The San Jose Law Firm for the Rest of Us.
The Law Offices of Jon G. Brooks is a boutique law firm in San Jose, California, focused on providing exceptional legal representation for regular people at reasonable rates. We primarily practice in consumer bankruptcy, small business law, and estate planning. We invite you to browse our site and to contact us if you would like to schedule a consultation. We do ask that you first read our Terms and Conditions for accessing and reviewing our site..........................................................................................................................
Debt Relief from Experienced San Jose Bankruptcy Attorneys.
San Jose Bankruptcy Lawyers Jon G. Brooks and David C. Hsu approach the practice of bankruptcy law with sympathy for the little guy. We represent everyday people who find themselves needing the protection provided under the Bankruptcy Code because, despite their honest attempts, they are unable to pay their credit cards and other debt. We do not generally represent creditors in bankruptcy, focusing instead on delivering a vigorous defense of consumer debtors' rights under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. We take the time to explain Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy protections and provide thorough counseling to our clients concerning the debt relief options available to them under bankruptcy law based on their individual financial situations. We represent bankruptcy clients on a flat fee basis in most cases, and we offer free initial consultations.We are rooted in our community. We are keenly aware that our bankruptcy clients come from one the most diverse communities in the US - San Jose, California - and that is why we love practicing bankruptcy law here. The reasons our clients need the protections of a bankruptcy filing are as diverse as they are. Perhaps they are drowning in credit card debt, medical bills, or have judgments against them. Perhaps their home’s value has depreciated to an amount less than their first mortgage. Perhaps they are having their wages garnished due to a judgment. Bankruptcy clients from San Jose and Silicon Valley are honest, hardworking and frequently highly educated people.
Although we practice primarily in the San Jose Division of the US Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California, we also frequently file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases in the Oakland and San Francisco Divisions of the Court.
Bankruptcy Is Not a Bad Word.
Seeking the protection offered by Bankruptcy Law is not a sin. We respect the fact that our clients have done nothing wrong to get into debt, though bill collectors often bully them into thinking so. Our clients may need to file for bankruptcy protection because they have lost a job, sustained a devastating blow from the housing crisis, or suffered an illness that led to catastrophic medical bills. Whatever the reason and no matter how crushing the debt, we are here to help them navigate through to a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge or succeed through a manageable Chapter 13 bankruptcy payment plan.Filing for bankruptcy is never an easy choice. But it is the beginning to getting a fresh financial start free of debt. If a debtor qualifies for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, he or she can have nearly all his or her unsecured debts (like credit card debt) entirely discharged within about 90 days from the date we file the bankruptcy case. Most Chapter 7 clients are able to keep all of their property, provided the value of their assets does not exceed available California exemptions. Civil judgments, medical bills, credit cards, and even some tax debt can be discharged in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. We can often recover wage garnishments and bank levies for clients if executed within 60 days prior to the bankruptcy filing. If a debtor earns sufficient income to pay back some of his or her debt, then a Chapter 13 bankruptcy can offer significant legal protections while the debtor makes manageable payments on a Chapter 13 payment plan to his or her creditors. In Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, we can help clients strip second mortgage liens from property, thus converting a second mortgage into unsecured debt. In either case, bankruptcy law can be the last best lifeline for the client facing law suits, wage garnishment, bank levy, repossession, or just crushing credit card debt. And in either type of bankruptcy, we ensure that creditors respect the Automatic Stay - the period that creditors are prohibited from all collection activities against the client, while his or her bankruptcy case is pending.
Imagine a Fresh Start. Free from Debt.
Bankruptcy law, as a core principle, is aimed at giving honest debtors a chance to free themselves from debt. We can help you get there. We understand why bankruptcy law exists, and we seek to obtain the maximum debt relief and maximum protection from collectors, creditors, and bullies provided by our bankruptcy laws. Bankruptcy is supposed to offer a second chance, free from debt. We fight for just such a second chance for our bankruptcy clients.
As bankruptcy attorneys, seeking debt relief for our clients, the Bankruptcy Code even requires that we state this goal: "We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code." And we're proud of it!
A Bankruptcy Law Firm As Diverse As Our Clients.
Our Spanish speaking clients appreciate that Mr. Brooks can fluently answer all of their questions about bankruptcy law and filing for bankruptcy protection in Spanish. Similarly, Mr. Hsu can conduct bankruptcy legal advice just as fluently in Korean. Likewise, our talented staff provide native-speaking client interviews with attorneys Brooks and Hsu in Vietnamese. Our San Jose bankruptcy law firm is committed to serving this richly diverse community..........................................................................................................................
Business Transactional and Corporate Law
Our offices are located in San Jose, California - the heart of Silicon Valley and the innovation capital of the world. Our clients come from richly diverse backgrounds, and we love working in this dynamic community of immigrants, entrepreneurs, and creative thinkers. As small business attorneys, we offer clients from the entire San Francisco Bay Area legal advice and counseling for new business start-up creation, including incorporation, limited liability company formation, private stock offerings, capitalization issues, securities law compliance, and commercial contract negotiation. We likewise provide legal counsel on office leasing, employment agreements and guidance on working with independent contractors.We frequently assist clients considering an investment in a franchise business who need an experienced business lawyer to interpret the franchise agreement and uniform offering circular. Just as often, we advise independent contractors who may offer services such as software engineering, web design or IT consulting to large enterprises or other small businesses. We help such consultants ensure that their contracts are legally enforceable, and that they protect them. We have negotiated agreements on behalf of small start-up companies with huge, multinational corporations.
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California Estate Planning Tools: Living Trusts, Wills, Powers of Attorney - Probate and Trust Administration
A large portion or our law firm’s practice also consists of assisting individuals and families with estate planning to ensure they and their assets are protected from conservatorship and probate and that their assets pass as seamlessly as possible to their children or other intended beneficiaries. We tailor our estate plans to give full effect to our clients’ wishes through the use of California revocable living trusts, wills, various types of power of attorney, advance health care directives, and other instruments. We are committed as well to serving same sex couples by creating estate plans that take maximum advantage of evolving California law concerning property ownership and domestic partner rights.
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While clients appreciate our location between downtown San Jose and San Jose International Airport, we are easily accessible from anywhere in the Bay Area. Indeed, our clients often come from San Francisco because of our Big Firm lawyer expertise at solo practitioner billing rates. We offer a boutique setting with the level of attorney experience one would expect to find at a large firm in San Jose or Palo Alto. We are young, nimble, and we are adept at applying technology to both empower our clients and to minimize client billing. Unlike so many firms, our clients are never billed for faxes, postage, or long distance telephone charges.
Whether you are already a small business owner, looking to purchase a going business, or contemplating starting up a new business venture, please visit the Small Business Law practice area.
If you are thinking of filing bankruptcy, please read the information provided in the Consumer Bankruptcy practice area.
If you are seeking to create an estate plan, or want to learn more about California living trusts, wills, advance health care directives, or probate and conservatorship avoidance, please visit our Estate Planning practice area.
If a loved one has recently passed away, and you were named executor in your loved one’s will, or you believe your loved one had no will, please visit our Probate practice area.
Thank you for visiting our site. We hope you will find that it provides you with a sense of our Law Offices’ approach and personality. Again, we appreciate your cooperation in first reading and agreeing to our Terms and Conditions before using this site.