Drowning in Debt in Portland?
Portland filings run through the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon at the Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse downtown. Oregon's homestead exemption is modest by national standards ($40,000 for an individual; $50,000 for joint owners), which makes the federal exemption choice strategically important — Oregon allows debtors to choose either the state set or the federal set under 11 U.S.C. § 522(d). The right firm will run the comparison and pick the system that maximizes what you keep.
We've shortlisted 10 Portland bankruptcy firms with significant District of Oregon filings, sustained client review records, and the experience to handle Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and small-business cases. Most charge flat fees with payment plans. Initial consultations are free.
How we picked these 10: We reviewed published verdicts and settlements, peer rankings (Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, Chambers and Partners, Avvo, AAML, AILA), client review patterns, and bar association recognition. Firms that appeared consistently across independent sources made the list. We do not accept payment for placement, and we do not write sponsored reviews. More on our methodology →
Practice focus: Consumer Chapter 7, Chapter 13, small-business
Started by Todd Trierweiler in 1985 — 40,000+ clients represented over four decades. Six attorneys with sustained Portland filing volume.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
Adam Weiner has been litigating since 1998 and focused on bankruptcy since 2009. Personalized practice with substantial Portland Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 volume.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, small-business
Service-oriented Oregon/Washington bankruptcy firm with 1,000+ filed cases. Cross-state practice covering the Portland metro and SW Washington.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Portland boutique focused on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 consumer filings. Strong client-communication practice and flat-fee Chapter 7 with payment plans.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, planning and filing
Comprehensive consumer-bankruptcy practice with strong pre-filing planning — they walk through alternatives before recommending bankruptcy.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
Long-tenured Portland solo with substantial District of Oregon filings. Personalized handling — every case is run by Mr. Kane directly.
Practice focus: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 — debtor representation
Specializes in representing individuals and small businesses in Chapter 7 (liquidation) and Chapter 13 (wage-earner reorganization). Long District of Oregon practice.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13
NE Portland consumer-bankruptcy boutique with multiple offices and substantial Chapter 7/13 volume. Free consultations.
Practice focus: Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure defense
Portland metro consumer-bankruptcy boutique with focus on foreclosure-defense Chapter 13 filings to cure mortgage arrears and stop a sale.
Practice focus: Business bankruptcy, Chapter 11 reorganizations
Major Pacific Northwest firm with a substantial business-bankruptcy and restructuring practice. Best-fit for business owners and creditors in larger Chapter 11 matters rather than typical consumer filings.
Tell us about your situation and we'll match you with vetted bankruptcy attorneys in Portland. Free, confidential, no obligation.
Request Free Consultation →Fill this out and we will match you with two or three vetted Portland firms within 24 hours. No fee. No obligation. Privacy policy.
A typical Portland Chapter 7 case takes 3 to 5 months from filing to discharge. Chapter 13 plans run 36 to 60 months. Your attorney prepares schedules, runs the means test, files the petition (which triggers the automatic stay), represents you at the 341 meeting of creditors, and shepherds the case to discharge. Most consumer cases never see a courtroom — meetings of creditors are held remotely or at the U.S. Trustee's Portland office.
Portland Chapter 7 attorney fees typically run $1,500–$2,800 plus the $338 court filing fee. Chapter 13 fees run $3,500–$5,500 with most paid through the plan. Business bankruptcy and Chapter 11 are billed hourly at $375–$650+. Beware unusually low fees — they often signal a high-volume mill. Get the fee structure in writing.
Oregon allows the federal exemption choice. Oregon is one of about 17 states that allows debtors to choose either the state exemption set (ORS 18.345) or the federal set under 11 U.S.C. § 522(d). The choice depends on what assets you have. Your attorney will run both calculations before filing.
Oregon homestead — modest but stackable. The Oregon homestead exemption is $40,000 for an individual and $50,000 for joint owners (ORS 18.395). The federal homestead exemption is $27,900 (2024 figure, indexed). Either way, Portland's high home values often mean equity exceeds the exemption — making Chapter 13 the better option for many homeowners.
District of Oregon — Mark O. Hatfield Courthouse. Portland filings are docketed in the District of Oregon (1000 SW 3rd Ave, Downtown Portland). Local trustees handle the typical Multnomah/Washington/Clackamas County case profile. A firm with sustained Portland filings will know each trustee's documentation preferences.
Don't drain a 401(k) to pay debt before filing. Oregon — like federal law — exempts ERISA-qualified retirement accounts. Liquidating retirement to pay credit cards before filing is one of the most expensive mistakes consumers make.
The legal directories you find on Google list thousands of Portland bankruptcy firms. Most are competent. A few are problematic. The patterns to avoid:
Guaranteed outcomes. No ethical attorney can guarantee a result. If a firm promises a specific recovery, dismissal, or approval, walk away.
The disappearing partner. You meet a senior attorney at intake, then never speak to them again. The case is handled by an unsupervised junior or a paralegal. Ask in writing who will be your day-to-day attorney.
Pressure to sign immediately. Reputable firms give you the engagement letter in writing, time to read it, and the option to take it home. High-pressure intake is almost always a sign of a volume mill, not a craftsperson's practice.
No verifiable track record. The firm should be able to point to verdicts, settlements, peer rankings, or bar-association recognition. “We've helped thousands of clients” is marketing copy. Specific numbers, named cases, and third-party rankings are evidence.
Vague fee terms. “Don't worry about cost” is a red flag. Every legitimate Portland lawyer will give you a written engagement letter with the fee structure, what is covered, what triggers extra charges, and what happens if you fire them.
Most Portland firms on this list offer a free initial consultation. Use it. Bring a list of questions and write down the answers. Compare across at least two firms before you sign.
Most Portland Chapter 7 cases discharge 90 to 120 days from filing. The meeting of creditors is typically held 30 to 45 days after the petition; if no objections are filed within 60 days, discharge follows automatically.
Maybe — Oregon's homestead exemption ($40,000 individual / $50,000 joint, or $27,900 federal) is modest by national standards. If your equity exceeds the exemption, Chapter 7 may not be the right tool — Chapter 13 lets you reorganize and keep the home. Your attorney will run the numbers.
Usually not. Oregon exempts one motor vehicle up to $7,500 (ORS 18.345); federal exempts up to $4,450 with wildcard stack. If the loan is current and you reaffirm or redeem, you keep the car.
Court filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Attorney fees vary — see the cost section above. Some firms file Chapter 13 for $0 down with the fee paid through the plan.
Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for 10 years; Chapter 13 for 7 years. Scores often recover faster than people expect — the discharge removes the underlying delinquencies.
Pro se filings are allowed but rarely advisable. The federal-vs-state exemption choice alone has thousands of dollars at stake, and trustees scrutinize pro se filers harder. Hire a bankruptcy lawyer if you can.
One last thing. Choosing a lawyer is personal. Read the reviews. Call two or three firms before you sign. Ask each one: How many cases like mine have you handled in the last three years? The answer tells you everything. — The LawFirmSquare team