American Board of Certification
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Date and Place of Birth
October 21, 1963, Detroit MI.
Professional background
For over 10 years, Walter A. Metzen has represented
thousands of consumers needing a fresh financial start.
The Attorneys at
Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC pride ourselves in
giving personal attention to our clients. Our law firm
primarily represents individuals and small businesses,
not large corporations. The firm believes that
bankruptcy is an honest solution and offers a free
initial consultation. Walter received his law degree in
1991 from the University of Detroit and his
undergraduate B.S. degree in 1987 from Michigan State
University. He is licensed to practice in the State of
Michigan and and before the U.S. District Courts for the
Eastern and Western Districts of Michigan, as well as
the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western
District of Michigan. Attorney Metzen is a member of the
Michigan Bar, the American Bar Association, the Consumer
Bankruptcy Association, the National Association of
Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Inc., the American
Bankruptcy Institute, and the Debtor's Bar Association
of Detroit Michigan.
Firm Philosophy
Attorney Walter Metzen, the principal bankruptcy
attorney here at
Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC, has over 10 years
experience in consumer bankruptcy law, and has helped
thousands of Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan
residents get a fresh financial start. All associate
attorneys have also successfully assisted thousands of
clients with their bankruptcy filings. We maintain close
communication with our clients by being readily
available in person (walk-in times everyday), by
telephone by fax and by email. We are not the largest
law firm in Detroit. We are not the largest bankruptcy
law firm in Michigan, nor do we want to be. What we do
have is a dedicated, experienced staff that will provide
you with attentive, personalized service. We do not
believe that bigger is necessarily better. The attorneys
at
Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC strive to know the
law and know the Bankruptcy Court system. We study the
Bankruptcy Code, the Bankruptcy rules and the Local
Bankruptcy Rules for the Eastern District of Michigan.
We know the Bankruptcy Judges the Chapter 7 Trustee's
and the Chapter 13 Trustee's. We know the other local
bankruptcy attorneys and we can guide you through any
bankruptcy proceeding. All attorneys at Michigan
Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC stay current in the latest
developments in all our areas of practice and frequently
attend seminars, bankruptcy conferences and workshops to
maintain the highest level of bankruptcy law counseling
as possible.
At
Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC, the attorney you
speak with is the attorney who will go to Bankruptcy
Court with you. We will not send an attorney fresh out
of law school to represent you. At Detroit Michigan
Bankruptcy Lawyers .com, you will not be treated as one
more case in a huge bankruptcy factory...but you will be
given personal attention and good old fashioned legal
services...where you can talk to your attorney and
paralegal when you need to. We have a reputation in the
Metro Detroit area for providing our clients with
superior service at the lowest possible cost, keeping in
mind the client's needs for honest, and experienced
legal knowledge and service, while maintaining the
lowest fees possible. At Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers
PLLC, our philosophy is to provide the client with
honest advice, whether bankruptcy is appropriate for the
client or not, and to stand up for our client's best
interests. You can expect us to communicate with you
every step of the way, and explain to you all of our
recommendations. Our goal is to provide each client with
quality legal services and excellent communication at a
reasonable fee.
We offer free consultations, over the phone, the
internet, or in person.
Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC Office is
conveniently located just one-block from the US
Bankruptcy Court in Detroit Michigan to better serve
you. Because of our close proximity to the Bankruptcy
Court, we can file your case the same day if needed to
immediately stop foreclosure, car repossession, utility
shut off (gas, phone or electric) and stop those
creditor calls!
We at Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC are focused on
serving our clients. Our professional calling is to our
clients and only our clients, on a full-time basis, to
the best of our abilities. We at
Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC strive to render
bankruptcy legal services which are high quality,
ethical, and honest, and which bring positive results.
We fight for our client's rights in court. We explain
the law to our clients as it affects your case. We
promptly return our phone calls and answer your
questions and keep you informed of the status of your
case. We are fair to our clients. We fully disclose the
fee basis on which your case will be taken at the
beginning. We strive to keep costs as low as possible.
