Iowa Bankruptcy Attorney
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About Jeff Mathias
Iowa Bankruptcy Lawyer / Attorney Iowa Bankruptcy Law
Iowa bankruptcy attorney Jeff Mathias grew up in Ames and graduated from Ames High School in 1979. Jeff earned his undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Texas State University. In his prior career Jeff was a police officer in Arlington, Texas. Jeff earned his Juris Doctorate degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law in Dallas.
Jeff is also the author of the Iowa Bankruptcy Guide and writes articles on bankruptcy for the Iowa Lawyer.
Jeff's oldest son, Joseph is an honors graduate from the Industrial Engineering Program at Iowa State University and builds fighter jets at Lockheed-Martin in Ft. Worth, James studies graduate Industrial Psychology and teaches at Akron State University and daughter Holly studies nursing at DMACC.
You can contact Jeff at jeff@mathiaslaw.com or complete a Free Online Consultation and get some quick feedback on your case.
Feel free to email Jeff with your Iowa Bankruptcy questions anytime as Jeff checks and responds to email after office hours as time allows.
Des Moines Iowa Bankruptcy Attorney
Somerfield Village Center
4800 Mills Civic Parkway
Second Floor Suite 214
West Des Moines, IA 50265
Tel. 515-261-7526
jeff@mathiaslaw.com
Jeff's accreditations - click on them for a larger version
 What makes Jeff different from other Bankruptcy Attorneys?
Here are some questions you might ask other bankruptcy attorneys you are considering to assist you in filing for bankruptcy.
Do you meet with every client personally from the start?
Yes
Jeff meets with every new client one on one.
Client Testimonial: |
"You made an otherwise horrible experience into just a tiny bump in the road of life. I applaud your overall ways of handling bankruptcy. You use humor. I'm glad that you were my lawyer. As I looked around the (hearing) room I felt sorry for the others that weren't as lucky to have found you as their attorney" – Recent client |
Do you draft every petition one on one with the client?
Yes
Sitting across Jeff‘s desk, you will discuss with Jeff all of your debts, assets, income and so forth and enter all of the petition information before you leave the office, so there is no confusion, no questions left unanswered and no packet to fill out.
Do you only represent debtors?
Yes
We never have a conflict between your interests and a creditor we represent because we have never represented a creditor, and never will.
Do you personally handle your hearings?
Yes
We do not “farm out” our hearings to other attorneys. Jeff will meet with you before your hearing and answer your questions. Jeff will be sitting there next to you throughout your hearing, not an attorney you have never met.
Are you a member of the premier professional association of bankruptcy attorneys?
Yes
Jeff is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. Jeff recently attended the NACBA National Convention in Boston bringing back many ideas for improving our client service. Jeff also participates in a nationwide list-serve of NACBA bankruptcy attorneys who share ideas and solve problems based on our collective experience.
Are you a “local guy?”
Yes
Jeff grew up in Ames, graduating from Ames High and currently lives in Story City with two kids in Roland-Story High School and one at Iowa State University.
Do you answer your own phones?
Yes
Jeff does answer his own phone. Jeff’s home phone number is 515-733-5373. Jeff takes pride in staying on top of his cases and communicating well with his clients.
I Don’t Know Anyone (confidentiality)
I’ve had so many clients come in to my office and say; “Do you know ____________”. Unless it is another attorney I generally respond that I don’t know anyone.
If I run across a client at the Target store, they may or may not want to stop and chat, but I don’t know anyone so I don’t say anything unless they do.
If you come to me as a client and I notice that you have the same last name as another client I will never raise the issue because I don’t know anyone…
By this I mean, although your bankruptcy may be public information available from the Clerk of Court, unless there is a specific need, no one will find out about it from me.
So if you come to my office and I seem to never have met anyone that I should know, that is because some of them have come through as clients and they may or may not want folks to know about it.
The client I run into at the Target store may think I am rude, but some clients do not want to have to explain to their shopping mates how they know “the bankruptcy attorney”.
I once actually had a brother and sister as clients at the same time, and their hearing ended up set on the same day! Neither one of them knew the other one was filing until the day of the hearing; I couldn’t do anything about that.
So, fortunately, since I don’t know anyone, your friends and neighbors will not find out about your bankruptcy from me unless there is a specific need.
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