Hawaii Bankruptcy Attorney | Blake Goodman
  • Home
  • Services
    • Bankruptcy Overview
      • Filing For Bankruptcy
      • Homeowner Bankruptcy
      • Hawaii Bankruptcy Consultation
      • Online Hawaii Bankruptcy Consultation
    • Chapter 13
    • Chapter 7
    • Debt Settlement
      • 720 Credit Score Program
    • Tax Resolutions
  • Critical Items
    • Credit Score Assistance
    • Foreclosure Defense
    • Bankruptcy’s Effect on Your Credit Report
    • Bankruptcy and Security Clearances
    • Bankruptcy for Military Personnel
    • Hawaii Bankruptcy Exemptions
    • Student Loans and Bankruptcy
    • Bankruptcy and Taxes
    • Celebrity-Bankruptcy
    • Expert Bankruptcy Guidance in Hawaii
    • Bankruptcy From Job Loss
    • Bankruptcy From Poor Spending
  • About
    • Qualifications
    • Staff-bios
    • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Questionnaire
  • Office Maps
  • Contact
  • Call: (808)528-4274
Menu

Celebrity Bankruptcy

The Scoop from a Hawaii Bankruptcy Attorney

A Hawaii bankruptcy is a financial tool that thousands of ordinary people and families use to resolve their debt burdens. It is easy to think that financial struggles only affect the average person on the street. However, even millionaire entertainers use debt settlement solutions to save their finances.

It is entirely possible to have millions in the bank and owe millions in debt – it actually happens more often than you might think. As the money starts flowing in from lucrative film and music contracts, many celebrities spend like the good times will last forever, only to find themselves financially “underwater” months later. Some celebrities struggled with establishing a stable career, suffering through bankruptcy and financial hardship before finally finding the line of work that made them famous.

Wally Amos

As we know, life in paradise isn’t all mai-tais and frolicking in the surf. Living here can be expensive, and so can the cost of doing business. Nationally known Honolulu based entrepreneur Wally Amos launched the “Famous Amos” brand in 1975. Subsequent financial troubles meant the sale of the company under Chapter 11. Has that stopped him from making a come back? No way. Wally has recently launched WAMOS, showing life can still be sweet.

Dionne Warwick

Say a little prayer for this legendary Grammy award winning singer. Due to tax debts to IRS going back over 20 years, the singer filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Despite trying to work out a repayment agreement with the IRS, the money was only being applied to penalties and interest, not the principal amount of around $1 million. Under the bankruptcy code, some of the taxes were dischargeable because of their age.

Donald Trump

While the 45th President has never filed for personal bankruptcy, his companies have filed for bankruptcy four different times in 1991, 1992, 2004 and 2009. The first of these bankruptcies was certainly the most hectic for Trump, as he had guaranteed a business loan with his own personal wealth. When the business failed, he was forced to sell his yacht and private jet (tragic, we know), along with his shares in more profitable businesses.

Cyndi Lauper

Girls Just Wanna Have Funds! Early on in her career Lauper was in the band Blue Angels. They released an album that flopped and their manager ended up suing them. With no money to pay her creditors, Cyndi filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. As we all know with this fresh start she went on to become an 80s pop icon.

Mark Twain

Yup, they had bankruptcy back in 1864. Twain was persuaded to invest in a kind of high-tech typewriter that promised to type faster than any human. Persuaded by the pitch, the writer put in $190,000 (!!!). Unfortunately, the machine never worked. With the creditors chasing him, Twain took off for Europe. After 9 years, Twain returned to the US and filed bankruptcy at the age of 60. Twain embarked on a year-long, around-the-world lecture tour in July 1895 to pay off his creditors in full, although he was no longer under any legal obligation to do so.

Lenny Dykstra

For the former outfielder known as “Nails,” some bad moves hammered him into bankruptcy. At his height, the Mets player had a net worth of $58 million. At the lowest point, he was living in his car and hotel lobbies. Things only got worse when Lenny was charged with embezzling from the bankruptcy estate and pled guilty to bankruptcy fraud when it was proved he had hidden assets from the court.

