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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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 31 reviews | Recommendation

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 anonymous | June 03, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Chapter 7

Dawn did an excellent job for me! I tell her she was an angel sent from above...After a man I was married to for 18 years decided to leave I was drowning in debt. Three judgements against me and one on the way. Working everyday of the week I was still getting no where. One day I just happen to stumbl...e on Dawn's advert and it jumped out at me. Set up an appointment immediately. She listens to all you have to say without making judgement; she truly wants to help and DOES! I was scared to death and didn't have a clue what I was going to do...walking out of her office after consultation I felt peace..... Just amazing. She returns emails very quickly and her website explains everything you need to know. Cost is way below average. I would definitely recommend her services to everyone. A caring professional attorney.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last June 03, 2018

Thank you for taking the time to write this review. I am so glad you felt comfortable with me and that I helped you get back on your feet :)

Posted by Jason | June 03, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

I recommend Dawn to anyone in financial crisis

My wife and I contacted Dawn about our financial situation. We were struggling and couldn't pay all our bills. We thought bankruptcy would be a complecated thing to do, but after consulting with Dawn we trusted her and filed bankruptcy. She told us that if we did everything she told us to do, that we... could buy a house in 2 years. Well, my wife and I each have a new car and an awesome house we just bought 3 weeks ago. Almost exactly 2 years after filing bankruptcy. I'm writing this review because I want people who are considering bankruptcy to know that Dawn can help you out of a hole and get you a fresh start.

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last June 03, 2018

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this review. I get this question so often - people think that bankruptcy will be impossible to bounce back from, but everyone deserves a fresh start and a chance to get their life in order and bankruptcy can really help people do that. I'm so happy for your new house - that's really exciting! :)

Posted by anonymous | June 03, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Bankruptcy & Debt

Highly recommend for bankruptcy and debt relief help

I owned a small business that was unfortunately too highly leveraged from the outset and slowly began to sink. I was beyond stressed when I received a judgement notice from a credit card. I was so lucky to find Dawn's very easy to navigate website, and she called me back instantly. Dawn is SO ...smart, she knows every in and out for PA bankruptcy and she took the time to walk me through all my options and legal ramifications. We looked at the advantages/disadvantages of both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. She is experienced, and because of this she was able to help me know what to expect through the process. She put my mind at ease and I felt fantastic having her in my corner to navigate our very thorny legal system. Because of the assets in the business my Chapter 7 ended up being fairly complicated, but Dawn was always one step ahead of the process and I always felt prepared. Bankruptcy honestly scared me more than anything in my life ever had, and Dawn was really able to give me a sense of control during the process and also a sense of perspective. She is a very kind person and she made me feel so much better about the whole situation and she took away some of the inevitable feelings of guilt and judgement that I was going through personally. The highest praise I could give Dawn is to recommend her to family/friends and I have already done this. Honestly, you won't find a more knowledgeable, committed, and caring lawyer anywhere. Give her a call and start taking back your life, I promise things are MUCH better on the back end of this process!

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Dawn Cutaia

Replied last June 03, 2018

Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so glad you are feeling better now :)

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