Walter A. Metzen, Michigan Bankruptcy Attorney profile
Board
Certified Consumer Bankruptcy Specialist
American Board of Bankruptcy Certification
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
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
Best Case Bankruptcy Class on Means Test-Sheraton Hotel, Novi Michigan,
November 11th, 2005, .5 Hr
ABI American Bankruptcy Institute Detroit
Bankruptcy Conference “Practice Under the New Bankruptcy Law”, Sheraton Hotel,
Novi Michigan, November 10-11th, 2005, 7.0 Hrs
C. ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2006 Central States
13th Annual Bankruptcy Workshop, Traverse City, MI-June 16-19th 2006-8.5 CLE
Credit Hrs.
D. 2nd Annual Walter Shapero Bankruptcy Symposium with
Featured Speaker Professor Margaret Howard from Washington & Lee University
School of Law, September 7, 2006. 1.0 Hr.
E. ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2006 Central States
13th Annual Bankruptcy Workshop, Traverse City, MI-June 15-18th 2006-8.5 CLE
Credit Hrs.
F. BAPCPA One Year Later A Columbus Day Seminar, Sheraton
Novi Hotel, October 9, 2006 7 Hrs.
G. ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2007 Central States
14th Annual Bankruptcy Workshop, Traverse City, MI-June 7 through 10th 2007-8.5
CLE Credit Hrs.
H. 3rd Annual Walter Shapero Bankruptcy Symposium with
Featured Speaker Professor Scott Norberg, October 17, 2007, Westin Hotel, 1500
Town Center, Southfield MI .45 hour.
I. ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2007 Detroit
Consumer Bankruptcy Conference, Detroit Marriott Troy, November 12, 20078 6.5
Hrs
J. Financial Issues in Commercial Litigation & Business
Bankruptcies: Using Evidence and Expert Witnesses in Business Bankruptcy
Proceedings, First Floor Multi-purpose room Theodore Levin United States
Courthouse, Federal Bar Seminar, Detroit MI. February 6th, 2008, 4 hrs.
K. FEDERAL BAR ASSOCIATION DETROIT CHAPTER - BANKRUPTCY
SECTION AND CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY ASSOCIATION, BANKRUPTCY TRIAL ADVOCACY WORKSHOP,
FEBRUARY 28-29, 2008, U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT AND U.S. COURTHOUSE Room 115 in the
U.S. Courthouse,
L. 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., Detroit, Michigan, February 28th
and 29th, 2008, 4 Hrs.
M. Bench and Bar Seminar on the New Eastern District of
Michigan Local Bankruptcy Rules presented by EDM Judges, April 11, 2008, Trott
Financial Center, 31440 Northwestern Highway, Farmington Hills MI 48334,
Consumer Section, 1 Hr. 45 minutes.
N. ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2008 Central States
15th Annual Bankruptcy Workshop, Traverse City, MI-June 12 through 15th
2008-10.8 CLE Credit Hrs.
O. State Bar of Michigan, Tips and Tools for a Successful
Practice Seminar, Lansing MI, November 5th, 2008, 7 Hrs.
P. ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2008 Detroit Consumer
Bankruptcy Conference, Detroit Marriott Troy, November 11, 2008 5.5 Hrs.
Q. Consumer Bankruptcy Association Seminar Dinner, LIEN
STRIPPING IN CHAPTER 13 CASES, April 2, 2009, 215 S. Washington, Royal Oak MI
48067. 1.5 Hrs
R. 21st Annual Federal Bar Association Bankruptcy Section
Seminar, July 23rd thru July 25th, 2009, Crystal Mountain Resort, Thompsonville
MI 6.00 Hrs
S. Consumer Bankruptcy Association Seminar Dinner: Views
from the Bench of Eastern District of Michigan September 24, 2009, 215 S.
Washington, Royal Oak MI 48067. 1.5 Hrs
T. United States District Court-Eastern District of
Michigan, Foreclosure Prevention Training, October 29, 2009, Theodore Levin U.S.
Courthouse, 231 W. Lafayette Blvd., Room 115, Detroit MI 48226 5.5 Hrs.
ABI American Bankruptcy Institute 2009 Detroit Consumer Bankruptcy
Conference, Dearborn MI, Hyatt Regency Dearborn, November 11, 2009 6.25 Hrs.
Driver's License or State ID & Social Security card
Pay Stubs
for the past 2 months
Copies of all Bills, Summons or Judgments against you by creditors
Divorce Judgments
or Decrees
Real Estate Documents, Deeds, Recorded Mortgages, mortgage balance
statements
Property Tax Bills (SEV)
Bank Statements for 3 months
Recorded Mortgage and Deed
Car Titles
Income Tax Returns & W2 forms for the last 2 years
Driver's License or State ID & Social Security card
