https://www.norstedlaw.com/blog daily 0.75 2023-01-13 https://www.norstedlaw.com/blog/should-i-file-for-bankruptcy-part-2-outside-indicators-of-excessive-indebtedness monthly 0.5 2021-04-09 https://www.norstedlaw.com/blog/should-i-file-part-1-amount-of-debt monthly 0.5 2021-03-01 https://www.norstedlaw.com/blog/bankruptcy-basics monthly 0.5 2020-12-21 https://www.norstedlaw.com/blog/debt-discharge monthly 0.5 2020-12-17 https://www.norstedlaw.com/blog/not-wrong monthly 0.5 2020-12-11 https://www.norstedlaw.com/my-practice daily 0.75 2025-11-07 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1607814357166-87W8ANI61DXH4L2CW2XJ/59007803706--C775C9F6-DCD9-4895-B3FC-6482D0B0BAE5.JPG My Practice - Civil Litigation If you have been sued, or think you will be, I may be able to defend you. Bankruptcy may take care of any pending or potential judgments, but if you don’t want to file, then mounting a solid defense is important. In any case, you should start looking for help as soon as possible; an attorney can make sure you don’t miss any important deadlines. Come talk to me, too, if you’ve been damaged by someone else’s actions. You might have a right to recover through the legal system; I can assess your case, and, potentially, represent you. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1607813702679-3FKQEUXW54CNT2L6FBIW/IMG-2397.JPG My Practice - Consumer Protection I can help you get relief from creditors even if you don’t want to file bankruptcy. The laws of both the US and Minnesota afford you protection from unreasonable collection practices. Collection agencies have limits to what they can do to ask for payment; if they go beyond those limits with you, you might be entitled to legal relief, and even damages in some cases. If you need help avoiding a foreclosure or an eviction, or if your landlord refuses to make repairs to your home, I can help invoke the law to find a solution. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1606952398117-8UFQFR4MDZXBJOF6365E/Cabin+Dock.jpg My Practice - Estate Planning Much like bankruptcy, writing a will seems like it should be easy enough to do yourself. And, again like bankruptcy, it’s usually worth hiring a lawyer to make sure you don’t miss anything important. I can help you ensure that your estate goes to exactly who you want it to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1607814405247-AKEHBWSC9JUL177UZXHQ/IMG-2396.JPG My Practice - Criminal Defense Even good people can end up in trouble with the law. Everyone, guilty or innocent, has the right to legal representation when their liberty is at stake. Our justice system often makes it difficult for anyone who isn’t wealthy to avoid conviction or even receive a just sentence. I can defend your rights and help achieve the best possible outcome in your case. https://www.norstedlaw.com/contact-me daily 0.75 2021-01-22 https://www.norstedlaw.com/home daily 1.0 2021-02-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1610686602412-FTJ7C66OOLM48D4HOTT4/38124049_10215443910385902_4251366244004921344_o.jpg Home Photo by Ben Hejkal. https://www.norstedlaw.com/about-bankruptcy daily 0.75 2021-01-22 https://www.norstedlaw.com/common-concerns daily 0.75 2021-02-16 https://www.norstedlaw.com/the-process daily 0.75 2021-01-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161931216-ZCTZ7R53OARA4WDCYHSC/IMG_5334+crop.jpg The Process - Step 2: Interview If you decide to work with me, after an initial payment, we will have a longer meeting. It may end up being the most painful part of the bankruptcy process, because you will have to listen to me drone about bankruptcy theory. I will also ask detailed questions about your finances, property, and debts. Then I’ll go over a checklist of needed documents, which brings us to the next step…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608743516913-Q7OQ7UNJXNDP12BIKUV2/IMG-6837.jpeg The Process - Step 1: Consultation Just a quick thirty minute to one hour chat. I don’t charge for consultations, and you don’t need to show me any documents at this point. I will ask you some general questions about what property you own and what debts you owe. From that information I can tell you if bankruptcy is a good option for you; it’s not the best choice for everyone. With the pandemic still lurking, I am conducting meetings via Google Meet. If you don’t have access to a Meet-capable device, let me know and we can work out some other sort of properly socially distanced meeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161878106-5S1VP0HAXX1GQSR35KOH/IMG_4392+crop.jpg The Process - Step 4: Filing Once I’ve collected all your documents and prepared the petition, it will be time to file it with the bankruptcy court. After you’ve paid in full, I will draft the petition, schedules, and statement of financial affairs. Then I’ll get your signature on everything that needs it and file it all, along with your court filing fee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161609479-M71NR6GRO5RASEP97U46/IMG_5455+crop.jpg The Process - Step 3: Homework You’ll go through the checklist I gave you and find copies of all the documents listed. This is an important step, because without this stuff you won’t be able to get your discharge. The quicker you get these back to me, the quicker I file your case and your debts are discharged. You will also take a couple of online classes about personal finances. