Struggling with debt, garnishment, foreclosure or repossession? Talk with a Birmingham bankruptcy attorney about what Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may be able to do.
Meet at 604 38th Street South. Brock & Stout has practiced bankruptcy since 1996 and has filed 47,000+ cases firmwide.
30 years serving clients · 47,000+ bankruptcy cases filed firmwide
Our Birmingham office at 604 38th Street South gives clients a convenient place to meet with our bankruptcy team in person. Phone and video consultations are also available.
Brock & Stout has practiced bankruptcy since 1996 and has filed more than 40,000 bankruptcy cases firmwide. Birmingham clients benefit from that experience while working with a local office.
Our job is to look at the debts, income, and property, then explain whether filing is worth doing.
When debt problems become urgent, timely legal advice matters. Our Birmingham bankruptcy team can explain how filing may affect garnishments, foreclosure, repossession, lawsuits, and other collection activity.
38th St S
Birmingham Office
30
Years Serving Clients
47,000+
Bankruptcies Filed Firmwide
8,000+
Five-Star Reviews Firmwide
The bankruptcy-case total is a firmwide historical figure, not cases filed in one office. The review count is firmwide and is not limited to bankruptcy matters. Measured by consumer debtor filings in the State of Alabama. This is not a claim that Brock & Stout is better than other consumer bankruptcy law firms. Past filings do not guarantee a result in any case.
We file more consumer bankruptcy cases in Alabama than any other firm. That volume means our team has worked through the kinds of debt, income, property, and creditor problems Alabama families actually face, and can explain Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 before you decide.
604 38th Street South is the Birmingham location. Call before you come. Phone and video consultations are available when getting across town is hard.
Consumer bankruptcy has been a core Brock & Stout practice area since 1996, giving Birmingham clients access to decades of firm experience.
Our firm has filed more than 40,000 bankruptcy cases, giving our team experience with a wide range of debt, income, property, and creditor issues.
Garnishment, foreclosure, and repossession each have limits. We will say what filing may do and what it will not do before anyone signs a petition.
Jefferson County clients often call because something has already started—a garnishment, a foreclosure notice, a missed car payment. Others call because the unsecured balances will not stop growing. Either way, start with the problem, not with a chapter number.
Filing generally triggers the automatic stay and can pause many paycheck garnishments while the stay remains in effect. Some garnishments are treated differently. Prior filings can affect the stay.
Chapter 13 may sometimes give eligible homeowners a way to address mortgage arrears over time while they continue ongoing payments. We do not promise that every Birmingham home can be saved.
Bankruptcy can affect repossession activity. Chapter 13 may help with missed vehicle payments in some cases. Recovering a vehicle that has already been taken is a separate, timing-sensitive question.
The automatic stay generally pauses most collection lawsuits while it remains effective. Exceptions exist. A judgment that is already in place still has to be analyzed debt by debt.
Many qualifying unsecured debts may be dischargeable. That is often why Birmingham clients ask about Chapter 7. It is not a promise that every card or hospital bill disappears.
You do not have to wait until a creditor files suit. If income cannot cover the obligations, a consultation can tell you whether bankruptcy is even in the conversation.
Chapter 7 can discharge qualifying debts. Many common unsecured debts may be in that group. Student loans, recent taxes, and some other categories often are not. Eligibility rules apply.
Alabama exemptions affect what happens to property. Filing does not mean every filer keeps everything, and it does not mean every filer loses everything. Liens require their own analysis.
Chapter 13 is a court-supervised repayment process, generally three to five years, with payments to a Chapter 13 trustee. Unsecured creditors are not necessarily paid in full. The terms of a Chapter 13 plan depend on your specific financial circumstances and must be approved by the court.
It is often discussed when someone is behind on a mortgage or vehicle, or when property and income make Chapter 7 the weaker tool.
The right chapter depends on your debts, income, property, payment history, and goals. Two people facing similar financial pressure may have very different bankruptcy options.
| Topic | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Basic approach | Discharge of qualifying debts through a Chapter 7 case | Court-supervised repayment process |
| Typical duration | Often a matter of months, although circumstances vary | Generally 3–5 years |
| Chapter 13 trustee plan payment | Generally no Chapter 13-style repayment plan | Plan payments to a Chapter 13 trustee |
| Dealing with arrears | Generally does not provide a multi-year catch-up plan | May help address eligible mortgage or vehicle arrears |
| Property considerations | Alabama exemptions and liens require a case-specific analysis | Often discussed when keeping certain property is an important goal |
| Eligibility | Chapter 7 rules, including applicable means-test considerations | Chapter 13 eligibility and plan requirements apply |
There is no universally better chapter. The right option depends on the person’s debts, income, property, and goals.
