Robert J. Liptak

My Education:

I attended Lehigh University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Psychology in 1976.  My scholastic distinctions include a National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete award; Division 1AA Academic All-American award and post-graduate scholarship; NCAA Pat Pazetti Scholar-Athlete Award; and the Lehigh University’s Bosey-Ritter Scholar-Athlete and Leadership Award.

I earned his doctor of jurisprudence degree from the Marshall-Wythe School of Law at the College of William and Mary in 1979, the nation’s oldest law school.

Each year I spend numerous hours attending continuing legal education seminars and conferences in the area of Bankruptcy, Debtor and Creditor law, Federal Practice and Ethics to keep abreast of the cutting edge developments in the field of debt relief and to serve his clients more effectively.

I have spent large part of my career as an educator and now produce a weekly radio show aired in Southeastern Iowa on KRUU FM.  This is a pro bono show to help educate people in all areas of debt and its influence on our lives.  The name of the show is Life and Debt and there have been over 100 broadcasts since 2008.  You can visit and replay all the shows through Life and Debt Radio Show Archives.  It is a valuable learning experience and wise use of your time.

I am licensed to practice in Pennsylvania (since 1979), New York (since 1986) and Iowa (since 1990).  Currently my active practice is solely in Iowa.  I am a member of the Iowa State Bar Association and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).  I am admitted to practice before the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Northern Districts of Iowa and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa.

I am a federally designated debt relief agent under  the United States Bankruptcy Laws. He assists individuals, couples and businesses with finding solutions to their debt problems, including, where appropriate, assisting them with filing bankruptcy and receiving a fresh start with the aid of federal and state law.

More about me:

I DO NOT . . .

. . . have a fancy office in an expensive office building or other unnecessary overhead to impress anyone. This would force me to charge you a lot just to pay for rent and overhead. I operate a virtual office out of my country home with a view to limiting costs in order to benefit you.

. . . have a receptionist sitting in waiting room filled with plush chairs and expensive decor where I play non-stop self-promotion DVD’s.  These would give me excuses to keep you waiting. I never like to be kept waiting, do not have a waiting room and do not keep my clients waiting—ever!.

. . . have a staff scurrying about looking busy or filling out the petition with you. This would make it easy for your file to get lost or mistakes to be made by people who are trying to understand and do my job.

. . . take every kind of case that comes into my office. My practice is primarily limited to Bankruptcy and debt relief issues and solutions. This focuses my time and resources on helping people like you who are experiencing financial difficulty and really need me.

I DO . . .

. . . handle every case personally. This gives you the benefit of my personal attention.  You're never just another file.  You're a person with needs.  I am very accessible and responsive.

. . . answer all of my phone calls. This creates direct and immediate communication between us. It avoids the delay, miscommunication and lack of communication which  leaves you dissatisfied.  It also gives you the confidence that you aren't being handed off to someone who doesn't know the details about your case or who doesn’t have the answers to your questions when you ask them--and who in many cases should not be giving legal advice anyway.

. . . normally attend the meeting of creditors (also called the MOC or 341 hearing) with my clients.  I feel this is the most stressful event in the process for  debtors.  I want to be there to support you as much as possible.  (Some offices regularly have another attorney appear from them at this meeting.)

. . . read all of my own faxes and e-mails. This keeps me up to date at all times.

. . . use technology as much as possible. This makes me faster and more efficient than would otherwise be possible—which also keeps costs down.

I have organized my office to make it easier for you to work with me in order to reduce the fees and costs to you. --RJL

Personally, I am happily married, am the father of 4 (3 daughters and one son) and have two grandchildren. My family is the center of my life and everything about having such a wonderful family brings me tremendous happiness and fulfillment...