce errors if you bring in the actual paper bills if possible. The actual bills are better than a list, spreadsheet or disk.

• Creditor information (full address) on debts you will keep like home or car loans

• Last two months (60 days) pay stubs from work (including your spouse even if they are not filing)

• If you do not receive wage income, bring records of other income for the last six months

• Most recent state and federal tax returns

• W2's for the last two years

• • Photo ID and Social Security Card or proof of social security number

* Please make sure I have the correct email address you will be checking over the next few months as your case progresses. Email is a great way for me to get information out to you fast.

*If you wear glasses for reading, bring them to our meeting*

If you are missing something just bring what you have and we can usually make it work.

And after all our labor...

A completed Iowa Bankruptcy Petition.

Filing between about October 1st and before you receive refunds? Jeff talks about your Iowa bankruptcy and tax refunds.

Hello Jeff,

"Thank you for all your lawyerly assistance with my bankruptcy filing. It was rather easy and painless--it seems like it shouldn't have been considering the nature of it, but your online Q&A, the green folder and your emails made filing a lot less scary than it could have been. I felt from the outset that you were a good choice for a lawyer, and I'll be happy to recommend you to anyone I know that's thinking of going through the process".

-Recent Client

Jeff utilizes the best bankruptcy software on the market, Best Case Bankruptcy Attorneys Software.

See Jeff's primary Iowa bankruptcy site and his Iowa Bankruptcy Guide. Jeff's Iowa foreclosure site covers your Iowa foreclosure options.

National Bureau of Economic Research - More Americans file for Bankruptcy than Graduate from College or Get Divorced