Practice Areas and Legal Definitions

Our offices offer a range of legal services to help you achieve the best possible solution for your personal, business and financial affairs.  The following should give you additional information about our firm and what we offer:

Bankruptcy Laws:
Bankruptcy is a federal court process designed to help individuals and businesses eliminate their debts or repay them under the protection of the bankruptcy court. Bankruptcies can generally be described as liquidation or reorganization. Under a liquidation bankruptcy (Chapter 7), a claimant files to eliminate debt through the bankruptcy court. Under a reorganization bankruptcy (Chapter 13), a claimant files a plan with the bankruptcy court proposing how to repay creditors.

In 2005, the requirements under which a debtor could file Chapter 7 bankruptcy changed with the passage of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act("BAPCA").  We work with you to meet all of these requirements, which include budget and credit counseling within six months of filing, evaluation of your income (the "means test") determine whether or not a Chapter 7 will work for you, residency requirements to select the proper state exemptions, secured claims analysis for your home and vehicles, to identy a few.  Bankruptcy filings will continue to be recorded on an individual’s credit report for seven years in the case of Chapter 13, and up to ten years for Chapter 7.

Chapter 7:
Chapter 7 cases are commonly referred to as straight bankruptcy or liquidation cases, and may be filed by an individual, corporation, or a partnership. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy case does not involve the filing of a plan of repayment as in Chapter 13. Instead, the bankruptcy trustee gathers and sells the debtor's nonexempt assets and uses the proceeds of such assets to pay holders of claims (creditors) in accordance with the provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. Part of the debtor's property may be subject to liens and mortgages that pledge the property to other creditors. In addition, the Bankruptcy Code will allow the debtor to keep certain "exempt" property; but a trustee will liquidate the debtor's remaining assets. Accordingly, potential debtors should realize that the filing of a petition under Chapter 7 may result in the loss of property which is not exempt.

Chapter 13:
A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is also called a "wage earner's plan."  It enables individuals with regular income to develop a plan to repay all or part of their debts, and can be used to catch up mortgage arrearages and keep your home. Under this chapter, debtors propose a repayment plan to make installments to creditors over three to five years. Chapter 13 permits individuals to keep their property by repaying creditors out of their future income.  It is not available to corporations or partnerships. After completion of payments under the plan, Chapter 13 debtors receive a discharge of most debts.

Foreclosure:
Foreclosure is the legal proceeding in which a bank or other secured creditor sells or repossesses a parcel of real property (immovable property) due to the owner's failure to comply with an agreement between the lender and borrower called a "mortgage" or "deed of trust". Commonly, the violation of the mortgage is a default in payment of a promissory note, secured by a lien on the property. When the process is complete, it is typically said that "the lender has foreclosed its mortgage or lien".

The only ways to stop a foreclosure are full payment of the arrearage (all the behind payments, plus penalties, interest, attorney's fees, etc.), or the filing of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Full Payment: If you are able to obtain and tender the full amount of your arrearage, including fees and costs, you can stop the foreclosure of a standard residential mortgage. Most people lack the money to make full payment. Filing a Chapter 13 stops the foreclosure and allows you to repay your arrearage over a three-to-five year period. The arrearage is paid through a court-appointed official, while you resume your regular monthly payments to the bank in order to keep your home. A Chapter 13 can be filed at any time before the law day or sale date, and it  in most cases, may be  the only avenue to save your home.

Debt Consolidation:
Contrary to popular belief, debt consolidation is not a loan. Debt consolidation is a process in which debt is restructured into one low monthly payment. It further enables a consumer to reduce the amount owed and thereby eliminate interest. Very often a consumer can detect warning signs of being in too much debt long before any collection notices are received. If more than two of the following signs apply to you, you are probably in too much debt:

• You have begun charging to your credit card essential expenses like food and daily expenditures
• You are making only the minimum payments on your credit cards each month
• You are near the limit of your credit cards
• You have too many credit cards
• You are unsure how much money you owe creditors

Chapter 11:
Chapter 11 is typically used for business bankruptcies and restructuring. It is not commonly used by individual consumers since it is far more complex and expensive to pursue. It allows businesses to reorganize themselves, giving them an opportunity to restructure debt and get out from under certain burdensome leases and contracts. Typically a business is allowed to continue to operate while it is in Chapter 11, although it does so under the supervision of the Bankruptcy Court and its appointees.

We also offer services in these additional areas of practice:

Business Formation, Advisory:
Choosing the right form of business and getting good counsel for implementing your business plan is mission critical. We offer entity formation, financing decisions and documentation of contracts, buy -sell transactions, review and strategic planning for all business issues including Home Based Business services.

Civil Litigation:
You need an advocate to stand up for your rights, and present your case in the best light in our Court system.

Guardianships:
Conservatorships and Probate: We address current issues in Elder Care, and for all ages, with related issues in the Probate Courts.

Real Estate:
We facilitate protecting your most precious asset -- your home. We cover areas from purchase contracts, and agreements, deeds of trust, agreements for sale and chain of title lawsuits, to quiet title and tax lien foreclosures, and unraveling complex transactions.

Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning:
Everyone needs life planning in addition to your "end game strategy", your children, and your legacy.

If you or someone you know needs the assistance of an experienced Kingman Arizona Bankruptcy lawyer, call Sippel & Carroll PLLC today at 866-758-9149, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.

If you or someone you know needs the assistance of an experienced Kingman Arizona Bankruptcy lawyer, call Sippel & Carroll PLLC today at 866-758-9149, or use the contact form provided on this site to schedule a free consultation.

ADDRESS OF THE FIRM:
Sippel & Carroll PLLC
707 E Beale St.
Kingman, AZ 86401
Phone: 866-758-9149
Hours: M-Th, 8:30AM-4:30PM F 8:30AM-12:00PM
Special hours and evenings by appointment only

MEMBERS OF THE FIRM:

Attorney Mark A. Sippel

With over thirty (30) years of experience in courts throughout Arizona, Mark has a solid foundation in numerous areas within the practice of law.  Currently, for Mohave County, he focuses on finding creative solutions in the financial arena for both business and personal issues that impact all areas of our lives.

• Jurisdictions Attorney is Licensed in: Arizona; United States District Court, District of Arizona; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
• Date Admitted to the Bar: 1978
• Colleges Attended, Degree & Year Graduated: Colgate University, BA, 1975, Magna Cum Laude, Major: Philosophy and Religion; Phi Beta Kappa, War Memorial Alumni Scholarship Award Recipient; Arizona State University, College of Law, JD, 1978, Cum Laude
• Professional Memberships & Achievements:
  
  • As part of PBK Essentials, LLC, Mark is developing Business and Life Skills seminars and workshops in Bankruptcy, Money Management and related topics.

Attorney William B. Carroll

A true "Southern Gentleman", William attended undergraduate at "Ole Miss".

He attended law school at Valparaiso University School of Law in Indiana. We are fortunate that William chose to practice in Arizona. With a recognized Prescott law firm, he gained solid civil litigation and real estate experience.

Coming to Kingman, William joined the Mohave County Attorney's Office. As part of the Felony Criminal Division, he quickly rose through the ranks to be the Chief Deputy of MAGNET, the drug enforcement arm. He personally handled complex criminal litigation and tried numerous cases to a jury. William is in touch with the heartbeat of the citizens of our community.