Bankruptcy / Wisconsin / Stevens Point

Filing Bankruptcy in Stevens Point: 7 Things You Need to Know

Written by Ben Tejes
Updated Nov 27th, 2023

You are considering filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Stevens Point. Bankruptcy is a common debt relief choice. In fact, many people in Wisconsin have received bankruptcy relief, and Stevens Point is no different. In fact, there were 10,427 bankruptcies filed in Wisconsin in the year ending June 30, 2021 (Source). With a population of 25880, I’d estimate a fair number of those were in Stevens Point.

The purpose of this article is to provide an extensive list of filing bankruptcy in Stevens Point including:

  1. Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Stevens Point
  2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Stevens Point
  3. Stevens Point Bankruptcy Attorney Fees
  4. Finding a Reputable Bankruptcy Lawyer in Stevens Point
  5. Estimating Loss of Belonging (i.e.
  6. Getting Bankruptcy Help in Stevens Point
  7. Bankruptcy Alternatives and Conclusion

Without further ado, let’s get started with Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Stevens Point

Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the most common consumer bankruptcy in the United States. People appreciate the simplicity of Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the cost of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the speed of debt relief. For example, in Stevens Point, you could get debt relief in about 120 days with a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

One of the challenges of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Stevens Point is that you have to qualify. In order to qualify in Stevens Point, you often have to pass the Wisconsin bankruptcy means test. You can estimate that qualification below in Stevens Point. Let’s cover how you can qualify.

Chapter 7 Qualification

The first part of the means test is to understand your income in relation to the median income levels for Wisconsin. It considers the average family size and income.

To estimate your qualification, you can take the Stevens Point Chapter 7 qualification calculator below that is specific to Stevens Point.

Finally, the most recent Wisconsin median income levels is for cases filed on or after November 1, 2023, and can be found below. 

# of PeopleAnnual Income
1$63,492
2$79,090
3$97,477
4$117,725
5$127,625
6$137,525
7$147,425
8$157,325
9$167,225

If your income exceeds the median, you can move on to the second part of the means test to estimate qualification. The second part of the means test is to understand your actual expenses. You can check out our guide covering trying to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy above the median.

For example, the average median rent amount in Stevens Point is $737, but let's say your rent is almost double that amount. Could you potentially still qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy because of those additional expenses? What you are able to state as ab expense is limited, and you can refer to the current national standard for the maximum amounts, but you may want to speak with your attorney about this situation.

Which Could Would You File In If You Live In Stevens Point?

Stevens Point is located in the Wisconsin Western district, so our understanding is that you would be filing your bankruptcy in the Eau Claire bankruptcy court. Here's the estimated information we have for your court:

Eau Claire Bankruptcy Court
Address: 500 South Barstow Street, Eau Claire, WI 54701
Phone: (715) 839-2980

Does that mean you would have to drive to court?

Not necessarily. 

Please note that main meeting for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the 341 meeting of creditors, which is often online via Zoom or another teleconference after the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is known as a wage-earner bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a voluntary reorganization of debt.  In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the individual has debt that they can no longer manage and often own assets that exceed state and/or federal relief. Folks file Chapter 13 bankruptcy often when they do not qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  

Most individuals in Stevens Point will qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy as long as they are below the debt limits.

Compared to Chapter 7, there is no liquidation in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Although, the discharge won’t be until around 3 to 5 years. The Chapter 13 bankruptcy will stay on your credit report for 7 years.

Stevens Point Bankruptcy Attorney Fees

When looking for a bankruptcy attorney, we recommend that you look for these 5 attributes: Rate, Reliability, Referrals, Reviews, and Relevancy. You can check our guide to find a top bankruptcy attorney in Stevens Point.

The estimated Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer fee in Stevens Point is: $1100 - $2300.

The estimated Chapter 13 bankruptcy lawyer fee in Stevens Point is: $4,500. The Chapter 13 attorney fee is often set across the district, meaning that all Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys in a district may charge around the same fee.

Stevens Point Bankruptcy Attorneys

One of the most important things to do is to find a reputable bankruptcy attorney in Stevens Point if you decide to hire one. This is legal advice related to finances that are going to affect your future. For example, making sure you are in the right bankruptcy chapter (Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13) could cost you thousands more and take you years longer.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer

As stated above, Stevens Point has a population of 25880. In many cases, individuals in larger cities such as Milwaukee or Madison would like a bankruptcy lawyer close by. In smaller cities, I have found that individuals have questions about whether the bankruptcy will show up in the newspaper or whether friends will hear about it. This is a valid question.