All attorneys at Michigan Bankruptcy Lawyers PLLC are
highly trained in the use of computer-based office
systems and legal research resources. We use
state-of-the-art technology including, Bestcase
Bankruptcy software which enables us to electronically
file your case immediately and can constantly monitor
and review your case via the United States Bankruptcy
Court's Public Access to Court Electronic Records
(PACER) system.
A Word from Walter
"I am the last person that most of clients want to
see. Most of them have done absolutely everything in
there power to avoid bankruptcy; from borrowing from
other credit cards, borrowing against their house,
borrowing against their pension, borrowing from friends
and relatives and even consumer credit counseling. The
purpose of this site is to counsel people in this
situation and offer them an alternative to 'borrowing'.
The reason for this is that continuous 'borrowing' adds
to continuous 'borrowing', which almost always leads to
a worse financial problem. Clients will do almost
anything to avoid seeing me. But, all that usually does
is put them into a worse position then had they come to
see me in the first place. Further, these people that
try so hard to avoid seeing me are the same people that
tell me how relieved they are that I can resolve their
financial situation." "We represent the working class -
so you won't find us wasting your time! We promise to be
fast, efficient, and effective." "Since we represent
people who work, we understand your situation.
Therefore, if you need time to pay your fees, we will
take payments - for up to three months - you set the
amount."
Educational Achievements:
- High School Diploma, Milford High School,
Milford MI., June 1981
- Bachelor of Science, Criminalistics and Forensic
Science, Michigan State University, June 1987
- Juris Doctor, University of Detroit School of
Law, 3.7 GPA, Class Rank: 1st in Class, December1991
Educational Awards:
- Michigan Higher Education Award for Academic
Excellence.
- Michigan Jurisprudence Award (Book awards-Torts,
Civil Procedure, Insurance Law).
- Dean's List all terms of attendance in Law
School.
- Dean's Scholarship for Academic Excellence,
University of Detroit School of Law.
Professional Memberships and Associations:
- State of Michigan Bar Association.
- US District Court for the Eastern District of
Michigan Federal Bar
- Consumer Bankruptcy Association
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy
Attorneys
- American Bankruptcy Institute
Continuing Legal Education:
- ABI Fourth Annual Central States Bankruptcy
Workshop, Traverse City MI., June 1997-12 Hrs.
- Bankruptcy Practice 1998 Seminar, PESI Inc.,
Novi MI, May 1998-7 Hrs.
- ABI 5th Annual Central States Bankruptcy
Workshop, Traverse City, MI- June 1998-12 Hrs.
- New Local Bankruptcy Rules Seminar, Oakland
County Bar Association, Birmingham MI, September,
1998-3.5 Hrs.
- Bankruptcy Practice 1999 Seminar, PESI Inc.,
Novi MI, April 1999-7 Hrs.
- ABI 6th Annual Central States Bankruptcy
Workshop, Traverse City, MI- June 1999-12 Hrs.
- Chapter 13 Seminar, Consumer Bankruptcy
Association and Office of the Chapter 13 Standing
Trustee-Detroit, Troy MI- September 1999-7 Hrs.
- ABI Central States Bankruptcy Workshop, Traverse
City, MI-June 2000-8.75 Hrs.
- National Business Institute Advanced Consumer
Bankruptcy Issues in Michigan, Southfield,
MI.-October, 2000-7 Hrs.
- National Business Institute Advanced Consumer
Bankruptcy Issues in Michigan, Southfield,
MI.-October, 2001-7 Hrs.
- Local Bankruptcy Seminar, Consumer Bankruptcy
Association 2002 Seminar, Troy MI- March 2002-5.7
Hrs.
- NACBA-National Association of Consumer
Bankruptcy Attorneys Tenth Annual
Convention/Seminar, April 26-28, 2002, Las Vegas
NV.-11 CLE Hrs.
- ABI 2002 Central States Bankruptcy Workshop,
Traverse City, MI-June 2002-8.75 Hrs
- Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association-CBA,
Michigan Public Act 123, November 13,2002-2 Hrs.
