About US
In 2006 attorney Tom Makedonski decided to hang a shingle on his own. After handling hundreds of clients for a small firm engaged in private practice with the areas of family and bankruptcy being the focus of the firm, Makedonski decided to go on his own and start the Law Office of Toma Makedonski (TMA) and focus on the practice of bankruptcy only.
“I feel clients are treated like numbers at most bankruptcy firms” Makedonski stated. “Clients are interested in two things when filing a bankruptcy: the cost of filing and how quickly they will obtain a discharge.”
With years of experience handling bankruptcy clients, Makedonski decided to address these two concerns by implementing a flat fee for all chapter 7 bankruptcies. Makedonski used to get calls all the time at his previous firm from people who were threatened with wage garnishment or repossession who needed relief right away. “Potential clients would ask me if the firm had a payment plan of some sort to pay for the bankruptcy and they would go on to cite other law firms that do.”
“Those issues incited me to educate clients of how the process works” Makedonski stated. Most bankruptcy lawyers that advertise a payment plan mislead clients into thinking that the small initial retainer will initiate the filing of the bankruptcy. However, the case is not actually filed until the bankruptcy fees are paid in full, because if the lawyer isn’t paid in full there is a chance that their fee can get discharged also. The Law Office of Toma Makedonski can offer low flat fees because of technology and virtual consultations and 341 trustee meetings held via zoom and or telephonically. These conveniences enable our firm to pass the time savings to our clients.
That means that you will not be under any bankruptcy protection because it has not been filed, so realistically nothing has been started. “I feel that advertising payment plans is just a way for bankruptcy firms to get people in the door and lock them in to get the business”, Makedonski stated. TMA quotes a flat fee for services and informs the clients of court costs associated with the petition right from the beginning. “This way attorneys can focus right away on what the client needs done”, Makedonski stated. At TMA, clients will always have questions answered by an Indiana licensed attorney and get right to the point regarding costs and how long the process will be.