Bankruptcy Attorney Serving Bessemer, Alabama
If you live in Bessemer and creditors are garnishing your wages, threatening foreclosure, or coming after your car, you have options — and they get better the sooner you use them.
The Law Office of Stephen Bulgarella, LLC represents individuals and families throughout Bessemer and the western Jefferson County communities.
Where Bessemer Bankruptcy Cases Are Filed
Bessemer is part of Jefferson County, and Jefferson County bankruptcy cases are filed in the Southern Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama, which sits in Birmingham at 1800 5th Avenue North.
This trips people up, because Bessemer has its own courthouse. The Bessemer Justice Center handles a great deal of local business — circuit court matters, probate for residents of the Bessemer Cutoff, and more. But bankruptcy is federal, and federal bankruptcy cases from Bessemer go to Birmingham, not to the Bessemer Justice Center.
If you’re a Bessemer resident with a probate or estate matter, that generally does go to the Bessemer division. If it’s bankruptcy, it’s Birmingham.
Communities We Serve on the West Side
We represent clients throughout Bessemer and the surrounding western Jefferson County area, including:
- Hueytown
- Fairfield
- Pleasant Grove
- Midfield
- Brighton
- Lipscomb
- McCalla
- Ensley
- West End
- Smithfield
- Wenonah
- Dolomite
What We Help Bessemer Clients With
Stopping Wage Garnishment
A creditor holding a judgment against you can garnish up to 25% of your paycheck under Alabama Code § 6-10-7, every pay period, until the judgment is paid. Filing bankruptcy triggers the automatic stay, which stops most garnishments — usually within days of filing.
If a garnishment has already started, call sooner rather than later. Money taken shortly before a filing is sometimes recoverable, but the window is short.
Stopping Foreclosure
Alabama allows non-judicial foreclosure, which means a lender generally doesn’t have to sue you before selling your home. The timeline is shorter than in most states.
Filing a Chapter 13 case before the sale stops it and lets you catch up on the arrears over three to five years while resuming regular payments. The deadline is the sale date itself — after that, the options narrow sharply.
Stopping Vehicle Repossession
Alabama permits self-help repossession, meaning a lender can generally take your vehicle without a court order once you’re in default, often without warning. In a community where a lot of people commute to work, losing a car quickly becomes losing a job.
If your car hasn’t been taken yet, filing stops the repossession. If it’s already gone, whether you can get it back depends heavily on how recently it happened. Call today, not next week.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Chapter 7 discharges qualifying unsecured debt — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans — usually within a few months. Chapter 13 is a three-to-five-year repayment plan and is the tool for people who are behind on a house or car they intend to keep.
Which one fits depends on your income, what you own, and what you’re protecting.
You Probably Won't Need to Come Downtown
The federal courthouse is only about twenty minutes up I-20/59 from Bessemer, but in most cases you won’t need to make the drive.
Your meeting of creditors is held by video. The Northern District of Alabama has conducted § 341 meetings remotely since 2020 — you’ll get a link with your case paperwork and attend from home. It usually takes a few minutes, there’s no judge, and Stephen is on the call with you.
We handle most of the rest remotely too. Consultations, gathering your documents, signatures — phone, email, and video work for nearly all of it, and it’s how this office prefers to operate.
If you’d rather meet face to face, come in. The office is downtown at 420 20th Street North. Plenty of people prefer sitting across a desk from their attorney, and that’s always an option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to go to the Bessemer courthouse to file bankruptcy?
No. Bankruptcy is a federal matter, and cases from Bessemer are filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama in Birmingham. The Bessemer Justice Center handles state court matters, including probate for Bessemer Cutoff residents, but not bankruptcy.
Do you serve clients in Hueytown, Fairfield, and Pleasant Grove?
Yes. We represent clients throughout western Jefferson County, including Hueytown, Fairfield, Pleasant Grove, Midfield, Brighton, Lipscomb, and McCalla.
How quickly can bankruptcy stop a garnishment if I live in Bessemer?
The automatic stay takes effect the moment your case is filed, regardless of where in Jefferson County you live. The practical delay is how long it takes your employer’s payroll department to receive and process the notice — usually days.
My car was repossessed. Is it too late?
Maybe not, but this is measured in days. Whether the vehicle can be recovered depends largely on how recently it was taken and whether the lender has sold it at auction. If it just happened, call now.
Will I lose my house if I file bankruptcy?
Most people don’t. Alabama’s homestead exemption protects a set amount of equity in your primary residence, and married couples filing jointly can generally double it. If your equity exceeds the exemption, Chapter 13 often lets you keep the home anyway. Call for the current exemption figures — Alabama adjusts them periodically.
Do I have to come to your office in Birmingham?
Only if you want to. Meetings of creditors are conducted by video, and we handle consultations, document gathering, and signatures remotely for most clients. If you’d prefer to meet in person, the office is downtown at 420 20th Street North.