Burt Reynolds

The Bandit took a dive in the late 90s. He had invested $15 million in a restaurant chain, prophetically called Po’Folks in the 70s. Between this poor investment, an expensive divorce and a lack of acting offers, Reynolds filed bankruptcy.

Thomas Jefferson

After writing the Declaration of Independence, he became the 3rd US President, negotiating the Louisiana Purchase and doubling the size of the United States. In spite of those great accomplishments, Thomas Jefferson lived most of his life in debt, dying while creditors were still hammering on his door. Like many modern victims, Jefferson borrowed from one bank to pay another, and co-signed on a loan with his son-in-law, who then went bankrupt.

Abraham Lincoln

Even Honest Abe had his share of hard times. The man who would become the sixteenth president of the United States owned a dry goods store in southern Illinois in his early twenties. When the business’ debts began to overtake its revenue, Lincoln sold his share, but became liable for the debts when his former business partner died. In court, his creditors took his remaining assets, and he still had to pay his debts until the 1840s.

Mike Tyson

At one point in time, Mike Tyson earned $30 million per fight. The memory of those days must have surely been bittersweet when he filed for bankruptcy in 2003, listing a total debt close to $23 million. The amount included $13 million in unsettled income tax liabilities and several hundred thousand owed to various business associates.

Warren Sapp

The former superstar defensive tackle was a Super Bowl champion and a legendary figure in the history of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A series of bad business decisions, missed alimony payments and back tax payments left him $7 million dollars in the red with only $6.5 million in assets, causing him to file for bankruptcy in April 2012.

MC Hammer

At the height of his career, one of the most definitive hip-hop stars of the 1990s owned a $30 million mansion and traveled with a 200-person entourage. Six years later, his debts were close to $13 million, whereas his assets were worth “only” $9 million.

Willie Nelson

A country legend who handled his financial troubles in an equally legendary way, Willie Nelson settled a $16.7 million to the IRS by making an album and sending the proceeds directly to the government. The IRS Tapes: Who’ll Buy My Memories? was a critical success and helped settle his tax debt.

Walt Disney

We don’t think of bankruptcy and the Happiest Place on Earth in the same sentence, but when a young Walt Disney lost the backing of a crucial investor, that’s exactly what he had to do. What would have happened if he had stopped there? No MagicKingdom, no Mickey?? Perish the thought. Walt Disney left for Hollywood with all of the things that he owned in the world; which were a pair of pants, a coat, one white shirt, two sets of underwear, two pair of socks and some salvaged drawing materials. He went to Hollywood, California and started over.

Michael Vick

Vick was once at the very top of the NFL in terms of salary, and he was set to earn $130 million over ten years through a contract extension with the Atlanta Falcons, when his infamous dogfighting controversy broke out in mid 2007. A year later, he was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Take the First Step Towards Stability

Our Hawaii bankruptcy lawyer understands that hard times often fall upon responsible people. We are dedicated to helping ordinary families get their lives back on track and free from the worry and pain of financial difficulties. Everybody needs help sometimes – contact our office or fill out our questionnaire today, and start taking the first step towards a new financial life.

Honolulu

Address: 900 Fort Street Mall Suite 910, Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 528-4274

Kaneohe

Address: 46-005 Kawa Street #206
Kaneohe, HI 96744
Phone: (808) 528-4274

Aiea

Address: 498-211 Pali Momi St. #608
Aiea, HI 96701
Phone: (808) 528-4274

Maui

Address: 220 Imi Kala St suite 203 c
Wailuku, HI 96793
Phone: (808) 426-2004

  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
bankruptcy course signupbankruptcy course completion
DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter. We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for relief under the bankruptcy code.
© 2121 Blake Goodman Bankruptcy Attorney Hawaii

Privacy Policy | Term of Service | Sitemap

Call Now Button

James Terry

James Terry is a 2017 graduate from the University of Hawai’i William S. Richardson School of Law in Honolulu. Upon graduation, he worked as a clerk in the State of Hawai’i Intermediate Court of Appeals before accepting the job at Blake Goodman, P.C. He is licensed in Hawai’i and admitted to the Federal Courts for the District of Hawai’i. James was born and raised in Hawai’i on the island of Oahu and attended Saint Louis High School and Hawai’i Pacific University prior to entering law school.

