Is there any legal recourse other than bankruptcy to settle these debts for a reduced amount?

Yes. Consumer rights attorney may be able to help you with this. Although they are not all bad, I would not recommend contacting a debt settlement company. Often times in Washington, they charge illegal fees and may make your situation worse.

Why would you want to do this? Your credit is already damaged and if you filed a Chapter 7 you could probably protect most of the money. It is much easier to start your life over with money in the bank. You need to meet with an attorney so that you can get advice as to how you would best move towards a new life. It is possible that settlements can be worked out with the creditors, but, you need to understand the effect of settlements on your credit. Many times bankruptcy cleans up your credit report faster than settlements. An experienced attorney can discuss the options so that you can make a decision that is best for your situation.

Yes there are options.. Call the creditor and offer them 30% of the debt .. in exchange for a full discharge. you may still have a few $$ left over It will be more effective if you hire a bankruptcy attorney to do this for you (let the attorney make the phone calls)

It may be possible to arrange settlement with your creditors directly, often for half the amount owed, or even less - depending on how old the debt is, whether the creditor believes it can successfully collect, etc. Most of the time, any settlement must be for cash, rather than payments. If you want to settle directly, you may want to contact all of the creditors and make sure they all agree before settling with just one or two of them. (this is assuming that none of these debts has gone past the statute of limitations, which is another factor to consider). Bankruptcy, particularly Chapter 13, if you're eligible, has the advantage of not requiring the creditors' cooperation or agreement. That puts you in the driver's seat, and it's no worse for your credit score than settling with the creditors. You should talk to an experienced bankruptcy attorney before deciding which option is best for you.

You can attempt to negotiate down the debt.

It is sometimes possible to reach voluntary agreements in cases such as yours.