Richmond Bankruptcy Attorney
Quick Answer
Richmond residents file bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division — 701 East Broad Street. With approximately 2,100 filings per year, Richmond is one of the highest-volume bankruptcy markets in Virginia. Merna Law handles your entire case by phone and Zoom. Call: 1-800-662-8813.
By John G. Merna, Esq. | Last Reviewed: June 2026 | The Merna Law Group, P.C.
Richmond is the capital of Virginia and the seat of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division. With over 230,000 residents and approximately 2,100 bankruptcy filings per year, Richmond is one of the most active bankruptcy markets in the state. Merna Law serves all Richmond neighborhoods entirely by phone and Zoom — no office visit required.
Chapter 7 — Eliminate Unsecured Debt Fast
Chapter 7 discharges credit cards, medical bills, and most unsecured debt in approximately 90 to 120 days. At 48% of filings, it is a strong option for Richmond residents who qualify under the Virginia means test.
Chapter 13 — Protect Your Home & Catch Up on Arrears
Chapter 13 stops foreclosure immediately and lets Richmond homeowners repay mortgage arrears over three to five years. At 52%, it is the most common chapter in Richmond. Cases are randomly assigned to a Richmond Division Chapter 7 panel trustee at filing.
Stop Garnishments & Foreclosure Immediately
The automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362 takes effect the moment your petition is filed — stopping wage garnishments, bank levies, foreclosure, repossession, and all creditor calls immediately.
Serving All Richmond Neighborhoods
Merna Law serves all of Richmond — The Fan, Church Hill, Northside, Manchester, Southside, Scott’s Addition, Shockoe Bottom, and every neighborhood in between. Your entire case is handled by phone and Zoom.
Homestead Exemption — Principal Residence
Virginia protects up to $50,000 in equity in your principal residence from creditors (Va. Code § 34-4). This applies to all householders regardless of age. In addition, you may exempt up to $5,000 in other personal property (or $10,000 if you are age 65 or older), plus $500 per dependent as a wildcard exemption. In Chapter 13, your home equity above this amount is protected as long as your plan pays at least what creditors would receive in a Chapter 7 liquidation.
Vehicle, Tools & Personal Property Exemptions
Virginia protects up to $10,000 in motor vehicle equity (Va. Code § 34-26(8)), up to $10,000 in tools of your trade (§ 34-26(7)), up to $5,000 in household furnishings (§ 34-26(4a)), and up to $1,000 in clothing (§ 34-26(4)). Retirement accounts — 401(k), IRA, pension — are fully exempt under federal and Virginia law. Your Merna Law attorney will apply every available exemption to protect the maximum amount of your property.
Amounts verified June 2026 — Va. Code Title 34. Next CPI-U adjustment: April 1, 2027.
Free Bankruptcy Consultation — Richmond, VA
Phone or Zoom — no office visit required. A licensed Virginia bankruptcy attorney reviews your income, debts, and property at no cost.
How Merna Law Handles Your Richmond Bankruptcy — Step by Step
1
Free Phone Consultation
A licensed Virginia bankruptcy attorney reviews your income, debts, and property by phone. No obligation.
2
Document Collection
Upload documents through our secure client portal. Everything handled remotely.
3
Petition Preparation
We prepare your complete petition, schedules, and means test. You review and sign electronically.
4
Filing & Automatic Stay
Your petition is filed electronically with the EDVA Richmond Division. The automatic stay takes effect immediately.
5
341 Meeting by Phone or Zoom
The creditors meeting is by phone or video. Most meetings last under 10 minutes.
6
Discharge & Fresh Start
Your discharge order is delivered electronically. Case complete without a single in-person visit.
Phone and Zoom — Everything Remote
No office visit. No commute. Your free consultation, document review, and 341 Meeting are all handled by phone or Zoom. Merna Law has served Virginia clients entirely remotely since 2020 — from your first call to your discharge.
Secure Client Portal
Share documents, sign forms, and track your case status through Merna Law’s encrypted client portal — accessible from any device, any time, from anywhere in Virginia.
About Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia — one of America’s oldest and most historically significant cities. Founded in 1737 along the falls of the James River by William Byrd II, Richmond served as a strategic trading post long before it became the political heart of Virginia. Its location at the fall line, where Piedmont meets Tidewater, made it a natural hub for commerce, transportation, and political power from its earliest days.
The city played a pivotal role in the American Revolution. Richmond became the state capital in 1780 when Thomas Jefferson, then Governor of Virginia, relocated the seat of government inland from Williamsburg to protect it from British naval raids. Just a year later, in January 1781, British forces under Benedict Arnold — now fighting for the Crown — raided and burned parts of Richmond, forcing a temporary evacuation. The city rebuilt, and the Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson himself based on the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, France, was completed in 1792 and remains in active use today — one of the oldest working legislative buildings in the Western Hemisphere.
