Automatic Stay

Bucks County bankruptcy lawyer John M. Kenney has been representing individuals in the Levittown, Langhorne and Lower Bucks County area and elsewhere in southeastern Pennsylvania for more than thirty two years. The firm focuses much of its work on debt relief matters, and Mr. Kenney has a strong reputation in the local and legal communities for direct communication with clients and his aggressive approach to protecting their interests. He knows how stressful these situations can be, and he works tirelessly to ensure that clients fully understand their rights and options in each case.

Bankruptcy law provides a number of benefits to individuals and businesses whose debts exceed their assets. Upon the filing of Bankruptcy, the automatic stay immediately stops any actions by creditors who are trying to recover debts against the person or entity seeking bankruptcy protection. This is true regardless of whether you want to completely wipe out those debts under Chapter 7 or are simply seeking to reorganize your finances under Chapter 13.

The automatic stay is a key element of bankruptcy law because it gives a person some breathing room to sort out debts without having to defend a wave of litigation at the same time. Once you file for bankruptcy, creditors and other debt collectors can no longer sue to recover the money owed, and all lawsuits already going on are automatically frozen until the bankruptcy is resolved. As a result, an automatic stay stops a landlord from evicting you, a bank from foreclosing on your home, a utility company from disconnecting your power, or your creditors from garnishing wages from your pay check.

In bankruptcy, as in many other areas of the law, there are some exceptions to the general automatic stay rule. For example, bankruptcy does not stop actions regarding child and spousal support litigation nor criminal proceedings. In addition, a landlord covered by a stay can ask a court to remove the stay for the nonpayment of rent in a landlord tenant action and seek eviction.

Attorney John M. Kenney has been assisting clients with bankruptcy matters, such as issues related to the automatic stay, since 1983. He is well-versed in the legal requirements involved and the questions that often come up in these cases. Mr. Kenney prides himself in client-focused legal representation, taking the time to understand each person’s unique situation and to fully explain his or her rights and obligations throughout the process.

If you or a loved one is considering seeking bankruptcy protection, contact Bucks County bankruptcy attorney John M. Kenney at (215) 547-3031 or through our online form to set up a free consultation. As an experienced consumer rights attorney, he can advocate for your interests with the tenacity you deserve. He offers free initial consultations from his office in Fairless Hills, from which he serves people in Levittown, Bristol, Morrisville, Yardley, and Langhorne, among other communities.