Debt Relief Passionate. Transparent. Personable.

Debt Relief Attorney in Scottsdale

Bankruptcy, Debt Settlement & Creditor Defense for Scottsdale, AZ Residents

At Compassionate Counsel, we help individuals in Scottsdale, Arizona work through financial distress with a clear path forward. Whether that means negotiating with creditors, filing for bankruptcy protection, or enrolling in our Debt Resolution Program, we take time to understand your specific situation before recommending anything. Our founding attorney, Brant Hodyno, holds the AV-Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. We serve clients in English and Spanish.

If you’re facing creditor calls, mounting balances, or the threat of wage garnishment, the right legal guidance can make a significant difference in what options remain available to you. We offer a free initial consultation and respond to new inquiries in under an hour.

Contact our Scottsdale debt relief attorneys today at (623) 294-5705 to schedule your free consultation and get a straight answer about your options.

Debt Relief Paths We Offer

Debt relief isn’t a single solution. The right approach depends on your income, the types of debt you carry, your assets, and where you want to be financially in the years ahead. We work across several distinct paths so the recommendation we make is actually suited to your circumstances.

Debt Resolution Program

Designed for clients who are making payments on time but not reducing their principal balances, the Debt Resolution Program uses your existing good credit standing as leverage. We analyze your budget and credit usage, work to reduce what you owe and lower your monthly obligations, and provide ongoing credit education and support even after your debt is resolved.

Debt Negotiation & Settlement

We negotiate directly with creditors on your behalf to reach agreements to pay less than the full amount owed. Creditors are experienced negotiators, and having a debt relief lawyer in your corner can change that dynamic. Debt settlement doesn’t involve a court filing and may be a fit for individuals with some ability to pay who want to avoid bankruptcy.

Chapter 7 & Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a federal process that can discharge or restructure debt under court protection. Filing triggers the automatic stay, a federal court order that immediately halts most creditor collection actions, including foreclosure, repossession, wage garnishment, and lawsuits. Chapter 7 may eliminate most unsecured debts. Chapter 13 establishes a structured repayment plan that can let you keep assets while catching up on what you owe. Both paths carry real credit consequences: Chapter 7 can remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, while Chapter 13 typically comes off after seven. We discuss all of that honestly before you decide.

Creditor Harassment Defense & Foreclosure Defense

Collection calls, threatening letters, and aggressive creditor contact may cross legal lines. We defend clients against creditor harassment and represent homeowners facing foreclosure, working to protect your rights under federal and Arizona law.

Why Scottsdale Clients Trust Compassionate Counsel

Founding attorney Brant Hodyno has been practicing law since 2005 and earned the AV-Preeminent® rating from Martindale-Hubbell in 2018. He was also named to the 10 Best list by the American Institute of Legal Counsel in 2016. The firm is BBB Accredited. Those credentials reflect a record of legal ability and professional ethics that Scottsdale residents can consider when making a significant financial decision.

We don’t tell clients what they want to hear. Our attorneys have recommended against bankruptcy when it wasn’t the right fit, even when a filing would have been easier for us. Flexible payment plans are available for a range of budgets, and we offer pro bono and reduced-fee services to veterans, active-duty servicemembers, first responders, and individuals who qualify based on financial need.

Start with a Free Consultation

A free initial consultation gives you a real picture of where you stand and what your options are. We respond to new inquiries in under an hour. Reach us by phone or through our online contact form.

Call Compassionate Counsel at (623) 294-5705 to speak with a Scottsdale debt relief attorney at no cost.

Accessible Legal Help for Veterans, First Responders & Those in Need

We believe legal help should be available regardless of budget. Compassionate Counsel provides pro bono and reduced-fee services to veterans, active-duty military servicemembers, first responders, and individuals who qualify based on indigency. Across all clients, we offer flexible pricing and tailored payment plans so financial hardship doesn’t become a barrier to legal representation. You can learn more on the firm’s pro bono efforts page.

What Working with a Debt Relief Lawyer at Our Firm Actually Looks Like

Clients at Compassionate Counsel work directly with an attorney, not a non-attorney case manager who fields calls between handoffs. Your attorney takes time to understand your specific financial picture before recommending any course of action, which means your situation is evaluated on its own terms, not matched against a template.

Our Debt Resolution Program extends that relationship past the resolution itself: clients continue to receive credit education, guidance, and support after their debt issues are addressed. And if the honest answer is that bankruptcy isn’t right for you, we’ll tell you that. Client feedback on the firm’s website reflects exactly that approach, including accounts of attorneys who recommended against filing when it didn’t serve the client’s interests.

Signs It’s Time to Contact a Debt Relief Attorney

Some situations are clear: a wage garnishment notice or a foreclosure filing leaves little room for delay. Others are subtler. If you’re making regular payments but your balances aren’t moving, receiving frequent creditor calls, or watching accounts head toward collections, those are signals that managing debt on your own may no longer be the right approach.

Early legal involvement tends to preserve more options. Once a judgment is entered or garnishment begins, some paths close. Arizona law governs how and when creditors may pursue collection, and a debt relief attorney can assess whether collection activity complies with applicable federal and state rules before the situation worsens.

Bankruptcy vs. Debt Settlement vs. the Debt Resolution Program

These three paths address different situations and carry different trade-offs. Understanding the distinctions helps you ask the right questions during a consultation.

