discharge

Bankruptcy will discharge debts that are owed on or prior to the date you file the bankruptcy case, unless they are excepted from discharge in the bankruptcy code. There are not enough facts to determine whether or not the debt with the attorney you mention would be dischargeable.  Most likely it is, but if it was incurred through fraud, or is a debt owed on behalf of a former spouse from a divorce proceeding, it would not be. Mark Markus has been practicing exclusively bankruptcy law in California since 1991.  He is a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization,  AV-Rated by martindale.com, and A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.