Input your Email, And we will send it to you immediately
Please note: We respect your privacy and will never sell your email address.

Vianne Yang

Viane was born in California and eventually was drawn to the islands. With her degree in finance, she hopes to assist clients get out of debt and start a fresh new life. In her spare time, she enjoys running along the beach and catching beautiful sunsets.

Coronavirus – Our Firm’s Response
The health and safety of our staff and our clients is our first priority.
Staff will stay home if they are sick. And, we recommend that client’s do the same. We will
be happy to reschedule any office meetings.

For our potential clients and existing clients:

We will be happy to offer all of our services online.

You may even have your free consultation by phone.

After retaining our office, we can work with you via phone and emails. We can even file your
case electronically. Therefore, we can both perform our duties to keep the members of our
families and community safe from the spread of Covid-19.

We are prepared to do everything possible to be proactive and safe.
We believe that our actions today will safeguard the health of our clients and staff, while
continuing to serve you with unsurpassed professionalism and support.

Honolulu Office Parking

Free Parking Locations

Parking option #1 : Downtown municipal parking, 1052 Bethel Street.

Clients who are disabled or nursing should be aware that there are no elevators, only conveniently located stairs at the downtown Municipal Parking Lot.

Parking option #2 : Chinatown municipal parking, Marin tower 60 N., Nimitz Highway. Parking entrance on Smith Street.
Parking option #3 : Harbor Court Parking, 847 Bethel Street.

You can find our office in the heart of downtown Honolulu. The office is very easy to find, and we cover all parking costs, if you park in one of these three parking locations listed below. Please don’t park in our building at Pioneer Plaza. We don’t reimburse you for that cost.

Hawaii bankruptcy lawyer Blake Goodman is ready to help you and your family put your financial struggles behind you and begin the next chapter in your life. We can assist with your Chapter 13, Chapter 7 or debt settlement claim. You may also wish to contact our Windward Side-Kaneohe office.

Kaneohe Office Parking

There is ample free parking in front of and behind the building. We look forward to addressing your student loan, debt settlement, tax resolution or Hawaii bankruptcy concerns. There is no charge for your first consultation. You can also contact our Honolulu office.

Aiea Office Parking

Turn at the Big City Diner off Pali Momi Street. Free parking available in front of building.

Use the information to contact our Hawaii bankruptcy attorneys‘ Pearlridge – Pearl City – Aiea office. Someone from our office will be in touch shortly. We look forward to addressing your student loan, debt settlement, tax resolution or Hawaii bankruptcy concerns. There is no charge for your first consultation. You can also contact our Honolulu office or at our Windward Side-Kaneohe office.

Malia Conner

Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Malia Connor moved to California’s Bay Area to study dance at San Francisco State University, where she formed her own dance company, 25 years ago. She moved back to Oahu in 2017 to begin taking care of her aging parents.

Malia is excited for the opportunity to help Hawai’i residents get out of debt and is eager to apply her executive admin skills and creativity to the team of Blake Goodman.

Anna Lisa Hughes

Anna Lisa Hughes received a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from San Francisco State University, and became fluent in both Spanish and Mandarin Chinese while studying and working abroad in Chile and China. Anna Lisa has nine years of paralegal experience in various areas of practice, including immigration, estate planning, civil rights, and bankruptcy law. Originally from Colorado, she moved to Hawaii for the cultural and ethnic diversity of the island of Oahu. Outside of the office, Anna Lisa has also had a career in music as a bassist and songwriter.

