Jessica Salem
Mohave County Public Defenders Office
Phone pending
About Jessica Salem
Jessica Salem is a bankruptcy attorney at Mohave County Public Defenders Office based in Arizona, Arizona. Bankruptcy practice in Arizona involves federal law (Title 11 of the U.S. Code) administered by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona, with state-law overlays including Arizona's homestead exemption under ARS § 33-1101 and the various property exemptions in ARS Title 33, Chapter 8. See contact details below.
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Education
- Law School: Arizona State
Common questions about Bankruptcy in Arizona
Answered by Arizona Attorney Search Network
Will bankruptcy affect my credit forever?
No. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy generally appears on credit reports for 10 years from filing; Chapter 13 for 7 years from filing. However, the impact diminishes over time. Many filers begin rebuilding credit within 12-24 months through secured credit cards and on-time payment history. Credit scores often recover faster than the 7- or 10-year reporting period suggests.
Can I file bankruptcy without a lawyer?
Pro se filing is permitted but strongly discouraged. The Bankruptcy Code is technical, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona's local rules add procedural detail, and errors (missing schedules, incorrect exemption claims, failure to attend the 341 meeting) can result in case dismissal without discharge. Most consumer Chapter 7 cases run $1,500-3,500 in attorney fees and the value of professional handling is high.
Can student loans be discharged in bankruptcy?
Rarely. Federal student loans and most private student loans are non-dischargeable except by proving 'undue hardship' under 11 USC § 523(a)(8). Following the Department of Justice's 2022 guidance, undue-hardship adversary proceedings have become somewhat more accessible in cases of long-term inability to repay, but the bar remains high. Discharge of student debt typically requires a separate adversary proceeding within the bankruptcy case.