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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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 16 - 20 of 33 reviews | Practice Area Knowledge

Posted by Mathew | March 25, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Honest and genuine!

Dawn M. Cutaia handled my bankruptcy case. Throughout the entire process, she made a very difficult and stressful situation easier to handle. Dawn is responsive and easy to reach. All of my questions were answered quickly via text, email or phone call. The one thing that stood out to me from the very... beginning, is that Dawn actually takes an interest in her Clients. From day one she heard me out, my personal story of how I found myself in the mess I was consumed by. Other attorneys I had spoken to were in such a hurry to tell you what the fees were and get you off of the phone. Dawn took the time to understand my personal situation before we ever discussed a fee. On that note, the fees were less expensive than other larger Law Firms. Less cost and way more personal interaction and attention to detail. I hate the fact that I was in this situation to begin with, but I am blessed that I found Dawn M. Cutaia to help me through to the other side. Now I can begin to correct my financial course.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last October 04, 2021

Matt - thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review - and I'm sorry for the delay in responding to it - I must have missed the notification. I am so glad that you had a positive experience and also felt that my fees were reasonable - that makes me happy! Thank you again - I truly hope you are enjoying your fresh start :)

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.

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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 Matt | February 18, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Excellent Guidance and Representation Through Our Chapter 13 Plan

Dawn was an excellent choice when we had to discuss our situation. She was very clear and thorough in laying out the facts and information we needed before we made our decision to file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Dawn made the process very easy on us and walked us through everything step by step. Durin...g our five year plan life happened and Dawn helped us through it and helped us file an additional motion in regards to needs for a vehicle. Dawn was very quick to respond to our inquiries through email and text message. As we neared the end of our plan Dawn provided all the information we needed as we worked towards our discharge letter. I had many questions about how the process worked and what it all meant and again, she was very quick, clear and thorough on her responses. As she was when we filed she handled this quickly and made it very simple for us to do. Even though we wish we would not have had to file and work through a Chapter 13 plan, we absolutely made the right decision in having Dawn represent us through this.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last February 18, 2021

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review - I really appreciate it. I'm so glad I was able to help you guys get through this - you were both easy to work with and you listened to me and took my advice - so thank you for that too! If you ever need anything further, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Posted by Vanessa | February 18, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Knowledgeable and professional

Dawn was great. She walked me through every step of processing my bankruptcy. She explained what I needed to do, and what to expect. When I had questions, she got me answers. She actually helped take away the embarrassment that I felt at having to take the step of filing. I would have to say that Daw...n knows her job and does it well.p

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last February 18, 2021

Vanessa - thank you so much for taking the time to write a review - I really appreciate it! I am really glad I was able to make you feel better about the process. Good luck in the future and please do not ever hesitate to reach out to me if you need help!

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!

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