(971) 288-1808

Call Us Today!

FREE BOOK BY A BOARD-CERTIFIED OREGON BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY

Oregon Bankruptcy Relief, Stop Looking Back and Face a Future Free of Debt

Bankruptcy in Oregon gives honest people a legal fresh start from overwhelming debt. This free book, written by Portland attorney Michael D. O’Brien, who is board certified as a Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification and has handled about 7,000 cases over more than 30 years, explains your options in plain language so you can decide with confidence.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK
SCHEDULE A FREE CASE EVALUATION
No cost. No obligation. Delivered by mail, email, or text, your choice.

Oregon bankruptcy in brief

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 is the fastest path, taking about 90 days from filing to discharge, and eliminates most unsecured debt such as credit cards and medical bills.

Chapter 13

Chapter 13 reorganizes debt into a repayment plan of three to five years and is often used to stop foreclosure and protect valuable assets.

The automatic stay

The automatic stay takes effect the moment you file and legally forces creditors to stop calls, letters, lawsuits, garnishments, and foreclosure under 11 U.S.C. Section 362.

Your home, car, and retirement

Your home, car, and retirement are protected in the large majority of cases through Oregon and federal exemptions.

Your credit

Your credit often improves over time after filing, because eliminating debt improves your debt-to-income ratio and stops new late marks.

Cost to start

Cost to start is nothing. The firm offers a free 30-minute Case Evaluation for non-business case
DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK
Why This Firm

Why Oregonians trust this firm

01

Michael D. O'Brien is board certified as a Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification

02

More than 30 years guiding Oregonians out of debt

03

About 7,000 bankruptcy cases handled and roughly 20,000 people counseled

04

About 7,000 bankruptcy cases handled and roughly 20,000 people counseled

Is bankruptcy right for you?

Bankruptcy may be the right option if you cannot maintain a reasonable, basic lifestyle and still pay off your debt within about five years. It should never be your first option, and it is not your only option, but for many honest, hardworking people it is the best one. This book walks you through the same analysis an experienced bankruptcy attorney would apply in person, so you understand what a fresh start could look like before you decide.

You will likely benefit from reading it if you are:

In debt right now and ready to stop living that way

Falling behind on monthly bills and living paycheck to paycheck

Considering, or already using, payday loans to cover basic needs

Thinking about borrowing from your retirement to pay debt (please read the book and talk to us first)

Behind on tax returns, or watching a tax bill quietly grow

Making the minimum payments but seeing no light at the end of the tunnel

According to Michael D. O’Brien, of the people who meet with the firm, about one third become bankruptcy clients, about one third solve their debt another way, and about one third do not need help at all. The goal is to educate you on your options, not to talk you into anything.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK

Common Oregon bankruptcy questions, answered

These are the questions people ask most before filing. Each answer stands on its own so you can find exactly what you need.

Q. How long does Chapter 7 bankruptcy take in Oregon?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Oregon typically takes about 90 days from the date of filing to discharge. It is the shortest and most common type of consumer bankruptcy. Most people attend a single meeting with the bankruptcy trustee and never see the inside of a courtroom or meet the judge.
Chapter 7 is a liquidation bankruptcy that eliminates most unsecured debt in about 90 days and is best for people with limited income and few non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 is a reorganization bankruptcy that consolidates debt into a single monthly payment over three to five years, and it is often used to stop foreclosure, catch up on missed mortgage payments, or protect valuable assets. The right choice depends on your income, your assets, and your goals.
Yes. The moment you file bankruptcy, a federal court order called the automatic stay takes effect under 11 U.S.C. Section 362. It legally requires creditors to stop collection calls, letters, lawsuits, wage garnishment, repossession, and foreclosure. Creditors who violate the automatic stay can be held accountable in bankruptcy court and ordered to pay damages.
In the large majority of cases, no. Oregon and federal exemptions are designed to protect essential property, and most people keep both their home and their vehicle. Whether you keep an asset depends on your equity and your loan balance, which also helps determine whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is the better fit. Oregon’s homestead exemption amounts are adjusted periodically, so current figures should be confirmed for your situation.
Yes. Pensions, IRAs, and 401(k) accounts are generally protected in bankruptcy and are not taken to pay creditors. Many people mistakenly drain their retirement savings to pay unsecured debts before learning those accounts were protected all along, which is one of the costliest and most avoidable mistakes in debt relief.
Filing bankruptcy often improves a credit score over time rather than destroying it. Once burdensome debt is discharged, the debt-to-income ratio improves and no new late payments can be added to the report. With responsible use of credit afterward, many people rebuild faster than they expect. In the book, one client rebuilt to a 720 credit score just 11 months after filing Chapter 7.
Yes. Spouses are not required to file together. One spouse can file an individual case to eliminate their own debt while the other stays out of the bankruptcy, which is tracked by Social Security number. This one-spouse strategy can protect a home or preserve one spouse’s clean credit, though it works best when the debt is not jointly owed.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK

Why work with this Oregon bankruptcy firm

Board-certified specialists, not dabblers

Michael D. O’Brien is board certified as a Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist by the American Board of Certification, an ABA-accredited credential held by very few attorneys in Oregon. That means an attorney who has handled your exact situation hundreds of times and knows the local courts, trustees, and creditor tactics.