Regardless, you can check the Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyers in or near Stevens Point using the table below. You just need to input your zip code, and voila, you can choose which Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer you would like to speak to near or far away from Stevens Point in a free bankruptcy lawyer consultation

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Lawyer

Filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Stevens Point may be a bit more intensive, so you may consider a Chapter 13 bankruptcy that is closer to you. That said, with the internet and the pandemic, many of the meetings are now online and you can generally submit your documentation online as well.

How much a Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney often charges is based on what's called a no-look fee. We do our best to track the Chapter 13 attorney fee in Stevens Point.

Bankruptcy Exemptions in Wisconsin

As you live in Stevens Point, you are often able to use the Wisconsin bankruptcy exemptions to help you keep your belongings.

One of the biggest questions people have is whether they are able to keep their homes in bankruptcy. This is where bankruptcy exemptions come into play. As Stevens Point has a home ownership % of 51.3% and an estimated estimated home value of $140438, you can understand that many people want to keep this asset. You can often keep your assets using bankruptcy exemptions.

Here are the Wisconsin bankruptcy exemptions. The exemptions are revised on different occasions, so you may wish to check the most current information on exemptions. Also, as a reference, Wisconsin is a place that does not allow you to use federal bankruptcy exemptions. You often have to choose which one to use, so a bankruptcy attorney can help you with that option.

Homestead Exemption

The homestead exemption is often broken down by age and whether you are married. 

  • Single and under 65: $75,000
  • Single is 65 or older: $75,000
  • Married and under 65: $150,000
  • Married is 65 or older: $150,000

Wisconsin specific homestead bankruptcy exemption text: “Wisc. Stat. § 815.20. Property you occupy or intend to occupy; sale proceeds exempt for 2 years if you intend to purchase another home.” (Source)

Automobile Exemption

The automobile bankruptcy exemption in Wisconsin is $4,000.

Wildcard Exemption

The wildcard bankruptcy exemption in Wisconsin is $0.

Personal Property Exemption

The personal property bankruptcy exemption in Wisconsin is $12,000.

Special Exemption Handling for Wisconsin

Below is specific special handling of bankruptcy exemptions in Wisconsin.

  • Automobile: up to $12,000 based on unused personal property exemption

Bankruptcy Help in Stevens Point

Unemployment can cause both frustration and angst about options. The most recent statistic I found is that the Stevens Point unemployment rate is 4.1%. There may be resources available to help. In addition to the unemployment rate, Stevens Point has a disability rate of 12.1%. As such, if you are truly in need and don’t have income, there are resources that may be available that can help you.

Check out the legal aid and free resources that may be available in Stevens Point.

Legal Aid and Free Resources

Here are some legal aid resources that may be helpful to you in Stevens Point.

The bankruptcy court and district may have free resources that are available to you. I have included the information below. 

Lastly, Stevens Point also has a limited English rate of 1.5% and a poverty rate of 21.5%. If you have limited English, you may check out the court websites for Wisconsin for additional information on how you can be served. You can also see how filing bankruptcy without an attorney can work if you cannot afford a bankruptcy lawyer.

Courts and Districts in Wisconsin

Eastern District

  • United States Federal Building and Courthouse
    517 E. Wisconsin Ave. Rm. 362
    Milwaukee, WI 53202
  • Jefferson Court Building
    125 S. Jefferson St., Rm. 102
    Green Bay, WI 54301-4541

Western

  • 120 N. Henry St., Rm. 320
    Madison, WI 53703

Debt Settlement in Stevens Point

One of the most common alternatives to bankruptcy is debt settlement. A debt settlement firm would negotiate for a lower amount due on your debt in the case of financial hardship. The goal would be to reduce your debt in half. In this case, you would have a lower monthly payment.

If you are looking at debt settlement in Stevens Point, you may want to consider a national debt settlement firm to a local one in Stevens Point. For example, most of your creditors are probably national banks instead of local Stevens Point banks. As such, you can potentially get lower fees by using a national firm. You should strongly consider the pros and cons and credit score impact before taking the plunge as Ascend only recommends 2 debt settlement firms nationwide that both offer free phone evaluations.

Conclusion

Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Stevens Point can provide debt relief. That said, you may want to consider the cost of bankruptcy in Stevens Point, the different bankruptcy chapters, reputable attorneys in Stevens Point and alternatives to help you make the most informed decision. 

You can also take our Chapter 7 vs Chapter calculator below to help you estimate the cost and qualification of Chapter 7 bankruptcy and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Stevens Point.