Oliver L Cisowski

History
Oliver Cisowski started practicing law in 2018 after graduating from Law School at Indiana University, Maurer School of Law. He began his career practicing Bankruptcy law and focused solely on Bankruptcy.
He has practiced law in Johnson City, Kingsport, and Knoxville, and has assisted in the filing of over 500 Bankruptcy cases in his tenure. Oliver is a member of the Kingsport Bar Association, Knoxville Bar Association, and Tennessee Bar Association. He has done pro bono work with the Honorable Susan Bauknight, Bankruptcy Judge in Northeast Tennessee.

My Story
I have been upset with how other lawyers deal with the sensitive issue of Bankruptcy and debt relief. In past work I saw lawyers look at the client as a way to make money. This especially aggravated me since this field of law deals with individuals in financial stress.
I do not like to see people in Elizabethton, Johnson City and the surrounding areas being taken advantage of by not only creditors, but greedy lawyers. The larger filers have a tendency of not putting forth the work and advocating for the rights of their clients. I want to use every tool to help.
There are many rights that Bankruptcy law affords. I believe I can help those in Elizabethton use those rights to get out of debt. I also want to do it more efficiently and effectively than the bigger Bankruptcy attorneys. This means I get my clients a fresh start at a low cost.

Indiana University Maurer School of Law

J.D. (2018)

2015 - 2018

Honors: Cum Laude

Activities: Legal Journal Moot Court Intellectual Property Law Association Labor Association CALI

State Bar of Tennessee  # 036759

Member

Current

Eastern District of Tennessee

Since 2019

Tennessee

Board of Professional Responsibility of the Supreme Court of Tennessee

ID Number: 37659

Since 2018

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted

Q. Can a finance company come and get collateral if I'm fixing to file Chapter 7 do I have to let them in the door

October 14, 2020

A: If you have retained legal counsel let the finance company know. They should be contacting your attorney rather than you directly.

The general rule is that they cannot "breach the peace" when attempting to take back collateral. A simple "no" is sufficient to meet that standard and they will be forced to take judicial means to take possession. If you are 2 weeks from filing a chapter 7 there is no practical way they can get anything from you.

Once you file you will have the protection of the bankruptcy automatic stay. Depending on the type of collateral, you likely can get the lien lifted and the debt discharged.

Q. I own a home and a RV. All credit card debt is paid off. The RV payment is to high. We owe more than the RV is worth.

June 29, 2020

A: Like the other attorneys who have responded, a Chapter 7 would allow you to surrender the RV and discharge the loan in its entirety. A Chapter 7 allows you decide whether you want to keep secured debt or get rid of it. In your case, you can retain your house and keep paying the mortgage and surrender the RV and discharge that loan.

However, depending on your income and the equity in your house, you may need to opt for a Chapter 13. This still allows you to get rid of the RV, but you may have to pay the deficiency balance (loan over ultimate RV sale price).

Q. Does TN require that chapter 13 payments also be made from the $600 federal stimulus money received during unemployment?

May 18, 2020

A: No, this money is explicitly excluded from the definition of income in the CARES Act. This means it does not need to be paid into your plan.

However, if you have recently become unemployed due to the coronavirus and are not making payments into your Chapter 13 plan, you may want to speak to your attorney about a plan modification. There is a new rule the CARES Act implemented that allows for modification of your Chapter 13 plan if the coronavirus has caused an inability to stick with the original terms of your plan.