Equity vs. unsecured debt
The wrong chapter can put a house in play. We will not file Chapter 7 as a convenience if the exemption analysis says no.
Oakland County · Detroit, MI
Stephen A. Thomas: Bankruptcy Attorney Serving Farmington Hills, MI
Oakland County | Home-equity analysis | Eastern District of Michigan
Farmington Hills clients usually have more home equity than inner-ring Wayne County clients. That is not a reason to avoid bankruptcy — it is a reason to choose the chapter that protects the equity instead of guessing.
- 35+ yearsLicensed legal practice
- Free consultConfidential case review
- Same-weekAppointments, including evenings
- VerifyMichigan attorney directory
Local landscape
How Farmington Hills cases actually look
Higher typical sale prices along I-696 and 12 Mile mean the homestead exemption math is the first worksheet, not the last. If equity exceeds what Michigan protects, Chapter 13 is often how you keep the house and still restructure unsecured debt. If equity is within the exemption and the means test passes, Chapter 7 can still be the faster discharge.
Farmington Hills households often look ‘fine’ from the outside: two cars, a well-kept lawn, and a credit score that only recently collapsed. Medical events, a business slowdown, or a divorce are the usual triggers. The Eastern District of Michigan is still the filing court.
You meet in Detroit at 19120 Grand River Ave. The drive is straightforward via I-696 and the Lodge or Telegraph. Phone consults are available when a professional schedule is tight.
Why Farmington Hills is not a cloned city page
Problems Farmington Hills residents bring to consultation
Business or 1099 income
Self-employed Farmington Hills clients need a realistic current-monthly-income picture. Bank statements matter as much as last year’s return.
Second mortgages and HELOCs
A Chapter 13 plan has to account for junior liens. Sometimes lien-stripping analysis is part of the consult; sometimes it is not available. We will tell you which.
Court & process
Oakland County residence, Eastern District filing
Farmington Hills is Oakland County. Consumer bankruptcies still file in the Eastern District of Michigan. Michigan exemptions, not Oakland County folklore, decide what a Chapter 7 trustee can reach.
How we can help in Farmington Hills
Service lines for Farmington Hills, MI residents
Emergency filing pressure
- Sheriff’s sale, garnishment, or repossession already on the calendar
- Automatic stay takes effect when the case is filed
- Same-week consultation when a deadline is real
Chapter 7 bankruptcy
- Discharge qualifying credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans
- Michigan exemptions for home, car, and retirement
- Means test using Michigan median-income figures
Chapter 13 bankruptcy
- Stop a foreclosure sale and catch up on the mortgage
- Plan payment based on your actual Detroit-area budget
- Restructure car notes and certain tax debt inside the plan
Office access
Getting to the Detroit office from Farmington Hills
Plan 25–40 minutes depending on I-696. Call (855) 940-2265. Bring the mortgage statement and a recent tax assessment or appraisal if you have one — equity is the conversation.
Stephen A. Thomas, PLC
Call (855) 940-2265 to discuss a Farmington Hills matter.
Nearby communities
Related pages near Detroit, MI
Direct answers
Farmington Hills questions
Will I lose a Farmington Hills house in Chapter 7?
Only if non-exempt equity is larger than Michigan’s homestead protection and you file Chapter 7 anyway. That is why we run equity first. Many clients who assumed they would lose the house are actually Chapter 13 candidates who keep it.
Is Farmington Hills ‘too affluent’ for bankruptcy?
No. The Bankruptcy Code does not have a city-income personality test. It has a means test, exemptions, and chapters. High housing costs are one reason Chapter 13 exists.
Do you file Farmington Hills cases in Pontiac or Detroit?
Consumer cases from this part of Oakland County are Eastern District of Michigan matters handled from our Detroit office. We will tell you the practical filing and 341-meeting details in consultation.
Farmington Hills
Schedule a consultation
Call (855) 940-2265 or send the form. Mention you are in Farmington Hills so we can apply the right court and exemption rules.