You do not need to have every document gathered or know whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is right for you before calling. We can start with the information you have and explain what additional documents may be needed.
A garnishment, a foreclosure notice, a missed car payment, or balances that no longer fit the paycheck—start there.
Jefferson County cases still turn on federal rules and Alabama exemptions. Accurate information about your debts, income, and property helps us evaluate your bankruptcy options and identify issues that may need closer review.
That includes the stay, discharge, plan payments, and the debts that often survive. We will also say when filing may not help.
The consultation is an opportunity to understand your options, ask questions, and decide whether moving forward with bankruptcy is right for you.
Filing a bankruptcy case generally triggers the automatic stay, which stops most collection activity while the stay remains in effect. Many garnishments, many lawsuits, many collection calls, and certain foreclosure or repossession efforts can pause.
The stay is not a promise that every action stops, or that it lasts forever. Repeat filings, certain creditors, and completed sales all matter. Use the Knowledge Center stay page for the statutory picture.
Bankruptcy is primarily federal. Alabama exemptions still decide a large part of the property analysis because Alabama uses its own exemption scheme rather than the ordinary federal list.
Jefferson County is in the Northern District of Alabama’s Southern Division, which sits in Birmingham. Venue follows the debtor’s residence or domicile, not the office someone called. Shelby County is in the same Southern Division; other nearby counties are not. See Alabama bankruptcy courts.
These profiles are limited to attorneys who currently practice bankruptcy and serve the Birmingham office. An attorney may work with Birmingham clients without being in the 38th Street building every day.
The 38th Street South office is open on weekdays. Please call ahead to schedule an appointment. Consultations are available in person, by phone, or by video.
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Oct 29, 2026 | Bankruptcy, Christopher Stanfield
Learn what happens to student loan debt in bankruptcy after default, when undue hardship may apply, and how bankruptcy could affect other debts.
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Alabama’s new homestead exemption law increases home-equity protection for qualifying seniors and people with disabilities who file bankruptcy.
Read More: Alabama’s Homestead Exemption Law Could Help Seniors and People With DisabilitiesWant to learn more before your consultation? Our Bankruptcy Knowledge Center explains Chapter 7, Chapter 13, garnishment, foreclosure, repossession, the automatic stay, and other common bankruptcy issues.
How a filed case can affect a paycheck deduction.
Arrears, the stay, and Chapter 13 limits.
Discharge of qualifying unsecured debt.
A court-supervised repayment process.
What filing generally pauses.
Exemptions and Alabama procedure.
Northern District Southern Division.
The full set of guides.
This page is general educational information about bankruptcy as of the date shown. It is not legal advice, does not create an attorney-client relationship, and does not guarantee results. Outcomes depend on individual facts and current federal and state law. We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
Brock & Stout has received more than 8,000 five-star reviews across the firm. Below are comments from bankruptcy clients who have shared their experience working with our team.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I am truly grateful for the entire team at Brock & Stout. From the very beginning, everyone was so helpful, attentive, kind, and understanding. They took the time to explain the bankruptcy process to me in a way that I could understand and made what could have been an overwhelming experience feel much easier to navigate. Destini and Christal were absolutely amazing! They were so attentive, patient, and helpful throughout the process, and I truly appreciate the way they treated me with kindness and respect. My attorney was also very understanding and made me feel heard and supported. It means so much to have people who genuinely take the time to help you during a difficult season. Thank you to the entire Brock & Stout staff for your professionalism, compassion, and support. I am extremely grateful for all of you! Definitely 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
LePorscha Woods
9/21/2026
After a difficult divorce and my life changing overnight, I was grateful for the professionals at Brock & Stout guiding me through my Chapter 13 filing. Misty was attentive and prompt to guide me through the process and answer all of my questions. The morning I woke up and realized that I would never have another creditor calling me was one of the most peaceful moments of my life. I look forward to starting my life over again unencumbered with the mountains of debt I had accumulated. Thanks Brock & Stout!
Jeffery Degarmo
8/4/2026
I was in the worst place in my life and needed to do what I thought I would never have to do!! YES, file bankruptcy! Since the first call I was greeted with respect from Kristy, Mr Pate and Misty! from start to finish it took about a week and a half and it was filed. AND only a 3 year pay back!!! God is good and so id Brock & Stout
Billie Nathan
7/19/2026
Call 38th Street South or send the form. Tell us whether the problem is a garnishment, a house, a car, or balances that no longer fit. We will explain Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 against those facts.
We’ll explain your options and answer your questions so you can make an informed decision about whether to move forward.
Let Our Family Help Your Family.
