Chaifetz & Coyle, PC in Baltimore: Bankruptcy Law for Individual Debt and Business Restructuring

Chaifetz & Coyle, PC is a Baltimore-based bankruptcy law firm that handles Chapter 7 liquidations, Chapter 13 wage-earner plans, and Chapter 11 business reorganizations for both individual clients and commercial entities. The firm operates at a size typical of regional bankruptcy practices, large enough to manage complex filings but small enough to provide direct attorney contact rather than paralegal intermediaries.

What the firm handles

The practice focuses on three primary bankruptcy chapters. Chapter 7 discharges unsecured debt (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans) through asset liquidation; Chapter 13 restructures debt into a three-to-five-year repayment plan while protecting assets like a primary residence; Chapter 11 allows businesses to continue operations while restructuring debt. The firm also handles related matters including adversary proceedings (litigation within bankruptcy cases), lifts of the automatic stay (court motions to allow creditors to pursue secured collateral), and reaffirmation agreements (contracts to keep secured debts like car loans intact after discharge).

Individual debtors typically consult Chaifetz & Coyle when wage garnishment, foreclosure threats, or creditor lawsuits create urgency. Business owners contact the firm when cash flow cannot sustain debt payments or when a creditor has filed an involuntary bankruptcy petition. The firm does not advertise a flat fee for initial consultations, which is common in Baltimore bankruptcy practices; consultations are usually offered on an hourly basis or sometimes free for straightforward cases.

Fee structure and engagement

Bankruptcy legal fees in Baltimore vary by chapter type. Chapter 7 cases typically cost $1,200 to $2,500 in attorney fees (plus $338 filing fee paid to the federal court), though this range includes firms of varying sizes and specialization. Chapter 13 plans often carry fees of $2,000 to $4,000, and attorneys are paid through the repayment plan itself rather than upfront. Chapter 11 business cases are project-quoted because complexity ranges widely; a straightforward small-business reorganization may run $5,000 to $15,000, while larger commercial cases are substantially higher.

Chaifetz & Coyle's pricing is not publicly posted online, which mirrors the custom engagement model typical of bankruptcy law. Most Baltimore bankruptcy attorneys quote individually after an intake conversation, using factors like debt level, asset count, whether there are debts owed to the IRS or student loans (both require additional procedural steps), and case complexity. The firm can typically confirm a fee and timeline within one initial consultation. Unlike some bankruptcy mills, smaller regional firms tend to allow clients to pay fees across several months before filing if cash flow is constrained.

How Chaifetz & Coyle compares to other Baltimore bankruptcy options

Baltimore's bankruptcy legal landscape includes individual practitioners, small partnerships like Chaifetz & Coyle, mid-sized firms with 10 to 20 attorneys, and larger regional/national debt relief networks. Solo practitioners and small two-to-three-attorney firms (such as some solo practitioners in the Federal Building downtown) often offer lower initial fees but less infrastructure for complex disputes or multiple filings. Larger network firms, particularly those that also offer credit counseling or debt settlement services, sometimes cross-sell additional products; standalone bankruptcy attorneys do not.

Chaifetz & Coyle's positioning as a dedicated bankruptcy partnership (rather than a general practice that handles bankruptcy as one of several practice areas) means deeper expertise in the procedural nuances of Maryland-specific creditor practices and Baltimore's federal bankruptcy court (U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, sitting at 101 West Lombard Street). Attorneys in general practices often refer complex bankruptcies out, adding time and cost. For Chapter 13 cases in particular, local knowledge of the Chapter 13 trustee's office in Baltimore and the judges' preferences on repayment plan confirmation matters is an advantage.

Choose Chaifetz & Coyle if you need a firm that specializes exclusively in bankruptcy and will provide direct attorney contact throughout your case. Choose a larger firm if you want integrated credit counseling or have parallel family law or business disputes that the same firm can handle under one roof. Choose a solo practitioner if your Chapter 7 case is straightforward and cost is your primary driver.

Who this firm suits and who it does not

Chaifetz & Coyle works well for Baltimore residents with moderate to high debt levels ($30,000 and above), multiple creditors, or recent wage garnishments and foreclosure threats. The firm also handles business owners whose companies face Chapter 11 reorganization, which requires the kind of specialized expertise a general practice attorney cannot reliably provide.

The firm may not suit someone with very low total debt ($5,000 or less) who could use a simpler debt settlement or creditor negotiation process, or someone whose primary goal is credit repair rather than discharge. It is also not a match for clients seeking only credit counseling or financial planning; those services are provided by nonprofit credit counseling agencies (such as Consumer Credit Counseling Services branches in Baltimore) or financial advisors, not bankruptcy attorneys.

What a first consultation involves

Initial consultations with Chaifetz & Coyle typically begin with a review of income, debts, and assets. The attorney will ask about recent income changes, whether anyone is threatening legal action, and whether you own a home or car (and whether either is behind on payments). The firm will explain which bankruptcy chapter fits your situation and outline the timeline and fee. For Chapter 7, this usually takes 30 to 60 days from filing to discharge order. For Chapter 13, you pay fees and enter the repayment plan itself, which takes three to five years.

You will be asked whether you have received a credit counseling briefing (required by federal law before filing); if not, the firm typically refers you to an approved provider. After filing, you must complete a financial management course as well. The firm will explain that your case involves a meeting with the bankruptcy trustee (a court-appointed neutral who administers your case) and that creditors may object, though uncontested cases are routine.

Hours, location, and logistics

Verification note: office hours and the specific street address are subject to change; call ahead to confirm.

Chaifetz & Coyle is located in downtown Baltimore, accessible to the federal courthouse on West Lombard Street. The office typically maintains Monday-to-Friday hours during business hours; evening or Saturday appointments are negotiable. Parking is available in the vicinity, though it is metered or pay-lot; the office is also served by MTA bus lines and light rail stops within walking distance. Virtual consultations are standard for initial calls and are often offered for follow-ups as well.

A bankruptcy filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland is filed electronically by the attorney; you do not need to visit the courthouse for the filing itself, though you must attend the trustee meeting in person. This meeting is held at the U.S. Trustee's office, also in downtown Baltimore, and typically lasts 5 to 10 minutes.

Why Chaifetz & Coyle matters in Baltimore

Bankruptcy cases require federal court expertise and knowledge of the local bankruptcy trustee's docket; a dedicated bankruptcy firm with roots in Baltimore's federal court system reduces errors and speeds resolution. For individuals facing wage garnishment or foreclosure, the firm's ability to file quickly and invoke the automatic stay is often the difference between keeping a home and losing one.