Chapter 7 · Calabasas
Chapter 7 Attorney for Calabasas Residents
Chapter 7 is less common in Calabasas, but it can fit after a business fails or income drops. A Chapter 7 case wipes out most credit card, medical and personal loan debt in about four months. Call (310) 362-9071 for a free consultation to see if you qualify.
- Half of Calabasas households earn under $165,288
- Flat fees from $1,200 plus the court filing fee
- Payment plans available
- Most cases take about four months
Do Calabasas households pass the means test?
Half of Calabasas households earn more than $165,288 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.
| Household size | Median income |
|---|---|
| 1 person | $79,253 |
| 2 people | $102,797 |
| 3 people | $116,541 |
| 4 people | $139,071 |
| Each extra person | add $11,100 |
The test uses your average income for the six months before filing, not your yearly salary. A recent job loss or cut in hours can help you qualify. See our means test evaluation page for how the full test works.
What Calabasas filers usually keep in Chapter 7
About 68.5% of Calabasas homes are lived in by their owners, so many filers here own a house. Homeowners usually use California's first set of exemptions, which includes the homestead exemption. Retirement accounts, household goods and a car with modest equity are usually protected too.
About 68.5% of homes in Calabasas are lived in by their owners, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $1,504,500. 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.
Why people in Calabasas file Chapter 7
Calabasas clients who own businesses often sign personal guarantees. If most of your debt comes from the business, the means test does not apply, and Chapter 7 can clear it.
About 8.8% of Calabasas residents live below the poverty line. For people with little property and bills they cannot pay, Chapter 7 is often the fastest fresh start.
The Chapter 7 timeline for a Calabasas case
Your case starts with a free consultation, in our office or by video. Next comes a short online credit counseling course, and we gather pay stubs, tax returns and bills. The day we file, garnishments, lawsuits and collection calls stop. About a month later, you attend a short meeting with the trustee assigned by the court in Woodland Hills. If no one objects, the discharge usually comes about 60 days after that meeting. For most Calabasas filers, the whole case takes about four months.
Related pages
If you have a house or car you are behind on, read about our Chapter 13 attorney services for Calabasas. For both options, see bankruptcy attorney for Calabasas, or read our main Chapter 7 bankruptcy page.
Chapter 7 questions from Calabasas
How long does Chapter 7 take for Calabasas residents?
Chapter 7 usually takes about four months for Calabasas residents, from filing to discharge. Collection stops the day the case is filed.
Do most Calabasas households qualify for Chapter 7?
Many Calabasas households earn more than California's median, so they need the second part of the means test. That part subtracts housing, taxes and other costs, and many still qualify. We run your numbers at the free consultation.
Will my HOA in Calabasas find out if I file Chapter 7?
Your Calabasas HOA will find out if you owe it money when you file Chapter 7, because it must be listed. If you are current on dues, it usually is not notified.
Free consultation
See if Chapter 7 fits your Calabasas household
Call (310) 362-9071 or send the form. Have your last six months of pay stubs handy.
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.