Foreclosure Attorney Temple

Legal Guidance When You Are At Risk Of Losing Your Home

If you are behind on your mortgage and worried about a foreclosure sale in Temple, you are not alone. Many Central Texas families reach a point where the house payment, other debts, and everyday expenses no longer line up. The situation feels urgent and confusing, especially when notices from the lender start to arrive.

At Erin Baker Shank, PC., we focus our practice on bankruptcy and related financial solutions that can affect foreclosure outcomes. For more than forty years, Erin B. Shank has helped people in Central Texas understand their options when a lender is moving toward foreclosure. Our team meets with clients virtually, so you can talk with us about your situation from your home or any private place that works for you.

We know that you may feel ashamed, frustrated, or simply exhausted. Our goal is to offer calm, respectful guidance so you can make informed decisions about your house, your debts, and your financial future.

Facing Foreclosure In Temple, TX? How Our Firm Helps

Homeowners in Temple often reach out to us after a series of missed payments, a posted foreclosure notice, or a sale date scheduled in the coming weeks. Some have also been dealing with credit card debt, medical bills, or tax problems that made it hard to keep up with the mortgage. Others have faced job changes, health issues, divorce, or a military move that disrupted their budget.

Our firm focuses exclusively on bankruptcy law and related financial relief, so nearly every day we help people who are in some version of this situation. We work with homeowners from Temple, Waco, Killeen, and across Central Texas, using virtual meetings to remove travel time and to give you privacy. You can talk with us about your foreclosure concerns without leaving work early or arranging childcare.

When you contact us, we listen first. We review your mortgage history, any foreclosure notices, your income, and your other debts. Then we walk through potential legal tools that may apply to your case, including bankruptcy options that can pause foreclosure actions in many situations. Our role is to help you understand what each path could mean for your home, your credit, and your long term stability, so your choice feels thoughtful instead of rushed.

What To Do When You Receive A Foreclosure Notice

Receiving a letter or notice from your mortgage company about foreclosure is frightening, and many people are tempted to set it aside and hope things improve. In Texas, that can be very risky. The foreclosure process is often nonjudicial, which means lenders can move toward a sale without going through a full court case. Ignoring the paperwork does not slow that timeline.

If you have received a foreclosure notice on a property in Temple or nearby, there are practical steps you can take to protect yourself and keep options open. These steps can help you stay organized and prepare for a conversation with a bankruptcy attorney.

Helpful steps when a foreclosure notice arrives:

• Gather all letters, emails, and statements from your lender in one place, including the notice of default and any notice of sale.
• Note any dates mentioned in those documents, especially the scheduled sale date and deadlines to respond.
• Make a simple list of your income sources, regular monthly bills, and all debts, including credit cards, medical balances, and tax obligations.
• Avoid signing new agreements or "rescue" offers from unfamiliar companies before you understand your legal options. Foreclosure scams are common.
• Reach out promptly to a bankruptcy attorney who works with Central Texas homeowners so you can review whether legal tools might help your specific situation.

When you contact our firm, we can review the timing in your notice and explain what might happen next if no action is taken. Then we talk about what could change that timeline, such as a bankruptcy filing or a loan workout, and how quickly those steps would need to occur for your case.

How Bankruptcy Can Help With Foreclosure In Texas

Understanding The Automatic Stay

Bankruptcy is one of the strongest legal tools available to many homeowners who are facing foreclosure. For some people, it can pause a pending sale and create a path to catch up on missed payments over time. For others, it can provide a structured way to deal with overwhelming debts, even if keeping the current home is not part of their long term plan.

When a bankruptcy case is filed, it generally triggers what is called the automatic stay. This is a federal court order that usually stops most collection efforts for a time, including many foreclosure activities. How the stay applies in your case depends on factors such as whether a sale has already been completed, how many times you have filed before, and the specific facts of your mortgage.

Bankruptcy Options That May Affect Your Home

Individuals often consider two main types of bankruptcy cases when foreclosure is involved. One type is geared toward organizing and repaying some or all of your debts over several years, which can include catching up on missed mortgage payments through a structured plan. The other type focuses more on wiping out qualifying unsecured debts. Which path, if any, fits your situation depends on your income, assets, equity in your home, and goals for the future.

At Erin Baker Shank, PC., our practice has centered on bankruptcy for four decades. When we talk with homeowners about foreclosure, we explain how these options work in everyday terms and how Texas law interacts with the federal bankruptcy system. We also make sure you understand what bankruptcy cannot do, so you are not relying on unrealistic expectations when you decide.

Options For Temple Homeowners To Address Mortgage Problems

Not every homeowner who calls our office decides to file bankruptcy. Some discover that they have other avenues to explore, or that their main challenge is a different category of debt that is squeezing the budget. Our job is to help you see the full picture and consider realistic paths forward.

