Bankruptcy Attorney in Memphis

June 14, 2026

For a household in Memphis, the first practical step in choosing a bankruptcy attorney is often the simplest: confirming the lawyer is actually licensed. Tennessee attorneys earn admission through the Tennessee Supreme Court, the Board of Law Examiners vets candidates at the front end, and the Board of Professional Responsibility (BPR) handles discipline thereafter. The BPR is also the public tool a prospective client can use to verify that a Memphis bankruptcy lawyer is admitted and in good standing before any money changes hands. That diligence carries weight in a market this size. As Tennessee’s second largest city, Memphis counts roughly 618,980 residents as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and consumer-debt counsel stays in heavy demand across Shelby County and the broader region.

The case a Memphis attorney files, however, lives entirely in federal court rather than any state docket. Petitions from the area go to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, which covers Shelby County and the western counties of the state. Federal law keeps the substance uniform statewide, but the procedural details, from trustee assignments to local filing customs, vary by district. That variation is precisely why many Memphis filers prefer an attorney who appears before the Western District on a regular basis instead of one whose experience lies elsewhere.

When it comes to individual filings, two chapters dominate. Chapter 7 is a liquidation capable of erasing many unsecured debts on a relatively short timeline, available to filers whose income comes in under the means-test threshold. Chapter 13 takes the opposite shape: a three-to-five-year repayment plan that helps a debtor make up missed mortgage or car payments while keeping the secured property. Income, asset profile, and the nature of the debts all feed the choice between them, and sorting that out is the attorney’s task. These structures sit on top of the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), which is the source of both the Chapter 7 means test and the financial-education mandate that still govern filings.

Those education steps under BAPCPA reach nearly every consumer case. The petition cannot be filed until the individual completes credit counseling through a provider approved by the U.S. Trustee Program, and the discharge will not issue until a debtor education (financial management) course from an approved provider is finished as well. On top of that, federal disclosure rules require firms assisting consumer filers to describe themselves as “debt relief agencies,” so Memphis residents will frequently see that phrase on firm websites and engagement materials. Everything described here is educational background rather than legal advice. Complaints about deceptive business practices go to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), and concerns about an attorney’s conduct go to the Board of Professional Responsibility.

Top Bankruptcy Attorney Providers in Memphis

1. Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC

Address: 5050 Poplar Avenue, Suite 1600, Memphis, TN 38157
Phone: (901) 625-0100
Website: https://darrellcastle.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, foreclosure prevention, wage garnishment defense, vehicle repossession defense, debt relief
Description: Darrell Castle & Associates, PLLC is a Memphis bankruptcy firm founded in 1984 and located on Poplar Avenue. The firm states that it has helped clients across Memphis and Shelby County stop foreclosure, repossession, and wage garnishment for nearly four decades, and that it has assisted thousands of people seeking a financial fresh start. Its attorneys include Darrell Castle, Jordan Prentiss, and Lindsey Williams. The practice focuses on consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings along with related debt-relief matters, and it serves Shelby, Fayette, Lauderdale, and Tipton counties. The firm identifies itself as a debt relief agency that helps people file for relief under the Bankruptcy Code, consistent with the federal disclosure requirement.

2. Law Office of Jonathan Garrett

Address: 2670 Union Avenue Extended, Suite 1200, Memphis, TN 38112
Phone: (901) 323-3200
Website: https://garrettbankruptcylaw.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, foreclosure prevention
Description: The Law Office of Jonathan Garrett is a Memphis firm that has served individuals and families since 2002. Attorney Jonathan Garrett worked in the oil and gas industry during an economic downturn before practicing law, a background the firm connects to its understanding of financial hardship. The practice centers on consumer bankruptcy, helping clients file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases and working to stop foreclosure for homeowners behind on payments. The office is located on Union Avenue Extended and serves clients throughout the Memphis metro area, offering a focused consumer-debtor practice rather than a broad general-services firm.

3. The Hurst Law Firm

Address: 2287 Union Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104
Phone: (901) 725-1000
Website: https://hurstlawfirm.com
Services: Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, consumer debt relief, foreclosure prevention, vehicle repossession defense
Description: The Hurst Law Firm is a Memphis consumer bankruptcy practice established in 1997 and located on Union Avenue. The firm, led by attorney Herbert Hurst, states that it has helped thousands of people in financial distress in Memphis and surrounding communities since its founding. Its practice focuses on Chapter 7, which the firm describes as straight bankruptcy, and Chapter 13, which it describes as wage-earner bankruptcy, along with related help for clients facing foreclosure and vehicle repossession. The firm explicitly identifies as a debt relief agency that helps people file for relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, in line with the federal disclosure requirement.

Frequently Asked Questions About Bankruptcy Attorney in Memphis

Q: Which court handles a Memphis bankruptcy case?

Bankruptcy is federal, so a Memphis case is filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Tennessee, which serves Shelby County and western Tennessee. Because procedures and trustee practices vary by district, many filers choose a lawyer who regularly practices before the Western District court rather than relying on general experience elsewhere.

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 Memphis 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 Memphis 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 Memphis?

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.