Barton S Balis

I was at a difficult time in my life and unfortunately needed to file for bankruptcy. This was not part of my plan. Some how I found Bart Balis. He is fantastic. He guided me through the process with compassion and dignity. He was thorough, patient with all of my questions and uncertainties, and extr...emely confidential. I would highly recommend Bart for his expertise in the bankruptcy.

My husband and I anguished for over a year on how to handle our financial situation. Job loss and unexpected expenses found us in a scary situation where bills were being paid by credit card. After a successful year on debt consolidation plan, we found ourselves unable to cover expenses and the debt ...consolidation company told us that our best course was Bankruptcy. Bart was the first lawyer that we met with and he put us at ease right away in a very emotional situation. He looked us straight in the eyes and said it was going to be okay. Bart's confidence and reassurance and willingness to answer desperate calls and emails as we navigated Chapter 7 went far above our expectations. His representation of us before the Trustee was fair and sound and he wasn't running in the door at the last minute like many of the other lawyers there for their hearing. Bart advocated for us before, during and after and stayed in touch as we waited for the final case closing, which came today after 15 long months. You simply will not find a more caring, knowledgeable, gracious person to help you through the Bankruptcy process. Thanks to Bart, we didn't just have a fresh start, we had a running start.

For my wife and myself, the specter of Chapter 7 bankruptcy was filled with uncertainty and anxiety. In our very first meeting with Bart Balis he provided perspective and empathy that made going through Chapter 7 a much less stressful process than we had expected. During our early meetings, the pre...paration process, and the actual bankruptcy hearing, Bart was a real professional. If I were looking for a bankruptcy attorney today I would want four things: empathy; good communication skills; outstanding legal skills; and an attorney who is respected by his peers including bankruptcy trustees. Bart Balis is outstanding in each of these areas. I highly recommend that you seriously consider retaining the services of Bart Balis if you are facing Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

I initially hired Barton S. Balis approximately 4 years ago due to serious financial losses which I felt could only be settled by filing bankruptcy; I remain his client as of this writing. At 62 years of age (when first meeting Bart), and after 30 years in public education, vested in a PERA retirem...ent program with some personal investments, I was devastated; I felt simply put that "the bottom looked like up". Personally, and equally emotionally painful, was that the primary reason for this legal issue was due to attempting to help an immediate family member who did not share/reciprocate my support and care. Bart has counseled and supported me in an intelligent, informative, and ("layman level") clear manner such that I felt/feel that an end to this is possible. Equally important, he has offered precise and trusting communication to my wife (directly, or in relation to her with just myself) relative to the possible impact to her financial stability, as well of course, ours. Having had only one prior interaction with an attorney in my lifetime, and for nothing akin to this, I was frightened beyond expression, ignorant of even being able to ask the appropriate questions, and it was all compounded by a very personal, non-related issue. We have just learned that my wife is to be a survivor relative to breast cancer; so throughout the course of this legal issue my wife and I have dealt with frightening "what if's" of a most personal nature. Bart has been aware of this, and in such a significant way, by not only voicing obvious, heart-felt concern ("A.J., your legal problems pale in comparison to your spouses recovery"), but expertly directing/guiding my case, he has made our personal "journey" easier. I will not be filing bankruptcy, but due specifically to Bart's intelligence, integrity, and wisdom, I will see an "end" that is in so many ways more financially beneficial to us, and personally, less emotionally assaultive. And the empathy and personal concern displayed by this gentleman relative to my wife's health "journey" was certainly not required but was without equal in it's positive impact.

In 2007 Bart helped us file a Chapter 7. Everything seemed to work out in our favor until 3 years later. In 2010 we discovered that Bart's office did not send in our Reaffirmation paperwork on our 2nd Mortgage until Oct. 24th of 2007. Our discharge date was Aug. 28th 2007. Due to the Reaffirmation(wh...ich was signed by all parties) was not sent in prior to the discharge the Court did not recognized the Reaffirmation and therefore the Lender reported it as discharged on our credit reports. This not only is stopping us from refinancing our mortgage but also blocks us from buying another home. It also means we did not get any Good Credit for paying our 2nd mortgage (never missed or late on any payment since the loan was generated). Instead the mortgage company is stating that we are voluntarily making payments and we will have a lien on our house. Bart and Bart's office did not inform us of any of this!! After doing research to find out my options(speaking with the trustee, court and other lawyers) WE ARE SCREWED because somebody did not do their job by sending in paperwork on time. Just be warned to follow up on every piece of paper that needs to be filed with the court before discharge and don't count on this office to do that for you.