Law Firm Overview

Ross & Schnarrs, P.C., is a boutique firm located at the heart of the Tri-County Area of Montgomery, Chester, and Berks Counties. The objective of the firm is to apply the highest level of legal and personal resources to your situation in the areas of Bankruptcy, Criminal Law, Estate Planning, Social Security Disability, and Personal Injury Law.

Bankruptcy is becoming an increasingly important option to consumers who are overwhelmed with consumer debt, late payments on their home, medical bills, etc. Options in this area include Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies. Generally speaking, debtor(s) who are behind on payments to their home or car can choose a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy option. This is a powerful tool because the creditor must stop accruing interest, late fees, etc on the late payments, as well as any foreclosure action, so the debtor may get caught up on those payments. It is becoming increasingly common to choose this option as adjustable rate mortgages have severely pinched the finances of those who used this method of financing their homes several years ago.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcies are becoming increasingly popular as well to wipe out the debt of those who became over extended on credit cards or medical bills. In addition, it is extremely important that debtor(s) explore the Bankruptcy option before going ahead with any type of debt counseling or consolidation strategies….you might save a tremendous amount of money, aggravation, and time to consider Bankruptcy options first. The firm is extremely accommodating while making the process of performing a bankruptcy streamlined, understandable, and dignified.

In relation to bankruptcies, the firm handles claims arising under the Fair Debt Collection and Practice Act. In general, many persons find themselves in a situation where a creditor is harassing them in violation of one or more laws because the harassment is against the laws. The forms of harassment can come in many forms – sometimes the debt collector is not authorized to collect the debt or perhaps the threats they are making are illegal. These laws provide powerful relief to the person being harassed including an immediate cessation of the harassment, statutory fines, and payment of attorneys fees to stop the harassment. If you find yourself in this situation, please call us to resolve the problem immediately at no cost to you.

The areas of Criminal Law handled by the firm include Driving Under the Influence (DUI) offenses, Drug Offenses, and Assault Offenses. Each county has a different method of handling these offenses that can easily overwhelm a Defendant as they try to cope with the fear of "what is happening next". Having an attorney guide them through this process to fight for their rights is invaluable. Options, depending on the county, might include ARD, Intermediate Punishment Program, Bread and Butter, etc.

The firm handles Estate Planning and Estate Administration matters form the simplest wills to sophisticated trusts. A thorough examination of the clients objectives and assets is inventoried before recommending a plan and implementing it. This area is becomingly increasingly focused as new areas emerge that require particular attention to a clients needs. These areas include Retirement Planning, Special Needs, and Pet Trust Planning.

Retirement planning is becoming more important as a majority of the wealth of Americans is comprised of Retirement Assets. The best planning options should not involve a simple designation of beneficiaries on an IRA, 401(k), 403(b), etc. Instead, careful consideration should be given to utilizing Retirement Trusts as the beneficiary for maximum stretch out of the IRA and protection of the IRA from the beneficiaries spouse, creditors, and own decision making skills. This Retirement Trust should be incorporated with the clients Will or Trust to maximize the plan they are implementing.

Another area the firm handles that requires specialized planning involves Special Needs Planning. Special Needs Planning revolves around planning for the future care of individuals who are dependent on the needs of others for their care. They are special people and their families want to make sure they are taken care in the future. This might involve designing a plan that preserves their public benefits or ensuring they have enough resources to ensure they are taken care of by the very best facilities.

Social Security Disability is an area of the law the firm handles to assist those trying to receive this important public benefit. Most persons who apply for Social Security are initially denied. As a result, they need an attorney to advocate for their application to provide the best chance for a successful outcome. It is extremely important that someone who is applying for this benefit for the first time or appealing an unfavorable decision adhere to the time limitations on their applications. A person utilizing an attorney does not need to pay any fee out of their pocket. Instead, they simply must agree to allow the attorney to be paid a percentage directly from Social Security only upon a successful outcome. The firm handles these matters and will maximize the applicant’s chances of having a successful outcome.

Personal Injury Law is a growing area the firm handles. The range of matters might include auto accidents, slip and falls, or more serious claims such as wrongful death claims. In any case, it is advisable to seek advice from the firm to ensure you maximize the value of your claim. It is important to remember there are timeframes that dictate how soon your case should be filed. In every case, your claim will be handled at no cost to you on a contingency basis.

Areas of Practice

• Bankruptcy Law
• Consumer Protection
• Debtor/Creditor
• Criminal Law
• DUI/DWI
• Estate Planning
• Trusts
• Wills
• Family Law
• Adoption
• Child Support
• Custody & Visitation
• Divorce
• Social Security -- Disability
• Probate & Estate Administration
• White Collar Crimes

West Practice Categories

Bankruptcy Law, Consumer Protection, Debtor/Creditor, Criminal Law, DUI/DWI, White Collar Crimes, Estate Planning, Trusts, Wills, Family Law, Adoption, Child Support, Custody & Visitation, Divorce, Social Security -- Disability, Probate & Estate Administration