Bankruptcy (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13)
A federal legal process filed in court. It can discharge or restructure debt and triggers the automatic stay upon filing. Bankruptcy can affect your credit for seven to 10 years depending on which chapter you file and involves court oversight, but it may provide substantial relief when debt is severe and other options aren’t viable.

Debt Settlement and Negotiation
No court filing is involved. An attorney negotiates with creditors to accept less than the full balance owed. This path may suit individuals with assets and some capacity to pay who want to resolve debt without a bankruptcy filing. Outcomes depend on the creditors involved and the specifics of each account.

Debt Resolution Program
Designed for individuals who are current on payments but making little headway on principal. This program uses your standing as a paying client as leverage to work to reduce balances and lower monthly payments, without a court filing and without unnecessarily damaging your credit position.

Non-attorney debt relief companies aren’t subject to the same ethical obligations as licensed attorneys, and their fee structures may not align with your best outcome. Working with a licensed debt relief attorney in Scottsdale means working with legal accountability and professional obligations that non-attorney services don’t carry. The right path depends on the type and amount of debt, your income, your asset exposure, and your long-term goals, all of which we assess during an initial consultation.

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Why Choose Compassionate Counsel?

Changing the Perception of Attorneys Along the Way

Compassionate, honest, and loyal are probably not the three values that come to mind when you think of a typical attorney. We defy all stereotypes.
Providing Customized Solutions with Flexible Pricing

Just like our tailor-made strategies, our prices are flexible to fit your unique needs. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach to fees.
Creating Personal Relationships to Last a Lifetime

We take the time to truly get to know our clients because we care about you. We’ll treat you like an individual, not just another case number.

Contact Us Today

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Client Reviews

At Compassionate Counsel, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.

"I am so glad I chose them to help me through it"
Both Kris and Brant were wonderful to work with! They made the process so easy and less intimidating. Both were always so quick to reach out when I had any questions and always helped alleviate any concerns I had. I appreciate so much that I was never left wondering what was going on with my case, and loved how easy they were to talk to - I never felt overwhelmed with legal terms! They are genuinely compassionate in what is a very stressful time and I am so glad I chose them to help me through it. 100% recommend!

- Rachel M.
"They made me feel confident in their work during the whole process"
If this was a service you go to repeatedly I definitely would! I started with a different attorney who I had zero confidence in and thankfully got a referral for Compassionate Counsel because it was like night and day. They are thorough, knowledgeable, and friendly. They did not seem annoyed when I asked questions and very attentive when I reached out. They made me feel confident in their work during the whole process. Highly recommend!!

- K G.
"Do yourself a favor and call Compassionate Counsel today"
Compassionate Counsel may sound too good to be true, but it's not. My call with Brant was quick and reassuring. He addressed my concerns with kindness and expertise. Do yourself a favor and call Compassionate Counsel today. You'll be writing a review like mine in no time! - Tim in Phoenix

- Tim S.
"I definitely recommend Compassionate Counsel"
I've always thought that lawyers would be hard to work with, but Kris made it easy for me to understand every step of the process. He was available by e-mail or phone even when he was out on vacation. Being stressed out of not knowing what to do when you've gotten yourself in this situation of too much debt comes with the territory, but Kris understood me and my situation and assured me things will run smoothly. As long as you have all your paperwork, cross your Ts and dot your Is, then things will fall into place. I definitely recommend Compassionate Counsel and speak with Kristopher Childers or Brant Hodyno. They absolutely are compassionate. Their company name says it all!

- R.M.
"A genuinely good person is hard to find these days. So thank you Brant for your kindness."
I spoke with Brant. We discussed my options and I was completely surprised. He gave me options that 8 other attorney's "forgot" to mention. My concerns were acknowledged and were quickly resolved by those options. I didn't feel pressured or nervous speaking to him. Brant is the most down to earth, great person I've spoken to in a long time. He's honest and straight forward. No surprise endings here. I now know what I can do to protect myself from creditors and I won't be hurt in the process. In situations like this you need someone who understands your position and not just in it for the money. A genuinely good person is hard to find these days. So thank you Brant for your kindness.

- D. H.
"Brant provided more helpful information in an on-the-spot free consultation than I received in weeks"
This place really lives out the name - Compassionate Counsel. Brant provided more helpful information in an on-the-spot free consultation than I received in weeks of going back and forth with another law firm. Talking to Compassionate Counsel felt less like talking to a law firm and more like talking to a genuine person who cares. Highly recommend!

- Lina B.
"What a rarity it is to find an attorney who "walks the walk." Compassionate Counsel is truly what this firm provides"
I spoke with Brant a couple times on the phone regarding my son's financial hardships and both times I hung up feeling that I had received accurate, understanding, and caring advice. Both phone calls were received quickly after my reaching out to him too. What a rarity it is to find an attorney who "walks the walk." Compassionate Counsel is truly what this firm provides. I recommend them with 100% assurance that you will be blown away by the caring and knowledgeable service you will receive.

- Lisa Dee S.
"He's a really cool human being and I'm glad that there are lawyers out there like him!"
Looking into this kind of thing is really stressful and confusing but Brant totally took that all away. He took time out of his day to answer my questions, give me some tools and was super transparent about the process. He's a really cool human being and I'm glad that there are lawyers out there like him! Thanks again!

- Anatta V.

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