Get the Fresh Start You Deserve
Birmingham bankruptcy attorney Stephen Bulgarella helps Alabama families stop wage garnishments, stop foreclosure, eliminate debt, and get a fresh start on their personal finances.
Serving Birmingham, Bessemer, Gardendale, Fultondale, Pinson, and Blount County.
Are You Dealing With Any of This Right Now?
Most people don't call a bankruptcy attorney until something urgent happens. If any of these describe your situation, the sooner you call, the more options you have.
Most people don't call a bankruptcy attorney until something urgent happens.
If any of these describe your situation, the sooner you call, the more options you have.
Your paycheck is being garnished
A creditor with a judgment can take a portion of your wages every pay period. Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that stops most garnishments, often within days.
You've received a foreclosure notice
In Alabama, foreclosure can move faster than most people expect. There is a point at which it's too late to stop a sale, but that point is later than most people think.
Your car has been repossessed, or you think it's about to be
Alabama lenders can repossess without going to court first. Depending on how recently it happened, there may still be a way to get the vehicle back.
The calls won't stop
Collection calls at home, at work, from numbers you don't recognize. Filing bankruptcy legally requires them to stop contacting you.
A Birmingham Law Firm That Understands What You're Going Through
The Law Office of Stephen Bulgarella, LLC is a Birmingham, Alabama law firm focused on consumer bankruptcy. We help individuals and families in Jefferson County, Blount County, and the surrounding areas rebuild after debt has gotten out of control.
Stephen Bulgarella has filed hundreds of bankruptcy cases for Alabama families. Prior to starting his own practice he spent many years representing lenders like Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Wells Fargo, and Regions Bank in bankruptcy and foreclosure matters, so he understands these issues from all sides.
That means when a creditor’s attorney pushes back on your case, he already knows the argument they’re about to make because he used to make it.
Stephen was admitted to the Alabama State Bar in 2015. He is a graduate of Cumberland School of Law, where he was named a Scholar of Merit in bankruptcy and consumer law. Stephen is also a member of the Birmingham Bar Association.
How We Can Help
Bankruptcy
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals and families across the Birmingham area. Stop garnishments, stop foreclosure, discharge debt you can't pay, and keep the property that matters most to you.
Personal Injury
If someone else's carelessness injured you, Stephen stays on your case while working alongside attorneys who focus on injury litigation — so you're never left dealing with the insurance company alone. No attorney's fee unless there's a recovery.
Wills, Trusts & Probate
Alabama has its own rules about what happens to your property if you die without a will — and they may not match what you'd want. We help families put clear plans in place, and we help families work through probate after a loss.
What to Expect
Most people who call us are embarrassed. Don’t be. Debt problems in this country are usually caused by a medical bill, a job loss, or a divorce — not by anything you did wrong.
- You call or send us a message. Tell us roughly what’s going on. If something is time-sensitive — a garnishment already started, a foreclosure sale is scheduled — say so first.
- Speak with an actual attorney about your situation. Not a sales pitch. A conversation about what you owe, what you own, and what you’re trying to protect. Sometimes the answer is that bankruptcy isn’t your best option, and we’ll tell you that.
- You decide. If it makes sense to move forward, we’ll explain exactly what it costs and what the process looks like from here.
And you’ll be talking to an attorney the whole way. At this firm, all work is done by an attorney and phone calls are answered by an attorney. Nothing gets handed off to non-attorney staff — which is unusual, and it’s probably why our clients keep saying so in their reviews.
Consultations are free, and we accept payment plans when necessary. In Chapter 13 cases, attorney’s fees can typically be paid through your plan over three to five years rather than upfront.
- Streamlined processes. Our firm understands that your time is precious and will make the process extremely convenient. Consultations can be conducted in person or over the phone.
Questions People Ask Us Most
Can filing bankruptcy stop a wage garnishment in Alabama?
Yes, in most cases. When a bankruptcy petition is filed, the automatic stay under federal law takes effect immediately and requires most creditors to stop collection activity, including wage garnishment. Your employer generally must be notified before the garnishment actually stops, so the practical timeline is usually days rather than instant. Certain garnishments — child support and some tax obligations — are not stopped by bankruptcy.
Will I lose my house or my car if I file bankruptcy?
Usually not. Alabama law lets you protect a certain amount of equity in your home and your personal property through what are called exemptions, and most people who file Chapter 7 keep everything they own. If you have more equity than the exemptions cover, Chapter 13 is often a way to keep the property anyway. The specific amounts change periodically, so it’s worth a phone call to find out where you actually stand.
How much does it cost to file bankruptcy?
There are two separate costs: the court’s filing fee, which is set by federal law, and attorney’s fees. We accept payment plans when necessary, and in Chapter 13 cases the attorney’s fee can typically be paid through your plan over three to five years rather than upfront. The consultation is free — call and we’ll give you a straight answer for your situation.
Which bankruptcy court handles cases in Birmingham?
Cases for Jefferson, Blount, and Shelby Counties are heard in the Southern Division of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Alabama, which sits in Birmingham. In most cases you won’t need to appear there in person — meetings of creditors are conducted by video.
Do I have to come to your office?
Only if you want to. We handle consultations, document gathering, and signatures remotely for most clients, and the court conducts meetings of creditors by video. In-person meetings are available at our downtown Birmingham office whenever you’d prefer one.
Serving Birmingham and Surrounding Communities
We represent clients throughout Jefferson County and Blount County, including:
West Birmingham
Bessemer, Hueytown, Fairfield, Pleasant Grove, Ensley, West End, Smithfield
North Birmingham
Gardendale, Fultondale, Tarrant, Pinson, Center Point, Fountain Heights
Blount County
Oneonta, Cleveland, Hayden, Locust Fork
You Don't Have to Figure This Out Alone
If money is tight and creditors are calling, the hardest part is picking up the phone. Once you do, you’ll know what your options are — and in most cases, there are more of them than people expect. If you’re facing a foreclosure sale, an active garnishment, or a repossession, don’t wait for business hours. Call (205) 898-1234, email stephen@sblawoffice.org, or fill out the contact form below and Stephen will do his best to reach you as quickly as he can.