Overwhelmed by debt? Talk with the bankruptcy firm that started right here in Enterprise.
Brock & Stout opened its first office in Enterprise in 1996. 30 years later, we are still helping Alabama families understand Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and the options available when debt becomes too much to manage.
Founded in Enterprise in 1996 · 40,000+ bankruptcy cases filed firmwide · 30 years serving clients
Enterprise is where the Brock & Stout story began.
Mike Brock and Gary Stout opened the firm’s first office here in 1996. Bankruptcy was one of the legal problems the firm began helping families address, and it remains one of Brock & Stout’s core practice areas today.
The firm has grown significantly since then, but Enterprise clients still have something important: a local Brock & Stout office backed by decades of bankruptcy experience and the resources of a much larger legal team.
If debt is creating problems you can no longer solve on your own, the first step is simply understanding your options.
Debt problems can come from a job loss, reduced income, medical bills, divorce, unexpected expenses or simply years of balances becoming harder and harder to manage.
Maybe your paycheck is being garnished. Maybe you’re behind on a vehicle or mortgage. Maybe lawsuits or collection calls have started. Or maybe the math simply does not work anymore.
You do not need to know whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is right before you call us. That’s what the consultation is for.
We’ll look at the debts, income, property and immediate problems in your situation and explain the options that may be available.
Brock & Stout started in Enterprise 30 years ago, and bankruptcy has been one of the firm’s core practice areas from the beginning. If debt has become unmanageable, our job is to look at your actual situation, explain Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 clearly, and help you understand whether bankruptcy may solve the problems you are facing.
1996
Founded in Enterprise
40,000+
Bankruptcies Filed Firmwide
30
Years Serving Clients
8,000+
Five-Star Reviews
40,000+ is a firmwide historical total, not cases filed only in Enterprise. 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.
Brock & Stout opened its first office in Enterprise in 1996. This community has been part of our firm from the beginning.
Our firm has filed more than 40,000 bankruptcy cases, giving our team experience with many different combinations of debt, income, property and creditor problems. That total is firmwide and historical. It does not guarantee a particular result.
Consumer bankruptcy is not an occasional case type for Brock & Stout. Our attorneys regularly handle Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases for individuals and families throughout Alabama.
Our goal is not to pressure you into filing. We want you to understand what bankruptcy may accomplish, what it will not accomplish and which chapter may better fit your situation.
Bankruptcy can stop lawsuits, foreclosures, repossessions, and wage garnishments. If that is what you are facing, we can look at whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 may help.
Bankruptcy can stop wage garnishments.
Bankruptcy can stop a foreclosure. Chapter 13 can also give you a way to catch up missed mortgage payments over time.
Bankruptcy can stop a repossession. Chapter 13 can also help address missed vehicle payments.
Many credit-card balances, medical bills and other unsecured debts can be discharged in bankruptcy.
Bankruptcy can stop lawsuits and collection activity.
You do not need to wait for a lawsuit or garnishment. If there is no realistic way to pay everything you owe, it may be worth understanding your bankruptcy options now.
Chapter 7 can discharge many qualifying unsecured debts and give eligible individuals relief from debts they cannot realistically repay.
But Chapter 7 does not erase every debt, and it does not automatically mean you lose everything you own. Eligibility, Alabama exemptions, liens and the type of debt all matter.
Common potentially dischargeable debts may include:
Chapter 7 may be worth discussing if most of your problem debt is unsecured and you do not have a realistic way to repay it.
Chapter 13 is a court-supervised repayment process for individuals with regular income. A repayment plan—usually lasting three to five years—provides for payments to a Chapter 13 trustee under terms approved by the bankruptcy court.
Chapter 13 may be useful when someone needs time to address mortgage or vehicle arrears, has property concerns, has debts that require different treatment, or does not qualify for Chapter 7.
Not every creditor is necessarily paid in full. The required plan depends on income, property, debt types and other bankruptcy rules.
There is no universally “better” chapter. The right choice depends on the entire financial picture.
| Topic | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge vs. plan | Discharge of qualifying debts through a Chapter 7 case | Court-approved repayment plan |
| Typical duration | Often months, depending on the case | Usually three to five years |
| Monthly trustee payment | Generally no Chapter 13-style plan payment | Yes — payments to a Chapter 13 trustee |
| Mortgage arrears | Generally no multi-year catch-up plan | May allow eligible debtors to address arrears through the plan |
| Property and exemptions | Alabama exemptions and other rules matter | Often used when keeping certain property is an important goal |
| Eligibility | Chapter 7 rules, including applicable means-test considerations | Chapter 13 eligibility and plan requirements apply |
A consultation is a chance to talk through what is happening—not a commitment to file. You do not need to arrive already knowing which chapter you need.