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161323692-P1GR77Y63T55CR56YE8M/IMG_6623.jpeg The Process - Step 6: Discharge About two months after your creditors’ meeting, the court will review your file and, in most simple cases, grant you the discharge you asked for in the petition. Most of your unsecured debts will disappear - you will have no more legal obligation to pay them - and you can get on with enjoying your fresh start. In cases with many higher-income debtors or debtors who have more property to protect, you will make payments for either three or five years before the Court grants your discharge. The remaining debts will still disappear, though! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161652192-J2FYQPYTD2QTD6Y08M3Y/IMG_7027+Crop.jpg The Process - Step 5: Meeting For most bankruptcy filers, the closest they will come to going to court is the creditors’ meeting. About a month after your case is filed, you will attend a meeting with your case’s trustee, the person who represents unsecured creditors. It’s a quick meeting in which you will answer questions about your property and financial affairs. Most people find there was very little to worry about, but some are nervous before the meeting. So, a few days before, you and I will meet to do a dress rehearsal. I’ll advise you on what the trustee will ask and how to answer the questions. https://www.norstedlaw.com/about-my-practice daily 0.75 2021-01-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1606952134580-BAVPADY2RFL4DMOEJJNK/Stolaf+Winter.jpg My Background - Education I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School in 2009. For my undergrad degree, I got a BA in Economics from St. Olaf College in 2005. While in law school I was a student attorney in the Minnesota Consumer Protection Clinic. I worked primarily on Fair Debt Collection Practices Act cases. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1606950988604-ZOZ5YRVF218XKAOI607Y/High+Bridge+Barn+Bluff.jpg My Background - Early Career After law school I completed a Judicial Fellowship in Hennepin County and then became a law clerk for Judge Larry Clark, down in Red Wing. I wrote numerous orders and memoranda for Judge Clark on issues ranging from landlord-tenant disputes to 4th Amendment search and seizure challenges in criminal cases. Next, I worked as Associate General Counsel for the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC). There, I split my time between habeas corpus petitions, coordinating lawsuit defense with the Office of the Attorney General, and providing legal counsel to the DOC’s managers. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608582383362-4Y7E4QQ6UUNADLCS62WU/Downtown+from+DB.jpg My Background - My Practice and Apprenticeship. Even though I was doing high level work at the DOC, it was not a great fit for me. I realized I wanted to help people more directly, so I decided to set out on my own and start a firm with my name on it. Bankruptcy may seem like an odd choice given some of my past jobs, but I chose it for several reasons. First, it allows me to quickly and efficiently help people improve their quality of life. Second, I don’t like how credit card companies and the healthcare industry are set up to keep us giving them as much as they can get while the average person just scrapes by. Third, I had a mentor ready and willing to show me the ropes. Randy Winner is a 35-year veteran of the profession. In the three months I stayed with him in Montana, he taught me the sorts of things that can only come from years of experience. He also trusted me to interview clients and prepare their cases for filing. I am shamelessly copying many of his proven processes and strategies. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1606944426883-62G1UU2MM3GNZBSZMEQ5/IMG-2975.jpg My Background - Personal I live in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood in St. Paul (East Side Pride!) with my wife, one-year-old daughter, and a doggo. I have probably too many hobbies, but they include rock climbing, reading sci-fi, gaming, and playing Ultimate Frisbee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1606940237148-J1A3IBL760UWU46Z6O4D/Tyler+Hat.jpg My Background Photo by Ben Hejkal. https://www.norstedlaw.com/the-process-1 daily 0.75 2020-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608162347640-SX1BCWN1GQHOMWH17I7E/IMG_6462.jpeg The Process (Copy) - Step 1: Consultation Just a quick 30 minute to 1 hour chat. I don’t charge for consultations, and you don’t need to show me any documents at this point. I will ask you some general questions about what property you own and what debts you owe. From that information I can tell you if bankruptcy is a good option for you; it’s not the best choice for everyone. These days, with the pandemic still lurking, I am conducting meetings via Google Meet; if you don’t have access to a Meet-capable device, let me know and we can work out some other sort of properly socially-distant meeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161931216-ZCTZ7R53OARA4WDCYHSC/IMG_5334+crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 2: Interview If you decide to hire me, after an initial payment, we will have a longer meeting. It may end up being the most painful part of the bankruptcy process, because you will have to listen to me prattle about bankruptcy theory. I will also ask detailed questions about your finances, property, and debts. Then I’ll go over a checklist of needed documents, bringing us to the next Step…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161609479-M71NR6GRO5RASEP97U46/IMG_5455+crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 3: Homework You go through the checklist I gave you and find copies of all the documents listed. This is an important step, because without this stuff you won’t be able to get your discharge. I’ll send you some reminder emails, but the quicker you get these back to me the quicker I file your case and your debts are discharged. You