If you are thinking about bankruptcy, you might be nervous, scared, or embarrassed. All of those are perfectly natural feelings, but please know that I truly care about all my clients and there will be no judgment with me. I fully understand that people file bankruptcy for all sorts of reasons, from job loss, medical bills, and divorce, to name just a few. Sometimes it is because someone just isn't great with money - and that is OK too! :)

I will be sure to go over all of your options with you, including non-bankruptcy options. I will take my time to explain everything to you so you feel comfortable with any decision you make. I have been told on more than a few occasions that I make filing for bankruptcy fun. So try not to stress and give me a call. The consultation is free and I promise you that you will feel so much better after we talk.

My firm is small, and the lawyers I work with all take pride in being extremely responsive to our clients. You won't be leaving messages, waiting days for someone to get back to you. We know that having a legal issue can be very stressful and when you have a question, you want an answer quickly.

Background: Dawn was born in Queens, New York, and admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1996. She received her associate's degree in 1991 from Westchester Community College in Valhalla, NY, her Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 from Barry University in Miami, Florida, graduating summa cum laude, and her law degree in 1996 from the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Dawn has practiced a wide variety of law since being admitted to the bar in 1996, including criminal defense, family law, and bankruptcy. Dawn currently concentrates her practice in the areas of consumer bankruptcy. Dawn has been invovled with the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association for many years, including serving on the board.

Bankruptcy: Dawn handles both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies, as well as assisting clients with negotiating with creditors when bankruptcy is not an option or not the option clients wish to pursue. Dawn assists clients with mortgage foreclosures, loan modifications, and the defense of lawsuits by credit card companies and other creditors. Dawn has been practicing bankruptcy law since she became an attorney in 1996.

Dawn is a regular speaker for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association, where she develops courses and teaches other lawyers about technology, bankruptcy, ethics, and criminal defense. Dawn is a former president of the Middle District Bankruptcy Bar Association and currently serves as a board member and co-chair of the Technology and Website Committee.

Dawn was awarded the York County Bar Foundation's Pro Bono Award several times throughout her career and is committed to assisting indigent clients whenever possible.

Dawn's hobbies include cycling, running, photography, quilting and sewing, and hanging out with her dog, Foxy.

Practice Areas

Bankruptcy and Debt 25%

I help clients figure out the best way to deal with overwhelming debt, whether that be by filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, or by negotiating settlements with their creditors or litigating creditor lawsuits.

25%

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy 25%

25%

Debt Collection 25%

25%

Debt Settlement 25%

25%

Fees and Rates

Cost

Free Consultation

$0 first 30 minutes

Payment Methods

Cash
Check

Licenses

Licensed in Pennsylvania for 29 years

State: Pennsylvania

Acquired: 1996

Active

No misconduct found

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Location

Fresh Start Law, PLLC

(717) 297-7556

Mobile

1701 W Market Street, York, PA, 17404

freshstartyork.com/

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Dawn Marie Cutaia's Reviews

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Overall Rating
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4.9 /5.0

107 Client Reviews

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5.0

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5 stars 96

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2 stars 1

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Practice Areas

Bankruptcy & Debt (55) Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (6) Chapter 13 Bankruptcy (4) Lawsuits & Disputes (4) Debt Settlement (3) Business (2) Debt Collection (2) Foreclosure (2) Child Support (1) Contracts & Agreements (1)

What Clients Mention

Practice Area Knowledge (33) Recommendation (31) Professionalism (29) Case Results (28) Responsiveness (26) Communication Style (22) Compassion (20) Advocacy (19) Character & Conduct (13) General Knowledge (13) Trustworthiness (8) Cost of Services (5) Staff & Support (5) Punctuality (3) Payment Plans (1)

Showing 66 - 70 of 97 reviews

Posted by Amanda | October 31, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

To Be Trusted

I hired Dawn to help me with filing bankruptcy. I've run into hard times and suffer from chronic illness. Sometimes you can tell immediately when someone has your best interest at heart; my first phone conversation with Dawn had me assured of this. Dawn was professional; she knew what she was doing a...nd the certainty gave me calm. She always answered my questions immediately. She did not only represent me but saw me as a human being going through a rough time, and made sure the process was smooth for me. I'd trust her with my closest people, and I would recommend her services to anyone.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last October 31, 2019

Amanda you were a joy to represent. Thank you for taking the time to write a review. If you ever need anything just let me know :)

Posted by Greg | July 01, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

DAWN IS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL!!!!

