Chapter 7 · Los Angeles, California
Chapter 7 Attorney for Los Angeles, California Residents
Many Los Angeles renters carry credit card and medical debt they cannot pay down on what is left after rent. 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 Los Angeles, California households earn under $81,939
- Flat fees from $1,200 plus the court filing fee
- Payment plans available
- Most cases take about four months
Do Los Angeles, California households pass the means test?
Half of Los Angeles, California households earn less than $81,939 a year. That falls between California's medians for one person ($79,253) and two people ($102,797). Many families of two or more pass the first step of the means test on income alone.
| 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 Los Angeles, California filers usually keep in Chapter 7
About 64% of Los Angeles, California homes are rented. Renters usually use California's second set of exemptions, which includes a "wildcard" that can protect cash, savings or other property. Your car, household goods, retirement accounts and most of your wages are usually protected too. Filing does not end your lease. Many Los Angeles apartments are covered by the city's Rent Stabilization Ordinance and just-cause eviction rules.
About 36% of homes in Los Angeles, California are lived in by their owners, and the median owner-occupied home is valued at $921,200. 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 Los Angeles, California file Chapter 7
Rent in Los Angeles leaves little room for surprises. A cut in hours at a studio, a slow season at a restaurant near the Walk of Fame, or a hospital bill can turn into credit card debt fast. Chapter 7 clears that debt so your paycheck goes to rent and food again.
About 16.5% of Los Angeles, California 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 Los Angeles, California 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 downtown Los Angeles or Woodland Hills, depending on your ZIP code. If no one objects, the discharge usually comes about 60 days after that meeting. For most Los Angeles, California 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 Los Angeles, California. For both options, see bankruptcy attorney for Los Angeles, California, or read our main Chapter 7 bankruptcy page.
Chapter 7 questions from Los Angeles, California
How long does Chapter 7 take for Los Angeles, California residents?
Chapter 7 usually takes about four months for Los Angeles, California residents, from filing to discharge. Collection stops the day the case is filed.
Do most Los Angeles, California households qualify for Chapter 7?
Many Los Angeles, California households can qualify for Chapter 7. Half earn less than $81,939, which is below California's median for a household of two. We run your numbers at the free consultation.
Can my Los Angeles landlord evict me for filing Chapter 7?
No, your Los Angeles landlord cannot evict you just for filing Chapter 7. You still need to pay rent going forward, and the city's rent stabilization and just-cause rules still apply to covered units.
Free consultation
See if Chapter 7 fits your Los Angeles, California 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.