We’ll ask what debts are causing the biggest problems, what income is coming in, what property you own and whether anything urgent is happening.
We’ll discuss whether Chapter 7, Chapter 13 or another course may make sense based on the information available.
Bankruptcy has benefits, requirements and tradeoffs. We want you to understand those before making a decision.
A free consultation does not obligate you to file. If you decide to move forward, we’ll explain what information we need and what comes next.
Filing bankruptcy can stop lawsuits, garnishments, foreclosure activity, and repossession efforts. That relief comes from the automatic stay, which generally begins when a case is filed.
Our Knowledge Center explains how the stay works and when it may not apply.
Bankruptcy is primarily governed by federal law, but Alabama law affects important issues such as exemptions—the rules used to determine what property may be protected. Alabama has opted out of the ordinary federal bankruptcy exemption list, so Alabama statutes usually control that analysis. See our guide to Alabama bankruptcy exemptions.
Which bankruptcy division handles a case depends on where the debtor lives, not simply which Brock & Stout office they contact. The city of Enterprise sits in Coffee and Dale counties, both currently placed by the Middle District of Alabama in its Southern Division. Clients who live in other nearby counties may file in a different division. Our attorneys handle the applicable filing and court requirements as part of the case.
These profiles come from our attorney directory. We show attorneys who currently practice bankruptcy and serve the Enterprise office. Not every lawyer assigned to Enterprise handles bankruptcy.
Our Enterprise office is located on East Lee Street just off Boll Weevil Circle. This is where Brock & Stout began in 1996, and it remains one of our primary offices today. If you prefer to meet in person, we can schedule your free bankruptcy consultation here. We can also talk by phone or video when that is more convenient.
A Video About Our Bankruptcy Practice
Tell Us What’s Going On
Sep 17, 2026 | Bankruptcy, Casey Taylor
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes One of the biggest concerns people have before filing bankruptcy is whether they will lose their home, vehicle, furniture, or other belongings. Bankruptcy does require a debtor to disclose property, but that does not mean…
Read More: Bankruptcy Exemptions: What Property Can You Protect?.png&w=3840&q=75)
Sep 7, 2026 | Bankruptcy, Spencer W. Jones
Flagstone Foods plans to lay off 98 employees at its Dothan facility beginning October 22, 2026, creating uncertainty for affected workers and their families.
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Sep 3, 2026 | Bankruptcy, Christopher Stanfield
Estimated reading time: 7 minutes When business debt becomes difficult to manage, understanding personal vs. business bankruptcy is an important first step. The right approach may depend on whether the debt belongs to the individual, the business, or both. Business…
Read More: Personal vs. Business Bankruptcy: What Is the Difference?Our Bankruptcy Knowledge Center explains Chapter 7, Chapter 13, debt types, property, the automatic stay and Alabama-specific bankruptcy rules in plain language.
Discharge of qualifying unsecured debt.
A court-supervised repayment plan.
What filing generally stops — and the exceptions.
How Alabama property exemptions actually work.
Which debts may be addressed, and which often are not.
Exemptions, courts and Alabama-specific issues.
Guides to Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and state law.
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.
Hear from people who have worked with our Bankruptcy team. Comments may include Enterprise reviews and other bankruptcy reviews from across the firm. Brock & Stout has over 8,000 5-star ratings firmwide.
Everyone that has been in contact with me in your office, during my process within my Bankruptcy filing, has very professional, explaining the process and making sure all my questions were answered. Very Happy with your Firm, will recommend you to whom ever need your expertise advise. Thank you Digna P Gil
Digna Picon
8/31/2026
10/10! ⭐️ Highly Recommended! The people at Brock & Stout are truly blessings. They're handling both Bankruptcy and Social Security Disability cases for me and I could not be more impressed with how smooth everything has gone so far. More specifically, Ms. Raegan Brown has been absolutely phenomenal: answering every single question I had as well as more I came up with along the way, some purely for my own curiosity; explaining everything ensuring I understood; incredibly flexible (provided information/documentation both in person as well as digitally via email) and beyond understanding (be it day-to-day happenings, as well as medically-limited-capabilities on bad flare/symptom days). I couldn't have asked for anything more. Everyone I've interacted with has been friendly, professional, knowledgeable, understanding, helpful, and just all-around genuine, sincere people. I look forward to continuing to work with the folks at Brock & Stout. Thank you all, so much!
Tiffany Sanders
4/3/2026
Brock & Stout opened its first office in Enterprise 30 years ago. Since then, we’ve helped thousands of Alabama families understand their options when debt became too much to manage.
You do not need to decide whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is right before calling us. Tell us what’s happening. We’ll review the situation, answer your questions and explain the options we see.
If bankruptcy makes sense, we’ll help you understand what comes next.
Let Our Family Help Your Family.