I'm a small business owner in central Pa. I was in a place, that I just could NOT imagine that I would ever be in financially. I got myself into a bind. After struggling what do to and what not to do for some time, I made the call to Dawn. Now, I have to tell everyone...that I'm what I call a "basket... case client" lol. My nerves were shot....I was a complete mess. Not knowing what to do, where to start, what to say, how to say it. And on the other end of my phone line.....was the calmest, coolest most collected, confident, well spoken put you at ease gal I have EVER met! That was/is Dawn. She put me at ease right away. She talked to me like I was a person, like I mattered, and made me feel like I wasn't alone. And I was NOT alone with Dawn. She answered EVERY question I had. She answered every one of my "OMG WHAT THE HECK AM I GOING TO DO"! Texts. I'm the kind of person that needs reassurance. That I'm on the right path, that I'm doing this the right way. She gave that to me and MORE! And I NEEDED THAT! VERY, VERY MUCH! As a small business owner, I struggled with the decisions I made. How did I get to this place? Am I the only one in the world that has dropped the ball like this? Can I rebuild my company? Can I get another shot at trying? Guys and gals reading this.....DAWN GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE TO DO THIS! And CONTINUE TO DO THIS! I have a clean slate! And I'm gonna give it my all to build this again! Dawn was and IS a HUGE PART OF THAT. I'm not the most well spoken, or articulate person writing this review. I know that. But let me tell you....DAWN IS FREAKING AWESOME!!! I absolutely ADORE this woman! You want someone who shoots straight from the hip....cuts through the crap....Tells you what's up....guides you, and TALKS TO YOU LIKE A PERSON.....THIS RIGHT HERE IS THE LADY YOU TALK TO! I'm VERY fortunate to have made this call, and found Dawn. I'm telling you I was in tears over the decision to file. This was a TOUGH decision for me. I just had a hard time admitting to myself I needed help. I'm a guy....what do you expect... :) If you're considering calling an attorney...If your nerves are COMPLETELY SHOT.....CALL DAWN. Talk to her.....let her talk to you. She's the real deal. She's as real as real can get. I actually miss blowing up her phone with 20 questions while she's trying to relax....lol... Thanks for reading....:)

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last July 01, 2019

Greg - you are awesome :) I am so glad everything worked out for you and you can text me any time you want LOL.

Posted by Jlb | January 29, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Mrs.

Dawn is a phenomenal attorney, both professional and friendly. Let me just say I was a little reluctant because much of the business is handled online and you’ll probably never meet her face to face. In the end, I found this method of business to be more convenient. She is easy to talk to and takes h...er time to explain everything. I never felt rushed or like she had something better to do. She returns emails and other correspondences in a timely manner. For my case, she seemed to always be available, as if she never sleeps. With such a stressful financial situation, sleep was not at the top of my list. If I emailed in the middle of the night she would sometimes respond before I woke for work. I found her to be thorough and precise. Her years of experience allowed her to foresee questions the courts may pose and answer them before asked. She was extremely patient and calm which helped make the difficult decision and process bareable. When I struggled emotionally about the reality of my financial situation, she never judged me and calmly reassured me that I was not bad or abnormal for having financial challenges. If you are faced with the need to file bankruptcy I highly recommend her. She will guide you every step of the way preparing you for what’s to come so you can make informed decisions.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last January 29, 2019

Thank you so much for your kind words. It was truly a pleasure to represent you- you always responded to MY emails just as fast :) The online meeting works really well for many people since we are all so busy these days. Thank you again for taking the time to write a review and if there is anything I can ever help you with in the future just let me know! Dawn

Posted by anonymous | November 18, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

A Lawyer and a Friend

You can only read so much about bankruptcy online before coming to the realization that you need professional help. Uninformed and scared, I had an initial consultation with another bankruptcy attorney before coming to Dawn's office. It's not that Dawn was my second choice, rather the complete resu...lt of my availability. I was uneasy after leaving the first appointment and was relieved that I already had a "second opinion" meeting scheduled. I was immediately at ease upon meeting Dawn. She understood my circumstances and guided me through a Chapter 7, complicated by a small business in my name. She has a complete knowledge of the law. She understands the process, and she knows the players involved too. Dawn's website is informative and easy to navigate. Dawn's communication skills are exceptional. Here ability to truly listen is even better. I could tell by the questions she was asking that she was already thinking ahead. I was obviously nervous and scared of bankruptcy, but Dawn took all of my anxiety away. Because of my complicated case, Dawn and I communicated quite a bit. Our conversations soon began with talk of dogs and hobbies and such before getting to the task at hand. And I knew I wasn't "on the clock" when it was friendly conversation and not strictly attorney-client. I feel that we got to know each other quite well during the process. I am now on the other side. The bankruptcy has been discharged. If I had to do it all over again, I would not have changed anything. I wouldn't want anyone else beside me, Dawn was prepared and professional. She navigated the process, she managed my emotions. I gained a valuable asset "in the rolodex", but I feel that I also gained a friend. Thank you Dawn!

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last November 18, 2018

Thank you so much for these kinds words - and I do love talking about dogs :) LOL. So glad you are doing well. - Dawn

Posted by Dean | June 25, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Bankruptcy is not and end, it a NEW BEGINNING.

Where do I even start with this, we contacted Dawn after asking a lawyer friend of my wife's who he could recommend to us and he, without hesitation, said Dawn Cutaia. My wife contacted her and explained our situation with to us seemed complicated. We were working with our mortgage company for almo...st a year to do a modification and to make a very long story short, they put us in a no-win situation and did not care. We told Dawn the story and that our house was now in foreclosure and was up for sheriff sale. She took what we thought was a completely hopeless situation and made it into where we are today, on track financially and building a great credit profile. She made everything so easy and even more importantly, she made us feel like human beings, not scum of the earth for filing bankruptcy. She is one of the absolute best people my wife and I have ever met and I can tell you that because of her professionalism and caring attitude I would never hesitate to recommend her to anyone who finds themselves in financial hopelessness or someone who just needs some help to climb out of the hole they got themselves into. Thank you, Dawn, for everything you did for us and for being you.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last June 25, 2018

Thank you so much for your kind words and you are NOT "scum of the earth" for filing bankruptcy! I am so happy that you are feeling better about your situation :) Dawn

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