Debt Relief at a Glance
Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law is the best overall choice for Chapter 7 and medical debt bankruptcy in Ohio. The firm works only for consumers. It never takes banks, creditors, or collection agencies as clients. It has spent more than 20 years helping Ohio families clear debt, and it runs six offices from Cleveland to Cincinnati. If you want a firm tied to one corner of the state, the other four picks below cover Northeast Ohio, Cleveland's west side, Greater Cincinnati, and the Dayton and Springfield area.
Ohio Bankruptcy Firms, Side by Side
Firm | Best For | Where They Work | Track Record | Medical Debt and Chapter 7 | Free Consult |
Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law | Overall pick, statewide reach | Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Beavercreek, Canfield | 20+ years, consumer-only practice | Dedicated medical debt practice, Chapter 7 and 13 | Yes, in office or by video |
McNeil Law Firm, LLC | Summit County filers who want one-on-one attorney attention | Downtown Akron, serving Northeast Ohio | Licensed since 2009, Super Lawyers Rising Star 2021 | Chapter 7 and 13 | Yes, by phone or video |
Law Offices of Jon Ginter | Cleveland and west side filers | Cleveland and Westlake | 2,000+ clients since 2013 | Dedicated medical debt practice Chapter 7 | Yes |
Minnillo Law Group Co., LPA | Greater Cincinnati households | Cincinnati, Eastgate, Fairfield | Founding attorney licensed since 1995 | Bankruptcy plus other consumer work | Yes, in person or virtual |
Cope Law Offices, LLC | Dayton and Springfield filers | Springfield and Dayton | Bankruptcy practice since 2011 | Chapter 7 and 13 | Yes |
Medical bills do not come one at a time. They pile up. An ER visit, a specialist, an MRI, a few weeks off work, and a family budget that worked in January falls apart by spring. Then the calls start.
Here is the part most people miss. Medical bills are unsecured debt, the same legal category as credit cards. In a Chapter 7 case, unsecured debt can be wiped out for good. No payment plan. No settlement letters. Gone.
The firm you hire decides how smooth that process feels. Below are five Ohio firms that handle this work every week.
How These Five Were Chosen
Each firm on this page lists consumer bankruptcy as a main practice, not a side line. We checked office locations, years in practice, and whether the firm offers a free first meeting. Firms that only file a few cases a year did not make it.
1. Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law
Start here if medical bills are the reason you are thinking about bankruptcy. Amourgis & Associates keeps a full practice area for medical debt, and its team explains the difference between priority debt, secured debt, and the unsecured bills that Chapter 7 can erase. The firm says a Chapter 7 case can wrap up in about four to six months.
Two things set this firm apart. First, it represents consumers only, so there is no conflict with a bank or collector on the other side. Second, reach. With offices in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Beavercreek, and Canfield near Youngstown, most Ohioans live within a short drive. If driving is hard, the team will meet by video or come to you. The firm also handles Chapter 13, foreclosure defense, and lawsuits over credit card debt, which matters if your case changes shape. It is a member of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys.
Good match if: you want one firm that can take a medical debt case anywhere in Ohio.
Address: 3200 W Market St., Suite 106, Akron, OH 44333 | Website: https://www.amourgis.com/bankruptcy-lawyer/
2. McNeil Law Firm, LLC
Ryan McNeil runs this Akron practice himself, so the person you meet is the person who files your case. He earned his law degree from the University of Akron in 2009 with cum laude honors and served as an editor of the Akron Law Review. His firm handles Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases for individuals and small businesses across Northeast Ohio. He is a past chair of the Akron Bar Association’s bankruptcy section and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2021. The office sits in downtown Akron, within walking distance of the city, county, and federal courthouses. Free consults happen by phone, and meetings can also be set up over Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
Good match if: you live in Summit County and want one attorney to guide your case from start to finish.
Address: One Cascade Plaza, Suite 740, Akron, OH 44308 | Website: https://mcneilfirm.com/
3. Law Offices of Jon Ginter
Jon Ginter opened his practice in 2013 and has represented more than 2,000 Ohio clients since. He focuses on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individuals and keeps offices in downtown Cleveland and Westlake. That volume means he has seen most debt mixes a Cuyahoga County household can bring in.
Good match if: you live in Cleveland or the western suburbs and want a solo attorney with deep filing experience.
Address: 815 Superior Ave Suite 1620, Cleveland, OH 44114
4. Minnillo Law Group Co., LPA
Paul Minnillo has held an Ohio law license since 1995 and is also licensed in Kentucky, which helps families who live on one side of the river and work on the other. The firm has offices in Cincinnati, Eastgate, and Fairfield and has been named to a Super Lawyers list. It handles bankruptcy along with injury, disability, and class action work.
Good match if: you live in Greater Cincinnati and want a firm with more than one practice area under the same roof.
Address: 2712 Observatory Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45208
Website: https://www.minnillolawgroup.com/
5. Cope Law Offices, LLC
Cope Law Offices has handled bankruptcy work since 2011 from offices in Springfield and Dayton. The firm covers Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for Clark, Montgomery, and Greene County residents and offers a free consultation.
Good match if: you live in the Miami Valley and want a local firm close to home.|
Website: https://www.daytonbankruptcylawfirm.com/
Address: 11 W Monument Ave, Ste 300 Dayton, OH 45402
Bring These Papers to Your First Meeting
A free consult goes faster when you show up ready. Bring:
- Your last six months of pay stubs
- Recent medical bills and collection letters
- Your last two tax returns
- A list of what you own, such as a car, a house, and retirement accounts
Ohio uses a means test that compares your income to the state median for your household size. These papers let a lawyer tell you in one sitting whether you qualify for Chapter 7.
FAQ
Can Chapter 7 wipe out medical bills in Ohio?
Yes. Medical bills are unsecured debt. Chapter 7 can discharge them along with credit cards and personal loans. You cannot pick which debts to list, so every debt goes on the paperwork.
How long does a Chapter 7 case take in Ohio?
Most cases close in about four to six months from filing to discharge.
Will collectors stop calling after I file?
Yes. Filing triggers the automatic stay. Creditors and collectors must stop calls, letters, lawsuits, and wage garnishment right away.
Will I lose my house or car?
Not always. Ohio exemptions protect a set amount of home equity, a vehicle, household goods, and most retirement accounts. A lawyer can run your numbers before you file.
How much does it cost to file Chapter 7?
The federal court filing fee is $338. Attorney fees vary by firm and case. All five firms on this list offer a free first consultation, so you can get a quote before you commit.
How long does bankruptcy stay on my credit report?
A Chapter 7 filing stays on your report for 10 years. The impact fades with time, and rebuilding starts the day your old balances are discharged.
Your Next Move
Medical debt is not a personal failure. It is a math problem, and Chapter 7 was built to solve it. The right lawyer can stop the calls, protect what you own, and clear the bills that keep you up at night.
For most Ohio families, Amourgis & Associates, Attorneys at Law is the top place to start. Six offices, a consumer-only practice, and more than 20 years of debt relief work make it the strongest all-around pick on this list. If you want a firm rooted in one region, the other four are solid local options.
Pick one, gather your papers, and book the free consult this week. Every month you wait is another month of interest, fees, and phone calls.