About Merna Law — Virginia Bankruptcy Attorneys | Merna Law
ABOUT MERNA LAW
The Merna Law Group, P.C. | Serving the Eastern District of Virginia since 2003 | Last Reviewed: June 2026
Merna Law is a Virginia bankruptcy firm focused on one thing: helping working families get a real fresh start. Founded by attorney John G. Merna in 2003, the firm has filed thousands of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases across the Eastern District of Virginia — from Virginia Beach and Norfolk to Richmond, Newport News, and the rural counties in between. We handle every case entirely by phone and Zoom, so help is within reach no matter where you live or what your schedule looks like.
Why Families Across Virginia Choose Merna Law
TWO DECADES IN THE EDVA
Since 2003 we have practiced almost exclusively in Virginia’s bankruptcy courts. We know the trustees, the judges, and exactly how to structure a case so it holds up.
FULLY VIRTUAL — FILE FROM HOME
Consultations, document signing, and your 341 meeting all happen remotely. Most clients never set foot in a courthouse or an office.
ATTORNEY-LED, EVERY CASE
You work with experienced bankruptcy attorneys — not a call center. John Merna personally oversees every case the firm files.
RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE
AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, BBB A+ accredited, NACBA members, and named to Coastal Virginia Magazine’s Top Lawyers.
How We Work — Bankruptcy Without Leaving Home
Merna Law operates as a fully virtual firm. From your free consultation through your discharge, we collect your documents through a secure portal, prepare and electronically file your petition in the correct EDVA division, and represent you at the phone or Zoom meeting of creditors — which usually takes just a few minutes. Clients across the Commonwealth, including deployed military personnel and residents of rural Virginia, file bankruptcy without ever visiting an office. Learn more on our file bankruptcy without leaving home page.
Focused Only on Consumer Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy sits at the intersection of federal statute, Virginia exemption law, the means test, and the financial reality of real people’s lives. Getting it right takes a firm that does this work day in and day out — applying every available Virginia exemption, running the means test correctly, and choosing between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 based on your specific income, debts, and assets. That focus is what lets us protect the most for our clients.
Meet Our Attorneys
John G. Merna
Founder & Senior Attorney
John founded Merna Law in 2003 after practicing consumer bankruptcy in the Central District of California. Admitted to the Virginia State Bar in 1992 and to the Eastern District of Virginia, he has filed thousands of cases and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell. A former president of the Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association, John personally oversees every case the firm handles.
Genene E. Gardner
Associate Attorney
A Virginia Beach native, Genene earned her law degree from Regent University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree from Longwood University. Admitted to practice in Virginia, she focuses on bankruptcy and family law. Genene is a member of the Virginia State Bar, the Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association, and the Virginia Beach Bar Association. Outside the office, she enjoys gardening.
Serving All of Virginia
From our roots in Hampton Roads, Merna Law serves clients throughout Virginia — Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg, Richmond, and beyond — all handled remotely. Wherever you are, you can reach an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Start on our bankruptcy attorney near me hub or explore help by city on our Online Bankruptcy Virginia page.
Talk to a Virginia Bankruptcy Attorney — Free
No office visit, no obligation. Merna Law handles your entire case by phone and Zoom, statewide.