Joshua Humpries

Joshua Humphries is a 2008 graduate from the Widener University School of Law in Delaware. Upon graduation, he worked for a national law firm specializing in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies for several years before moving to a smaller firm where he continued he established the firm’s bankruptcy practice. During that time, he also represented claimants in workers compensation and social security disability claims. In 2013, he also began practicing in the areas of debt collection and general civil litigation. He is licensed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Hawaii and admitted to the Federal Courts for the District of New Jersey, Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the District of Hawaii.

Dora Casillas

Prior to coming to this beautiful island, Dora Casillas lived in Simi Valley, California where she worked in the legal field for 18 years. Dora finds bankruptcy law the most rewarding where at the end of the day, she knows she helped many obtain a fresh start leading to a less stressful life.

Born in Texas and raised in California, Dora is fluent in Spanish. She enjoys the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets, along with the hiking trails and beaches. Dora is thrilled to be here and to have the opportunity to work with such a great team to serve the people of Hawaii.

Julia Oaten

I attended the University of Manchester, (UK) gaining a B.A. with Honors in Art History, before obtaining my J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Before moving to Hawaii and specializing in bankruptcy, I practiced criminal law as a Public Defender in Annapolis, MD.

While I am Cuban – Armenian, I grew up in England. My family and I moved to Hawaii in 2007 when my husband was offered a great job here. I stayed at home until we were all settled in and then responded to Blake’s job offer, and have been here ever since. I am the proud owner of an English bulldog and I enjoy fishing and hiking Oahu’s beautiful island with my husband and young son.

I really enjoy helping our clients achieve a fresh start and hopefully relieve them of some of the stress being in debt can cause while protecting them from creditors and helping them survive the bankruptcy process with their dignity intact.

Blanca Goodman

I’m Blake’s wife of 20 plus years. My job is very exciting – I deal with all our clients’ creditors, collections agencies and attorneys. I process all our client’s bills statements, warnings letters, and law suits. I’m the one who spends one hour or more on the phone finding the accounts or negotiating the best deal I can for our clients.

I’m from Mexico and I came to this country 20 years ago. I speak Spanish, and I would love to learn Japanese and Korean. We have two smart twin girls. One of my greatest enjoyments is to listen to audio self improvement books, and classical music.

I dance Kahiko and Auana hula, and wake up every morning to a Zumba exercise routine.

My purpose is to help our clients find debt freedom as soon possible, between 2 years or less. I do have constant communication with our clients about their case, and I want our clients to feel that I do care deeply from my heart.

Jeff Mulford

Jeff Mulford attended California Western School of Law in San Diego, California on a creative problem solving scholarship. When he first stated practicing in 2010, he represented numerous chapter 7 clients throughout Southern California during the height of the foreclosure crisis. He enjoys practicing bankruptcy law because it provides relief to people going through difficult times and puts them on a fresh start towards a brighter financial future.

Prior to law school, Jeff earned an M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from California State University, Long Beach and a B.A. from the University of California at Davis.

Jeff moved to Hawaii in 2016 because he loves the beauty of the islands and the slower pace of life. When he is not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, and reading.

Blake Goodman

I received my law degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1989 and have been exclusively practicing bankruptcy related law in Texas, New Mexico, and Hawaii ever since. In the past, I was a Certified Public Accountant, receiving my license from the State of Maryland in 1988. Today I am unlicensed, inactive and am not holding myself out as a CPA.

I specialize in providing solutions to a family’s debt burdens and tax problems. To date, I’ve helped over 8,000 individuals and families alleviate their financial setbacks caused by overwhelming debt problems. Our law firm is one of the largest bankruptcy filers in the entire state of Hawaii. I am a member of the Hawaii State Bar Association, the Federal Bankruptcy Law Section, the Tax Freedom Institute and the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Lawyers. In addition to being a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, my article “The Often Overlooked 10-Year Tax Discharge Rule” was published in the ABI Journal.

I moved to Hawaii in 1999 with Blanca, my wife, who works with me at the office, because we wanted to live in tropical paradise. We now have twin daughters and have found Hawaii to be more than just a pretty place to live. It is the center of the universe for us.