Serving Malibu from Beverly Hills
Bankruptcy Attorney for Malibu Residents
Malibu is 21 miles of coastline, and since the January 2025 Palisades Fire, many families here are rebuilding. Law Offices of John Asuncion is a bankruptcy attorney serving Malibu from our Beverly Hills office. Call (310) 362-9071 for a free consultation, in person or by video.
- Malibu bankruptcy cases are heard in Santa Barbara
- Flat fees from $1,200 plus the court filing fee
- Meet in Beverly Hills or by video
- Emergency filings to stop a garnishment or sale
Malibu by the numbers
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS 2020-2024 5-year), QuickFacts for Malibu. A plus sign means the Census reports the value only as that amount or more.
What these numbers mean for a Malibu bankruptcy
Half of Malibu households earn more than $194,421 a year, which is above California's median even for a family of four ($139,071). Many people here go on to the second part of the means test, which subtracts costs like housing, taxes and car payments. High housing costs can still leave room to qualify for Chapter 7.
About 75.4% of homes in Malibu are lived in by their owners, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $2,000,000 or more. At those values, an owner with a small mortgage can have more equity than California's homestead exemption protects. When that is true, Chapter 7 could put the house at risk, and Chapter 13 is often the safer way to keep it. California's homestead exemption rises with inflation each year. In Los Angeles County, owners generally get the top amount, which is about $744,000 in 2026.
Median rent in Malibu is $3,500 a month. A year of that rent equals about 22% of the city's median household income. Even so, a job loss or medical bill can push rent and other bills onto credit cards fast.
Debt and the Malibu economy
Malibu's economy leans on coastal tourism along Pacific Coast Highway, at Malibu Pier, Zuma Beach and Point Dume. Pepperdine University, next to the city, welcomed 3,500 undergraduates in fall 2024.
Governing reported about 720 Malibu homes burned in the Palisades Fire, and rebuilding permits have come slowly. Owners can face a mortgage on a home they cannot live in, plus rent somewhere else, while insurance claims drag on.
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 in Malibu?
Most Malibu households earn well above the state median, so Chapter 13 is the common choice for owners. Fire survivors should talk to us before using insurance money to pay old debts.
- Chapter 7 attorney for Malibu: wipes out most credit card, medical and personal loan debt in about four months.
- Chapter 13 attorney for Malibu: a 3 to 5 year payment plan that can save a home or car.
Courts that handle Malibu cases
Bankruptcy cases from Malibu are assigned to the Northern Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California, at 1415 State Street in Santa Barbara. Malibu is named in the court's rules as part of the Northern Division, even though it is in Los Angeles County.
If a creditor has already sued you, that lawsuit is usually in Los Angeles Superior Court. Malibu's courthouse closed years ago, so Malibu cases are now sent to other courthouses by case type. We confirm yours with the court's filing locator. Collection lawsuits under $35,000 are assigned by ZIP code too. Filing bankruptcy pauses those lawsuits.
Meeting with us from Malibu
Our only office is at 9454 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse Floor, in Beverly Hills. From Malibu, take Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Monica, then the 10 to the 405 north and Wilshire east, or Sunset Boulevard east. It is about 25 miles from the Civic Center, and many Malibu clients meet by video. If the drive is hard to fit around work, we meet by video, and you can sign most papers online.
Malibu bankruptcy questions
Do I have to go to Beverly Hills to file bankruptcy from Malibu?
No, you do not have to come to Beverly Hills to file bankruptcy from Malibu. We meet by video, and most documents can be signed online. Many clients still like to meet once in person at our Wilshire office.
Which bankruptcy court hears cases from Malibu?
The Northern Division in Santa Barbara hears bankruptcy cases from Malibu. Your ZIP code decides the division, and we confirm it before filing.
How much does a bankruptcy attorney cost for Malibu residents?
Our flat fees for Malibu residents start at $1,200 plus the court filing fee, with payment plans. Chapter 13 fees are different, and you get the fee in writing at your free consultation.
Is my fire insurance money safe if I file bankruptcy?
Fire insurance money for rebuilding your Malibu home may be protected in bankruptcy, depending on how it is paid and which exemptions apply. Talk to us before you file or spend it.
Free consultation
Talk to a bankruptcy attorney about your Malibu case
Call (310) 362-9071 or send the form. We will tell you which chapter fits and what it costs.
Law Offices of John Asuncion9454 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse Floor
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 362-9071
Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.