will also have to take a couple of online classes about personal finance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161878106-5S1VP0HAXX1GQSR35KOH/IMG_4392+crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 4: Filing Once I’ve collected all your documents and prepared the petition, it will be time to file it with the bankruptcy court. After you’ve paid in full, I will draft the petition, schedules, and statement of financial affairs, get your signature on everything that needs it, and file it all, along with your court filing fee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161323692-P1GR77Y63T55CR56YE8M/IMG_6623.jpeg The Process (Copy) - Step 6: Discharge About two months after your creditors’ meeting, the court will review your file and, in almost all Chapter 7 cases, grant you the discharge you asked for in the petition. Most of your unsecured debts will disappear - you will have no more legal obligation to pay them - and you can get on with enjoying your fresh start. In a Chapter 13 case, you will make payments for either three or five years before the Court grants your discharge. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161652192-J2FYQPYTD2QTD6Y08M3Y/IMG_7027+Crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 5: Meeting For most bankruptcy filers, the closest they will come to going to court is the creditors’ meeting. About a month after your case is filed you will have to attend a meeting with your case’s trustee, the person who represents unsecured creditors. It’s a quick meeting - usually a bunch are scheduled the same day - in which you will answer questions about your property and financial affairs. Most people find there was very little to worry about, but some are nervous before the meeting. So, a few days before, you and I will meet to do a dress rehearsal. I’ll advise you on what you will be asked, and how to answer the questions. https://www.norstedlaw.com/the-process-2 daily 0.75 2020-12-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608162347640-SX1BCWN1GQHOMWH17I7E/IMG_6462.jpeg The Process (Copy) - Step 1: Consultation Just a quick 30 minute to 1 hour chat. I don’t charge for consultations, and you don’t need to show me any documents at this point. I will ask you some general questions about what property you own and what debts you owe. From that information I can tell you if bankruptcy is a good option for you; it’s not the best choice for everyone. These days, with the pandemic still lurking, I am conducting meetings via Google Meet; if you don’t have access to a Meet-capable device, let me know and we can work out some other sort of properly socially-distant meeting. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161931216-ZCTZ7R53OARA4WDCYHSC/IMG_5334+crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 2: Interview If you decide to hire me, after an initial payment, we will have a longer meeting. It may end up being the most painful part of the bankruptcy process, because you will have to listen to me prattle about bankruptcy theory. I will also ask detailed questions about your finances, property, and debts. Then I’ll go over a checklist of needed documents, which brings us to the next step…. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161878106-5S1VP0HAXX1GQSR35KOH/IMG_4392+crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 4: Filing Once I’ve collected all your documents and prepared the petition, it will be time to file it with the bankruptcy court. After you’ve paid in full, I will draft the petition, schedules, and statement of financial affairs, get your signature on everything that needs it, and file it all, along with your court filing fee. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161609479-M71NR6GRO5RASEP97U46/IMG_5455+crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 3: Homework You go through the checklist I gave you and find copies of all the documents listed. This is an important step, because without this stuff you won’t be able to get your discharge. I’ll send you some reminder emails, but the quicker you get these back to me the quicker I file your case and your debts are discharged. You will also have to take a couple of online classes about personal finance. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161652192-J2FYQPYTD2QTD6Y08M3Y/IMG_7027+Crop.jpg The Process (Copy) - Step 5: Meeting For most bankruptcy filers, the closest they will come to going to court is the creditors’ meeting. About a month after your case is filed you will have to attend a meeting with your case’s trustee, the person who represents unsecured creditors. It’s a quick meeting - usually a bunch are scheduled the same day - in which you will answer questions about your property and financial affairs. Most people find there was very little to worry about, but some are nervous before the meeting. So, a few days before, you and I will meet to do a dress rehearsal. I’ll advise you on what you will be asked, and how to answer the questions. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f6965e573e83c1ebf08d6f1/1608161323692-P1GR77Y63T55CR56YE8M/IMG_6623.jpeg The Process (Copy) - Step 6: Discharge About two months after your creditors’ meeting, the court will review your file and, in most simple cases, grant you the discharge you asked for in the petition. Most of your unsecured debts will disappear - you will have no more legal obligation to pay them - and you can get on with enjoying your fresh start. In cases with higher-income debtors or debtors who have more property to protect, you will make payments for either three or five years before the Court grants your discharge. The remaining debts will still disappear, though!