Bankruptcy & debt
Medical bills. Credit cards. A paycheck that is already being garnished before it reaches you. Knollmeyer Law Office has helped thousands of Arkansans find the way out, and filing is what makes the calls stop.
Free consultation · No obligation · Five Central Arkansas offices
If this sounds familiar
An illness nobody planned for. Hours that got cut. A car that had to be replaced. Most of the people who sit down with us did not spend their way into this, and they have already tried everything they could think of before picking up the phone.
What is actually happening is that the interest and the fees have outrun what you can pay, and every month you fall a little further back. Consolidation loans move the problem. Payment plans stretch it out. Neither one stops a creditor from garnishing your wages.
Filing does. The moment your case is filed, an automatic stay takes effect and the garnishments, the collection calls and most lawsuits have to stop.
Two roads
There is no universally better chapter. There is the one that fits your income, your house and your car.
Wipes out most unsecured debt, credit cards, medical bills and personal loans, in as little as three to four months. Arkansas exemptions let most people keep their home, their car and essential property.
Builds a manageable three to five year plan while protecting what you own. You keep your property and catch up on the mortgage or the car over time instead of losing them.
Why us
Lonnie Grimes and our bankruptcy team will review your financial situation, explain your options in plain language, and help you decide whether bankruptcy, or something short of it, is the right path. Sometimes the honest answer is that you do not need to file.
We have handled thousands of bankruptcy cases across Central Arkansas. You will get a straight read on where you stand, not a sales pitch.
What happens next
We go through your debts, your income and your assets, and tell you whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 fits your situation, or whether filing is the wrong move for you right now.
Our team handles the paperwork, the court filings and the creditor communications, and we attend the 341 Meeting of Creditors with you rather than sending you in alone.
Chapter 7 cases typically discharge in three to four months. Chapter 13 plans run three to five years with a structured payment you can afford.
Specific situations
Money is coming out of your paycheck before you see it. This is the situation where filing works fastest.
Unsecured debt you have no realistic way to repay, and not much income to protect.
You are behind on a mortgage or a car loan but you have steady income to catch up with.
Common questions
Most people keep both. Arkansas exemptions are written to protect a primary residence and a vehicle, and Chapter 13 exists specifically so you can catch up on a mortgage or a car payment while holding on to the property. We will go through your specific situation before you file anything.
Yes. Filing triggers an automatic stay that immediately stops garnishments, collection calls and most lawsuits. If your paycheck is already being taken, that stay is usually the fastest relief available to you.
Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years and Chapter 13 for 7 years. That is not the whole story, though. Many clients see their score start improving within 12 to 18 months after discharge, because the debt behind the damage is gone.
Bankruptcy filings are public record, but employers are not notified. It is also illegal for an employer to fire you because you filed for bankruptcy.
Court filing fees are currently $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Attorney fees vary with how complicated the case is. We explain every cost up front at the free consultation, before you commit to anything.
It comes down mostly to your income, your house and your car. Chapter 7 suits people with limited income and overwhelming unsecured debt. Chapter 13 suits people with steady income who need to protect property and catch up over time. That is the first thing we work out with you.
Call us for a free consultation. We will look at what you owe, what you earn and what you own, and tell you plainly what your options are.
Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
