Debt Settlement Lawyer – Clark County, Las Vegas, Henderson, or anywhere in southern Nevada.
💬 Overwhelmed with credit cards, medical bills, lawsuits, or business debts? You don’t have to face creditors alone. At A Fresh Start Law, attorney Dorothy Bunce has decades of experience negotiating directly with creditors, reducing balances, and protecting Nevadans from aggressive collection tactics.
✨ You Deserve a Fresh Start! Bankruptcy isn’t always the right answer. If you’d prefer to avoid filing bankruptcy, debt settlement may allow you to reduce or eliminate debts — without going to Court or disclosing your financial struggles in public records.
📞 Call today for your free consultation: (702) 551-3256 (same-day callbacks available).
🤔 What Is Debt Settlement?
Debt settlement is a legal negotiation where creditors agree to accept less than the full balance you owe and mark the account as “paid in full.”
💡 Debt Consolidation vs. Debt Settlement
- 💳 Debt Consolidation – Taking out one new loan to pay off old ones.
- ⚖️ Debt Settlement – Negotiating with creditors for a lump-sum payoff at a discount.
🚫 The catch: Many “debt consolidation companies” aren’t lenders at all. Your payments are applied to their fees for many months before they even begin any work contacting creditors. Clients often pay these companies thousands of dollars, while their debts, interest, and lawsuits continue to grow.
✅ At A Fresh Start Law, you work with a licensed attorney, not a call center staffed by representatives that have only minimal training. We:
- Only charge a small initial good-faith retainer.
- Don’t receive any additional payment until we obtain the promised results.
- You keep your money until a deal is finalized.
🔑 How Debt Settlement Works
Creditors recognize that pursuing debts through lawsuits or garnishments is costly. With skilled negotiation, they’ll often settle.
Debt settlement may help if you:
- 💵 Can pay something, but not the full balance.
- 📉 Want or need to avoid bankruptcy.
- 🔒 Prefer to keep your financial details private.
At A Fresh Start Law, we handle more than just credit cards. We also negotiate:
- 🏥 Medical debt.
- ⚖️ Court judgments & pending lawsuits.
- 🚗 Repossession deficiencies.
- 🎓 Student loans (in limited cases).
- 💥 Uninsured accident claims.
- 💼 SBA loans & business debts.
Most “debt companies” won’t touch these — but as a law firm, we can.
⏳ Timeline & Process
- ⚡ With funds ready, we could settle in days or weeks.
- 💰 Without funds, creditors usually won’t take offers seriously.
- 📈 Quick lump-sum payment builds credibility and can secure larger discounts.
✅ Pros & ⚠️ Cons of Debt Settlement
Advantages:
✔️ Stops creditor harassment.
✔️ Settles debts for less than owed.
✔️ Keeps your financial situation private (unlike bankruptcy).
✔️ Quicker than a 3 to 5 year Chapter 13 repayment plan.
Disadvantages:
⚠️ Creditors may refuse to negotiate.
⚠️ Interest & fees may continue during talks.
⚠️ Forgiven debt may be taxed as income.
⚠️ “Settled” accounts may hurt your credit temporarily.
⚖️ Debt Relief Options – Side by Side Comparison.
| Debt Settlement | Bankruptcy | Debt Consolidation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What It Is? | Negotiate debts down for lump-sum payoff. Payments available but cost will be higher. | Legal process to eliminate/restructure debts. | New loan to repay all debts. |
| Who It Helps? | People who can pay something. | People overwhelmed with no ability to repay. | People with good credit who qualify. |
| Privacy? | Private. | Public court record. | Private. |
| Timeline? | Weeks–months. | Ch. 7: 3–4 mo; Ch. 13: 3–5 yrs. | Loan term: 3–5 yrs |
| Credit Impact | Short-term drop, then rebuild. | Reported for 7–10 yrs; but usually has minimal effect after 6 months with rebuild. | Help if paying. |
| Cost | Settled amt + modest legal fee, less than total debt. | Filing + attorney fees (often lowest in Ch. 7). | Loan interest + fees. |
| Main Benefit | Pay less than you owe w/out bankruptcy. | Wipe out or restructure debts legally protected from harassment by the Court. | Simplify into one payment. |
❓ Debt Settlement FAQ
💳 Will settling hurt my credit?
Yes, but if you’re already behind, your score is likely already affected. Once settled, you can start rebuilding — often improving within one to two years.
🧾 Will I owe taxes on forgiven debt?
Possibly. Forgiven amounts over $600 can trigger the creditor to issue IRS Form 1099-C, a tax document, with the forgiven amount being taxable income. However, some people qualify for insolvency exceptions. We’ll review this with you.
⚖️ What if a creditor refuses?
Not all debts can be settled, but many creditors prefer payment now over a lawsuit later. Our experience improves your odds.
🏦 Can a settlement stop lawsuits or garnishments?
Sometimes yes — but if a case is too far along, bankruptcy may be the better tool.
🚫 Are debt settlement & consolidation the same?
No. Most “consolidation” companies are really fee-heavy settlement mills. With us, you get licensed legal representation.
🌟 Why Choose A Fresh Start Law?
- 👩⚖️ Attorney Dorothy Bunce — Las Vegas debt lawyer since 1979.
- 💬 30,000+ debt questions answered online — trusted nationwide for clear advice.
- 🤝 Compassionate, judgment-free guidance tailored to you.
- 📲 Free consultations & same-day callbacks.
✨ Bottom Line:
- Debt Settlement = Best if you can pay some debt, but want or need to avoid bankruptcy.
- Bankruptcy is often the best option when debt is overwhelming and you need a complete financial reset or A Fresh Start.
- Consolidation = Best if you have strong credit and qualify for a good loan.
📞 Call (702) 551-3256 or request a same-day callback. Or Contact Us Online or by instant messaging with our 24 hour live person – located in the lower right corner of this page.
✨You Deserve a Fresh Start — Let’s make it happen together.