Bankruptcy Attorney in Knoxville

June 14, 2026

Most Knoxville residents who consult a bankruptcy attorney are really trying to answer one question: which chapter fits their situation. The two consumer options work very differently. Chapter 7 is a liquidation that can clear many unsecured debts on a comparatively short timeline, but it is limited to filers whose income falls below the means-test threshold. Chapter 13 instead sets up a repayment plan of roughly three to five years, giving a debtor room to catch up on a mortgage or car loan while keeping the secured property. The right answer turns on income, the assets a person holds, and the type of debt involved, which is the analysis an attorney is hired to perform. Both options reflect the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), the law behind the Chapter 7 means test and the financial-education requirements still in effect.

Whichever chapter applies, the filing happens in federal court, not a state one. Knoxville cases are handled by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which seats Knox County matters in its Northern Division, while the district as a whole also reaches south to Chattanooga through its Southern Division. The governing rules are federal and therefore the same across the state, but each district develops its own procedural rhythms, trustee assignments, and filing practices. Knoxville filers frequently look for an attorney who appears before the Eastern District often enough to know those routines firsthand.

The attorney behind that filing answers to the state even though the case is federal. Admission to the Tennessee bar runs through the Tennessee Supreme Court, with the Board of Law Examiners managing the admission process and the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) responsible for discipline. Before retaining a Knoxville bankruptcy lawyer, a prospective client can check the BPR to confirm the attorney is admitted and in good standing. Access to that kind of counsel is a real, everyday concern for households and small businesses across Knox County, a community of about 195,185 people as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau).

A pair of BAPCPA requirements applies to nearly every consumer case along the way. Credit counseling from a provider approved by the U.S. Trustee Program must be completed before the petition is filed, and a debtor education (financial management) course from an approved provider must be completed before the discharge is entered. Federal disclosure rules add another wrinkle, requiring firms that assist consumer filers to identify as “debt relief agencies,” which is why Knoxville residents routinely see that language on firm websites and engagement materials. This overview is general information, not legal advice. The Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104) for deceptive-practice complaints, and the Board of Professional Responsibility handles concerns about an attorney’s conduct.

Top Bankruptcy Attorney Providers in Knoxville

1. The Law Offices of Mayer & Newton

Address: 8351 E. Walker Springs Lane, Suite 100, Knoxville, TN 37923
Phone: (865) 328-7993
Website: https://www.mayerandnewton.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 reorganization, foreclosure defense, wage garnishment defense, vehicle repossession defense, tax debt relief
Description: The Law Offices of Mayer & Newton is a Knoxville consumer bankruptcy practice whose attorneys include Richard M. Mayer, John P. Newton, and Kevin S. Newton. The firm states that Richard Mayer and John Newton have more than 60 years of combined experience and have filed over 50,000 cases in the Eastern District of Tennessee. John Newton previously served as a Chapter 7 trustee, administered roughly 15,000 cases in that role, and handled more than 200 Chapter 11 business reorganizations. The practice handles Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases along with foreclosure defense, garnishments, repossessions, and tax debt, and it maintains additional offices in Morristown and Sevierville to serve the wider East Tennessee region.

2. William E. Maddox, Jr. LLC, Attorney at Law

Address: 608 Mabry Hood Road, Suite 202, Knoxville, TN 37932
Phone: (865) 293-4953
Website: https://www.billmaddoxlaw.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 business bankruptcy, tax debt, foreclosure, debt settlement, business transactions
Description: William E. Maddox, Jr. LLC is a Knoxville firm led by attorney William Eugene Maddox Jr., who is described as having more than 25 years of experience representing Tennessee clients in bankruptcy and debt-relief matters. The practice handles Chapter 7 debt discharge, Chapter 13 court-managed repayment, and Chapter 11 business restructuring, and it also addresses tax debt, foreclosure, and debt settlement. Beyond bankruptcy, the firm works in wills and business transactions, giving clients a single office for related financial and estate matters. Its office is located on Mabry Hood Road in west Knoxville.

3. The Pope Firm, PC

Address: 5315 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37918
Phone: (865) 213-3617
Website: https://www.thepopefirm.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 bankruptcy, debt settlement, foreclosure prevention, wage garnishment defense, vehicle repossession defense, medical debt relief, student loan debt management
Description: The Pope Firm, PC is a bankruptcy and debt-relief practice with a Knoxville office on North Broadway, led by attorney Charles Pope. The firm handles Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases and also assists with debt settlement, stopping creditor harassment, foreclosure prevention, wage garnishment, vehicle repossession, medical debt, payday loan debt, student loan debt, and small business bankruptcy. The firm identifies itself as a debt relief agency that helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code, consistent with the federal disclosure requirement. In addition to Knoxville, the firm maintains an office in Johnson City to serve the broader East Tennessee region.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bankruptcy Attorney in Knoxville

Q: Which court handles a Knoxville bankruptcy case?

Bankruptcy is federal, so a Knoxville case is filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, which serves Knox County in its Northern Division. The Eastern District also covers the Chattanooga area to the south. Because procedures and trustee practices vary by district, many filers choose a lawyer who regularly practices before the Eastern District court.

Q: What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?

Chapter 7 is a liquidation that can discharge many unsecured debts relatively quickly for filers who qualify under the means test, which compares income against state medians. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan lasting three to five years that lets a debtor catch up on secured debts, such as a mortgage or car loan, and keep that property. An attorney evaluates income, assets, and the type of debt to determine which chapter fits a particular situation.

Q: How do I verify that a Knoxville bankruptcy attorney is licensed?

Tennessee attorneys are licensed by the Tennessee Supreme Court. You can confirm that a lawyer is admitted and in good standing, and check for any public disciplinary history, through the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR). Admission is overseen by the Board of Law Examiners, while the BPR handles licensing status and discipline.

Q: Do I have to take any courses before or after filing bankruptcy?

Yes. Under the 2005 BAPCPA, an individual must complete pre-filing credit counseling from a provider approved by the U.S. Trustee Program before the case is filed, and a pre-discharge debtor education (financial management) course from an approved provider before a discharge is granted. Both requirements apply to most consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings.

Q: Why do bankruptcy firms call themselves “debt relief agencies”?

A federal disclosure law requires firms that provide bankruptcy assistance to consumers to identify themselves as debt relief agencies and to state that they help people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code. Seeing that language on a Knoxville firm’s website or paperwork is normal and reflects compliance with that federal requirement rather than anything unusual about the firm.

Q: Where can I file a complaint about a bankruptcy attorney or a debt-related business in Knoxville?

Concerns about an attorney’s professional conduct can be directed to the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility, which handles licensing and discipline for Tennessee lawyers. Complaints about deceptive business practices more generally can go to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping copies of your engagement agreement, payment records, and relevant correspondence strengthens any complaint.