Bankruptcy Attorney in Nashville

June 14, 2026

Anyone weighing bankruptcy in Nashville is working within a federal system, and the courthouse matters more than many filers expect. Davidson County cases are heard in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, which is headquartered in Nashville and stretches across dozens of Middle Tennessee counties, including Montgomery County to the northwest. Federal statutes set the substantive rules from one end of the state to the other, yet day-to-day practice is shaped locally: trustee assignments, scheduling, and courtroom routines all reflect the district where a case is filed. That local texture is a common reason filers look for counsel who appear regularly before the Middle District.

Although the case itself runs through federal court, the lawyer steering it is a creature of state licensing. Tennessee admits attorneys through the Tennessee Supreme Court, with the Board of Law Examiners screening admission and the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) overseeing discipline once a lawyer is practicing. A prospective client can use the BPR to confirm that a Nashville bankruptcy lawyer is admitted and in good standing before signing an engagement letter. The stakes are not abstract here: Nashville is the state’s largest city, home to roughly 715,388 residents as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its scale and living costs keep consumer-debt counsel in steady demand among both households and small businesses.

Most individual filers end up choosing between two chapters. Chapter 7 functions as a liquidation, wiping out many unsecured debts fairly quickly for people whose income sits below the threshold set by the means test. Chapter 13, by contrast, is a structured repayment plan that usually runs three to five years and lets a debtor cure arrears on a mortgage or vehicle loan while holding onto secured property. Which path fits depends on income, the makeup of a person’s assets, and the kinds of debt at issue, and that analysis is squarely an attorney’s job. Much of the current framework traces to the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), which introduced the Chapter 7 means test and mandatory financial education that remain in force.

Two BAPCPA education requirements touch almost every consumer case. A filer has to finish credit counseling from a U.S. Trustee Program approved provider before the petition goes in, and a separate debtor education (financial management) course, also from an approved provider, before the court will grant a discharge. Separately, a federal disclosure law obligates firms that help consumers file to call themselves “debt relief agencies,” which explains why that label turns up on so many Nashville firms’ websites and intake paperwork. None of the material here is legal advice; it is general background. Disputes over deceptive business practices fall under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), administered by the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, while questions about a lawyer’s professional conduct belong with the Board of Professional Responsibility.

Top Bankruptcy Attorney Providers in Nashville

1. Flexer Law

Address: 1900 Church Street, Suite 400, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 805-6374
Website: https://www.flexerlaw.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, creditor harassment defense, wage garnishment defense, student debt relief
Description: Flexer Law is a Nashville firm established in 1981 that handles consumer bankruptcy alongside a broader civil practice. The firm lists attorneys including Daniel Castagna, Cindy Harlow, Steve Karr, Rodney Caldwell, Lori Szathmary, Bryan Penland, and Lewis Williams, and describes more than 100 years of collective legal experience among its lawyers. Its bankruptcy work focuses on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings for individuals, with related help for clients facing creditor harassment, wage garnishment, and student debt. The firm also practices in criminal defense, family law, workers’ compensation, and personal injury, which can be useful for filers whose financial difficulties overlap with other legal matters.

2. Tune, Entrekin & White, P.C.

Address: 500 11th Avenue North, Suite 600, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 244-2770
Website: https://tewlawfirm.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, Chapter 11 reorganization, commercial bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, bankruptcy litigation
Description: Tune, Entrekin & White, P.C. is a Nashville firm located in the Capitol View development that handles bankruptcy and reorganization for both individuals and businesses. The firm represents debtors in Chapter 7, Chapter 13, and Chapter 11 cases and also handles commercial bankruptcy and reorganization, as well as creditors’ rights matters such as foreclosures, debt collection, and bankruptcy litigation. Attorney Joseph P. Rusnak is identified with the firm’s bankruptcy practice. The firm states that it works to provide affordable representation and serves clients across Tennessee, and its experience on both the debtor and creditor sides gives it broad exposure to how bankruptcy cases are contested and resolved.

3. Trammell Love Law Firm

Address: 7009 Lenox Village Drive, Suite 103, Nashville, TN 37211
Phone: (615) 243-7979
Website: https://tramlovelaw.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, foreclosure prevention, loan modification, debt relief, business formation
Description: Trammell Love Law Firm is a Nashville bankruptcy practice located in the Lenox Village area of southeast Nashville, describing more than 15 years of service to clients in the region. Its bankruptcy work centers on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings for individuals and families, paired with foreclosure prevention and loan modification for homeowners trying to keep their property. The firm emphasizes handling its services electronically, which can streamline the document gathering and signing that bankruptcy requires. Beyond bankruptcy, the firm also offers business formation, probate, wills and estates, and related civil services, making it a general-practice option for clients with overlapping needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bankruptcy Attorney in Nashville

Q: Which court handles a Nashville bankruptcy case?

Bankruptcy is federal, so a Nashville case is filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, which sits in Nashville. The Middle District covers Davidson County and many surrounding Middle Tennessee counties, including Montgomery County (Clarksville). Because procedures and trustee practices vary by district, many filers choose a lawyer who regularly practices before the Middle 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 measures income against state medians. Chapter 13 is a repayment plan lasting three to five years that allows a debtor to catch up on secured debts, such as a mortgage or car loan, and keep that property. An attorney evaluates income, assets, and debt type to determine which chapter fits a particular situation.

Q: How do I verify that a Nashville 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 Nashville 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 Nashville?

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.