- LAW 314 SEC. 75-Winter Semester January 2003 to
May 2003: Course Title DEBTOR-CREDITOR (Creditors
Rights and Debtors Remedies, Instructor Timothy
Fusco, 3 Semester Credit Hours, University of
Detroit-Mercy School of Law (evening section). 45
Hours. total.
- FAMILY LAW ISSUES IN CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY
SEMINAR: April 23, 2003. 1.5 hours.
- ABI 2003 Central States 10th Bankruptcy
Workshop, Traverse City, MI-June 2003-8.25 CLE Hrs
- Oakland Mediation Centers CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
WORKSHOP, Jan. Feb. 2004. 8 Hrs. (Non CLE)
- Bankruptcy Mortgage Financing/Refinance Out of
Chapter 13-Vision Mortgage Workshop, 4-30-04m 2 Hrs
- ABI 2004 Central States 10th Bankruptcy
Workshop, Traverse City, MI-June 2004-8.25 CLE Hrs
- Consumer Bar Association: Ultimate Introductory
Bankruptcy Seminar, June 11, 2004-4.25 Hrs
- Raising The Bar On USBC Professionalism. Oakland
Mediation Center, July 30th, 2004-4 Hrs
- New Bankruptcy Code Seminar, Cobo Center
Detroit, MI June 3, 2005, 1:00pm to 4:00pm -4 Hrs
- ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2005 Central
States 12th Annual Bankruptcy Workshop, Traverse
City, MI-June 16-19th 2004-8.5 CLE Credit Hrs.
- Understanding the Radical Bankruptcy Code
Changes: Consumer Bankruptcy Under the New Code:
Commercial Law League of America and its Bankruptcy
Section Fund (Telephonically recorded), June 23,
2005-2 Hrs
- Understanding the New Bankruptcy Reform Act:
What Every Lawyer Needs to Know-ICLE (Institute for
Continuing Legal Education), MSU Management
Education Center, Troy MI, July 26th, 2005-5.25 Hrs
- Best Case Bankruptcy Reform Update-Chicago
Marriott, Chicago IL, July 28th, 2005, 1 Hr
- National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy
Attorneys (NACBA), Fighting Back: Helping Debtors
Survive the New Bankruptcy Law, A Bankruptcy
Practice Workshop, July 29th 30th, 2005, Chicago
Marriott Hotel Downtown Magnificent Mile, Chicago
IL.-13.5 Hrs
- New Code Consumer Bankruptcy Association
Meeting: Are you a Debt Relief Agency? Chief Judge
Steven W. Rhodes, August 25th, 2005, 215 S.
Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067. 1.5 Hrs
- New Code Consumer Bankruptcy Association
Meeting: NACTT National Association of Chapter
Thirteen Trustees Video Presentation: BAPCPA,
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection
Act, September 20th, 2005, 215 S. Washington, Royal
Oak MI 48067. 1.5 Hrs
- New Code Consumer Bankruptcy Association
Meeting: Group Presentations: Domestic Support
Obligations Group, Automatic Stay Group, Chapter 13
Issues/Plan Modifications/Model Plan Group: Adequate
Protection Group, Local Rules/Case Law Monitoring:
BAPCPA, Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer
Protection Act, September 27th, 2005, 215 S.
Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067. 2.5 Hrs
- New Code Consumer Bankruptcy Association
Meeting: Group Presentations: Valuations and
Exemptions Group, Credit Counseling, Documentation
and Reporting Group, Pre-Petition Credit Counseling
Group: Discharge and Dismissal Group, Reaffirmation
Issues Group: Co-Presenter Means Test Group: BAPCPA,
Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection
Act, October 11th, 2005, 215 S. Washington, Royal
Oak MI 48067. 3.0 Hrs
To learn more about me, bankruptcy attorney Walter
Metzen, please feel free to review my profile below, or
contact my office today.
Walter A. Metzen
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