We listen first

Before we talk strategy, we listen. Your goals drive the plan, not our assumptions. We ask what a win looks like to you.

We translate, we do not lecture

Bankruptcy has its own confusing language. We put everything in plain terms so you can make confident, informed decisions.

We fight back, and we do not stop at filing

When creditors break the law, we sue them. And after your case, we help you rebuild by connecting you with honest lenders so you are never taken advantage of again.

Of the people who meet with us, about a third become bankruptcy clients, about a third solve their debt another way, and about a third do not need our help at all. We are proud of that last group. Our goal is to educate you on your options, not to talk you into anything.

There is life after bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is not a scarlet letter you wear for life. It is a mechanism built into the United States Constitution to give honest people a fresh start after hard times. The stories below are drawn from the book, with names changed, and they show what a fresh start actually looks like.

Rebuilding fast

After filing Chapter 7, one client rebuilt his credit score to 720 in just 11 months. A former client calls the office at least once a month to help a new car or mortgage lender verify their case. Life after bankruptcy is not the exception, it is the rule.

Fighting back

When a creditor ignored the automatic stay and kept harassing a client at work, the firm sued them in bankruptcy court. She recovered enough in damages to buy herself a new car. Creditors who break the law are held accountable.

Keeping what matters

A married couple with significant home equity and heavy credit card debt were choosing every month between the mortgage and the credit cards. Chapter 7 eliminated the credit card debt, saved their home, and reset their finances without touching the house.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK
testimonials

What clients say

” Going through bankruptcy felt like a weight I could not shake, until I connected with this firm. From the very first interaction I felt a huge burden lifting off my chest. They do not just treat you like a client, they treat you like a person
Argion D.
” I had never been through this process before, and they made it incredibly smooth and held my hand through the whole thing. They were very clear about everything I needed to provide. Forever grateful.
Matthew C.
” Mike and his team were there every step of the way. Anytime I had a question they were there for me. So much stress lifted off my shoulders.
Terry F.
Individual results vary. These are actual client experiences.

About Michael D. O'Brien

Oregon bankruptcy attorney Michael D. O’Brien is the Managing Partner of Michael D. O’Brien & Associates, P.C. and supervises the firm’s Bankruptcy Practice Group. An Oregon resident since he was three months old, Mike earned his Doctor of Law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1994 and has spent his career helping individuals and small business owners solve debt problems.
In 2007 Mike earned Board Certification as a Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist from the American Board of Certification, a distinction held by very few attorneys in the state. His practice focuses on Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases, along with civil debt defense and negotiation. He is an active member of the Oregon State Bar Debtor and Creditor section and regularly donates his time to the Legal Aid Pro Bono Bankruptcy Clinic.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK

Take action today toward your new future

Thank you for spending time here. If this book removed even a little of the fear of the unknown, it did its job. Your next step costs nothing. Call the office and mention the book, and a trained member of the team will schedule your free 30 minute Case Evaluation, no cost and no obligation, using the same tools Mike built to get to the bottom of your situation and map out a path forward.
Before you make the wrong move, make the right call.

Contact Us Today - Sleep Better Tonight

Footer Form
*Free consultation limited to non-business cases.

Please be aware that submission of this no-obligation form does not establish an attorney-client relationship. By filling out the form, you agree to receiving emails from our firm regarding your case evaluation and other helpful resources. 

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

MICHAEL D. O'BRIEN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. SW Portland

Address

7609 SW Beveland Rd.
Portland, OR 97223

Phone

(503) 852-9267

MICHAEL D. O'BRIEN & ASSOCIATES, P.C.Clackamas

Address

8800 SE Sunnyside Rd Suite 211-S Clackamas, OR 97015

Phone

(503) 683-8747

MICHAEL D. O'BRIEN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Bend

Address

78 NW Kearney Ave. Ste 100. Bend, OR 97703

Phone

(541) 283-1266

MICHAEL D. O'BRIEN & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Eugene

Address

2451 Willamette Street, Eugene, OR 97405

Phone

(503) 751-3444

We are a debt relief agency. We represent people in Oregon who are filing for bankruptcy under the United States Bankruptcy Code.

Our mailing address for all locations is: 7609 SW Beveland Rd. Portland, OR 97223. If you are mailing in documents or a payment, please use this address.

Copyright 2026 Michael D. O’Brien & Associates, P.C. – All Rights Reserved. Powered by Advantage Attorney Marketing & Cloud Solutions

DOWNLOAD THE FREE BOOK NOW

Oregon Bankruptcy Relief

OpenAI Landing Page (Free Oregon Bankruptcy Book)

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions

Facing Complex Debt Problems?

Facing Complex Debt Problems?

Whether you’re dealing with overwhelming debt, stopping foreclosure or repossession proceedings, or looking for a way to protect your assets, our Portland bankruptcy attorneys are here to help you overcome your financial hurdles!
Eugene Bankruptcy Attorney LP Form

Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions