Richmond Bankruptcy Lawyer | Bankruptcy Attorney | Merna Law
RICHMOND BANKRUPTCY LAWYER
Quick Answer
Looking for a Richmond bankruptcy lawyer? The bankruptcy attorneys at Merna Law help Richmond residents file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, stop foreclosures, end wage garnishments, and prevent repossessions. Richmond cases are filed right in the city at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia, Richmond Division (701 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219), and your entire case is handled by phone and Zoom — no office visit required. Free consultation with a Richmond bankruptcy attorney: 1-800-662-8813.
By John G. Merna, Esq. | Last Reviewed: June 2026 | The Merna Law Group, P.C.
Choosing the right Richmond bankruptcy attorney is one of the most important financial decisions you can make. The bankruptcy lawyers at The Merna Law Group have served the Richmond region for nearly two decades, helping thousands of families across the capital region eliminate debt and rebuild. Whether creditors are calling, your wages are being garnished, or your home or car is at risk, a Richmond bankruptcy lawyer at Merna Law can stop the pressure and explain your options at no charge.
Why Choose Merna Law as Your Richmond Bankruptcy Attorney
Here is what Richmond residents get when they hire Merna Law as their bankruptcy lawyer.
EXPERIENCED, AWARD-WINNING BANKRUPTCY LAWYERS
Voted Best Law Firm by readers of The Virginian-Pilot, with attorneys who practice almost exclusively bankruptcy. Founder John G. Merna, Esq. is a past president of the Tidewater Bankruptcy Bar Association.
CHAPTER 7 — ELIMINATE DEBT (INCLUDING HIGHER INCOMES)
Your Richmond bankruptcy attorney wipes out credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans — often in 3–5 months. Merna Law is especially skilled at helping higher-income filers qualify for Chapter 7 through the full means-test analysis.
CHAPTER 13 — SAVE YOUR HOME & STOP FORECLOSURE
A Chapter 13 lawyer at Merna Law helps you catch up on mortgage arrears over 3–5 years while stopping foreclosure immediately — ideal for Richmond homeowners with steady income.
STOP GARNISHMENTS, LAWSUITS & CREDITOR CALLS
Filing triggers the automatic stay (11 U.S.C. § 362), which stops garnishments, repossessions, foreclosures, and creditor calls the moment your case is filed.
Talk to a Richmond Bankruptcy Lawyer — Free
Free phone consultation — affordable flat fees and payment plans. No office visit required.
How Your Richmond Case Works
From your first call through your discharge, Merna Law handles your Richmond bankruptcy remotely: we collect your documents through a secure portal, prepare and electronically file your petition with the EDVA Richmond Division, and represent you at the phone or Zoom 341 meeting — most of which wraps up in under ten minutes. For the full walk-through see our guide to filing bankruptcy without leaving home, and compare options in our Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 guides.
Virginia Bankruptcy Exemptions — What Richmond Residents Keep
Virginia exemptions protect property you keep when filing bankruptcy. Richmond residents use Virginia’s state exemptions — federal exemptions are not available in Virginia.
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.
Your Richmond Bankruptcy Attorney — Serving the Capital Region
No office visit required. Merna Law handles your Richmond bankruptcy entirely by phone and Zoom.
Richmond Bankruptcy Lawyer — FAQ
Where are Richmond bankruptcy cases filed?
In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, EDVA Richmond Division, 701 East Broad Street, Richmond. The 341 meeting of creditors is held by phone or video, so most Richmond filers never appear in person.
How do I choose the right Richmond bankruptcy lawyer?
Look for a firm that practices almost exclusively bankruptcy in the EDVA, offers a free consultation, and is upfront about fees. Merna Law — voted Best Law Firm by Virginian-Pilot readers — handles every Richmond case remotely by phone and Zoom.
My income is above the Virginia median — can I still file Chapter 7?
Often yes. Qualifying turns on the full means-test expense analysis, not gross income, and Merna Law regularly qualifies higher-income Richmond filers other firms turn away.
More questions — cost, payment plans, and what bankruptcy can stop — are answered on our Virginia bankruptcy FAQs page, or call 1-800-662-8813 for a free consultation.
Bankruptcy in Richmond — Local Context
Richmond is the seat of the EDVA Richmond Division, and the bankruptcy court that hears city cases sits downtown at 701 East Broad Street. It is the closest courthouse for most of central Virginia — but Merna Law files your case electronically and handles the 341 meeting by phone or Zoom, so you won’t need to navigate downtown parking to get relief.
As the state capital, Richmond runs on government, healthcare, finance, and education rather than a single dominant employer. VCU and VCU Health (the old MCV campus) sit at the center of the city, and medical debt from that system and Richmond’s other hospitals is one of the most common reasons residents file — it is also fully dischargeable in Chapter 7. The city also has a large student and renter population who often don’t realize bankruptcy can clear credit cards, old leases, and medical bills with no home on the line.
Merna Law represents filers across the city — the Fan and Museum District, Church Hill and the East End, Northside and Southside, and the neighborhoods along the river. For Richmond homeowners behind on a mortgage, Chapter 13 stops a foreclosure immediately and spreads the past-due balance over three to five years. A free consultation with a Richmond bankruptcy lawyer is the fastest way to find out which chapter fits your situation.
Richmond Bankruptcy — Explore Your Options
Chapter 7 in Richmond
Wipe out qualifying credit-card debt, medical bills, and personal loans — often in about 90 days.
Chapter 13 in Richmond
Stop foreclosure and reorganize debt into one affordable plan while keeping your home or car.
Cost of Bankruptcy in Richmond
Flat attorney fees, court costs, and affordable payment options explained.
Richmond Foreclosure Defense
Stop a scheduled foreclosure sale and catch up on past-due mortgage payments.
Nearby Virginia Bankruptcy Resources
See our Richmond Bankruptcy (Overview) page, or our bankruptcy attorney pages for Henrico, Chesterfield, and Petersburg. For statewide information, visit our Online Bankruptcy Virginia page.
Richmond Bankruptcy Lawyer Near Me
Is there a bankruptcy lawyer near me in Richmond?
Yes. Merna Law serves Richmond and the surrounding area — and you never have to come to an office. We handle your entire Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case by phone, secure online portal, and Zoom, filed in the Richmond Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Bankruptcy lawyer near me →
Do I have to visit a Richmond office to file bankruptcy?
No. Your free consultation, document signing, and the required 341 meeting of creditors are all handled remotely. You can file from home anywhere in Richmond or nearby.
How much does it cost to talk to a Richmond bankruptcy attorney near me?
Your initial consultation is free and confidential, with no obligation. Call 1-800-662-8813.