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

See All Attorney Licenses See Less Attorney Licenses

Location

Fresh Start Law, PLLC

(717) 297-7556

Mobile

1701 W Market Street, York, PA, 17404

freshstartyork.com/

Message Get Directions

See All Locations See Less Locations

Gallery

Dawn Marie Cutaia's Reviews

Have you consulted or hired this attorney before?

Leave a review for your experience with this attorney.

Write a Review

Overall Rating
This is an aggregated review score of Avvo and Lawyers.com reviews.

4.9 /5.0

107 Client Reviews

Avvo

5.0

(97)

Lawyers.com

4.9

(10 )

See client reviews from Lawyers.com

Filter Avvo Reviews (97) Refine reviews to match your needs. Use the filters to quickly surface reviews that align with your case or priorities.

Star rating

5 stars 96

4 stars 0

3 stars 0

2 stars 1

1 star 0

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 11 - 15 of 29 reviews | Professionalism

Posted by Kim | January 20, 2022 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

A+ Representation

Dawn is hands down the kindest, most compassionate and understanding lawyer I have ever worked with. Bankruptcy is a very scary thing to undertake. It takes a lot of time and consideration to make sure it's the right path for you. From the moment I reached out to Dawn she went above and beyond to mak...e me feel comfortable, confident, and understood. She explained everything in layman's terms and was always available for questions. I was a bit needy at times and not once did she ever express any hint of annoyance at my ridiculous questions and requests (thanks for that!). It was so comforting to have a competent and empathetic individual representing me over the last 5 years. It truly felt like I was a person and not a number or paycheck. I highly recommend Dawn's services for whatever your needs might be. You won't regret it. And while I hope to never need her services again, I would not hesitate for a moment before choosing Dawn to represent me in the future.

See Full Review Collapse Review

Dawn Cutaia

Replied last January 22, 2022

Kim - it is perfectly normal to be stressed out during this whole process. I really enjoyed representing you! You deserve your fresh start. Thank you for letting me help you get it :) - Dawn

Posted by Bob | February 25, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Best lawyer experience

Dawn was a Godsend at a very difficult time for me. She treated me with dignity and respect at a time when I needed that. She was brilliant in her knowledge of bankruptcy law. Most important to me, she was always available, returning my phone calls immediately and answered all of my questions with pr...ofessional competence. Even after the bankruptcy was successfully discharged, she told me I could always ask her questions and she has kept her word. I would be proud to refer her to my family and anyone else I care about.

See Full Review Collapse Review

Dawn Cutaia

Replied last February 25, 2021

Bob - thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to write a review. I truly appreciate it! I am glad I was able to help you - and absolutely never hesitate to reach out if you need some assistance. Enjoy your fresh start! :)

Posted by anonymous | February 24, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

The only lawyer I ever hope to have!

I made some really stupid mistakes trying to make ends meet as a single parent, and it ended up coming back to me. I was being sued by a few credit card companies and had no choice but to file bankruptcy. I found Dawn through Google and she was so helpful from the very beginning. She walked me t...hrough everything thoroughly so I understood what was going on and never once made me feel awful for going through something like this. She answered every question I had quickly and thoroughly. Even after my bankruptcy was filed and I was still getting harassed by a few companies, she went out of her way to address the issue to make them stop. Dawn helped me relieve the stress from my life and start fresh. It's only been 2 months since my bankruptcy was finalized, but I feel like a completely new person with a decent credit score for once haha If anyone ever needs assistance, she is and always will be the one I recommend!

See Full Review Collapse Review

Dawn Cutaia

Replied last October 04, 2021

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review! You shouldn't feel like you made mistakes as a single parent. Honestly, everything is so expensive and people everywhere are struggling just to make ends meet. Everywhere you turn there are all these little expenses that really add up. Plus we are bombarded with advertisements pushing us to spend money literally all the time. Being a single parent just makes it even harder. Enjoy your fresh start - you deserve it!

Posted by Jeff | June 23, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Great to work with

I came across Dawns website when I had decided to get a second opinion on potentially filing for bankruptcy. The original attorney sat with me for 3 minutes and made what I felt was a snap decision without really looking at my finances. I found Dawns website had a lot of great information and was wel...l set up so I decided to set up an appointment. Dawn is very knowledgeable in the laws and is very open and honest with what you can expect. She took the time to really review my finances and help me get into the best option possible for me. She was always willing to answer my questions and explain things in layman’s terms so you can really understand what is happening. Highly recommended!

See Full Review Collapse Review

Posted by Alex | February 10, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

A Beacon in a Financial Storm

Several years ago, my married life was in poor health and my financial life was also suffering. The two were intertwined. Unexpectedly, my spouse left the home, a significant amount of debt, and I myself was shell shocked when child support payments began. I was in financial hell and that's when I ...contacted Dawn's firm. Dawn provided objective legal advice and provided options so I could make the best decision for me. Dawn was there every step of the way throughout the bankruptcy process. I had many questions as new circumstances arose during the process. Dawn would answer my questions and helped improve the total outcome. I finally got through the entire process and Dawn was there for me at the finish line. My financial health is much improved and I am making wiser choices in my financial future. Many thanks to Dawn and her team.

See Full Review Collapse Review

Dawn Cutaia

Replied last February 10, 2020

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review - and I am happy that you had such a positive experience. Divorce is one of the major reasons people have to file bankruptcy and that stress - on top of just the regular stress of filing bankruptcy - can be overwhelming. Thank you for trusting me to help you get through it. :)

See All Client Reviews

1 2 3 4 5 6

« First ‹ Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next › Last »

Dawn Marie Cutaia's Lawyer Endorsements

Received

Given

Endorse Dawn