Richmond’s most defining chapter came during the Civil War, when it served as the capital of the Confederate States of America from 1861 to 1865. The city became the symbolic and strategic center of the Confederacy, making it a primary target for Union forces throughout the war. The fall of Richmond on April 3, 1865 — just days before Lee’s surrender at Appomattox — marked the effective end of the Civil War. The Richmond National Battlefield Park, American Civil War Museum, and the historic Monument Avenue corridor all reflect this layered legacy, which Richmond continues to reckon with and reinterpret today.
In the late 19th century, Richmond again made history as the home of the world’s first successful electric streetcar system, launched in 1888 by Frank Sprague. The innovation transformed urban transportation worldwide and cemented Richmond’s reputation as a city of industrial ingenuity. The tobacco and flour milling industries drove economic growth through the Gilded Age, with grand neighborhoods like The Fan — named for its distinctive fan-shaped street grid — filling in with Victorian rowhouses and tree-lined boulevards that still define the city’s character.
Today, Richmond is a dynamic, diverse city of over 230,000 residents that has fully embraced its role as a creative and economic hub for Central Virginia. The Scott’s Addition neighborhood has transformed into a nationally recognized arts and brewery district. Manchester, across the James River, has emerged as a center for contemporary art and riverfront development. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) medical system, Dominion Energy, Altria, CarMax, and HCA Virginia anchor the city’s economic base, while a thriving culinary scene and nationally ranked parks system along the James River attract residents and visitors alike. Historic communities like Church Hill, Jackson Ward — once known as the “Harlem of the South” for its vibrant African American cultural and business life — and Northside each contribute to the city’s distinctive character.
All bankruptcy cases from the city of Richmond are filed at 701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division.
City of Richmond Official Website · Richmond on Wikipedia · U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDVA
Virginia Chapter 7 Income Limits — Current U.S. Trustee Figures
1 person: $78,491 · 2 people: $101,171 · 3 people: $123,159 · 4 people: $144,826 (+$11,100 per additional person). Source: U.S. Trustee Program. If your income exceeds these limits, you may still qualify through the full means test analysis — Merna Law calculates this at no charge during your free consultation.
Richmond’s Local Means-Test Picture
Richmond’s own median household income — about $62,700 (Census ACS 5-year estimate) — sits well below Virginia’s means-test threshold for comparable household sizes ($101,171 for two people, $123,159 for three). Most Richmond filers whose household income is at or below the city’s typical level pass the Chapter 7 means test on income alone, without needing the full expense-deduction calculation. Filers with income closer to or above the state threshold for their household size still qualify for Chapter 7 in most cases once allowed expenses are deducted — and Chapter 13 remains available regardless of income.
Richmond Bankruptcy — Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the bankruptcy court for Richmond cases?
U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDVA Richmond Division, 701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219. The 341 meeting is by phone or video.
Who are the bankruptcy trustees in Richmond?
Your case is randomly assigned to one of the Richmond Division’s private Chapter 7 panel trustees at filing — you do not choose, and neither does your attorney. The panel is overseen by the Office of the U.S. Trustee (Kathryn R. Montgomery, Assistant U.S. Trustee, 701 East Broad Street, Suite 4304, Richmond, VA 23219).
How many people file bankruptcy in Richmond each year?
Approximately 2,100 filings per year — 48% Chapter 7 and 52% Chapter 13.
Will I lose my home if I file bankruptcy in Richmond?
Virginia protects up to $50,000 in home equity under Va. Code § 34-4. Chapter 13 stops foreclosure immediately.
Can I file without going to the courthouse?
Yes. Merna Law handles everything remotely by phone or Zoom.
What is the Chapter 7 income limit for Richmond residents?
$78,491 for 1 · $101,171 for 2 · $123,159 for 3 · $144,826 for 4 (current U.S. Trustee table — verify at justice.gov/ust/means-testing).
Does Richmond’s income level affect whether I qualify for Chapter 7?
It can work in your favor. Richmond’s citywide median household income runs below Virginia’s means-test threshold, so many Richmond filers pass the Chapter 7 income test automatically. Qualification still depends on your household’s actual income and size, not the city average.
My income is above the threshold for my household size — can I still file Chapter 7 in Richmond?
Yes, in many cases. Being above the median means you complete the full means test (Form 122A-2) with allowed expense deductions rather than passing automatically — a large share of above-median filers still qualify once those deductions are applied. If not, Chapter 13 is available at any income level.
Ready to File Bankruptcy in Richmond?
Call us or schedule online — your free consultation is the first step to a fresh financial start. No office visit required.
Richmond Bankruptcy — Related Help
Looking for a bankruptcy attorney in Richmond, Virginia? Merna Law represents clients throughout Richmond and the Tri-Cities, handling Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 entirely by phone and Zoom. See our Richmond bankruptcy lawyer page, the nearby Henrico and Chesterfield pages, or find help anywhere in the state on our bankruptcy attorney near me hub.