For many Temple homeowners, the immediate problem is that the mortgage is behind. However, the reasons often include credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, or tax debts that take cash away from the house payment each month. We look at all of these pieces together, rather than treating the mortgage in isolation.

Possible directions we may discuss include:

• Working with your lender to seek a loan modification or other workout option that could change the payment terms, particularly if your income has become steadier after a temporary setback.
• Using a repayment plan through a bankruptcy case to catch up on missed payments over time while staying current on new ones.
• Addressing unsecured debts, such as credit cards or medical bills, so that more of your monthly income can go toward housing.
• Reviewing tax debts and how they fit into any overall strategy for financial stability.
• Evaluating whether staying in the current home truly supports your long term goals, or whether a controlled transition might be less stressful than an abrupt foreclosure.

Our approach is holistic and personal. We do not assume that every person needs the same solution. Instead, we work with you to identify what you want for your family and what the numbers show is realistic, then we discuss tools that may help bridge that gap.

Support For Military Families Facing Foreclosure

Central Texas is home to many active duty service members, veterans, and civilian employees who support military operations. Some live in Temple and commute to nearby installations. Financial stress for these families carries an added weight, because they may also worry about how debt problems and foreclosure could affect a security clearance or career progression.

We understand that concern and we take it seriously. When military families contact us about foreclosure, we look not only at the house and the debts, but also at how different choices might appear in the context of a clearance review. Often, taking responsible steps to address debt can be viewed more favorably than ignoring mounting problems.

In our conversations with service members and veterans, we talk openly about the balance between financial relief and professional obligations. We also recognize that schedules can be demanding and unpredictable. Our virtual consultation model allows you to meet with us at times that fit around missions, shifts, and family responsibilities, without needing to drive to a traditional office.

Every military career and clearance situation is unique, so we do not make blanket promises. What we can provide is careful attention to your specific facts, respect for the confidential nature of your work, and thoughtful discussion of how debt relief options intersect with your professional world.

Our Virtual Bankruptcy Services For Temple Homeowners

How Virtual Meetings Work

Many people who are worried about foreclosure also feel short on time, energy, and privacy. Driving to a law office, sitting in a waiting room, and explaining personal financial details in an unfamiliar place can feel like a barrier. Our firm has built a virtual service model that removes much of this friction for homeowners in Temple and across Central Texas.

When you schedule a virtual meeting with us, we connect by phone or secure video, depending on your preference. Before the conversation, we may ask you to gather certain documents, such as mortgage statements, foreclosure notices, and a list of debts and income. During the meeting, you speak directly with our team about your situation and questions, just as you would in person.

Benefits For Temple Homeowners

We continue to use phone, email, and secure online tools to share information, exchange documents, and keep you updated as your matter progresses. Our goal is to make the legal process as accessible as possible while maintaining the same level of care and attention that you would expect in a traditional setting.

For homeowners in Temple and across Central Texas, this approach saves travel time and allows you to speak with us from a place where you feel comfortable. It also makes it easier for spouses, partners, or family members in different locations to participate in important conversations about the home and finances.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do I have after a foreclosure notice in Texas?

The amount of time you have after a foreclosure notice in Texas depends on the type of notice and where you are in the process. In many nonjudicial foreclosures, lenders are required to provide at least a certain minimum notice period before a sale can take place, and sales are commonly scheduled on specific days of the month. The documents you receive from the lender usually state the date of a planned sale and any deadlines to cure the default. When we talk with Temple homeowners, we review the actual notices to understand exactly what timeline applies in their case. It is important to contact a knowledgeable attorney quickly, because more options are generally available before the sale date than after.

Can bankruptcy stop the foreclosure sale on my home?

Bankruptcy can often pause a scheduled foreclosure sale through the automatic stay, which is a court order that usually goes into effect when a case is filed. In many situations, this stay requires most creditors, including mortgage lenders, to halt collection actions for a time. Whether it will stop a particular sale on your home depends on several factors, including the timing of the filing, any prior bankruptcy cases, and whether the sale has already occurred under Texas law. When we speak with you, we look at your sale date, your filing history, and your overall finances before we discuss whether a bankruptcy filing could still affect the foreclosure process. Our goal is to give you a realistic picture of what this tool can and cannot accomplish in your case.

Will I lose my house if I file bankruptcy?

Filing bankruptcy does not automatically mean that you will lose your house. Certain types of bankruptcy cases are often used by homeowners who are trying to keep their homes while catching up on missed mortgage payments. Whether you can stay in your house depends on several things, including how much equity you have, your ability to make ongoing payments, and the type of bankruptcy you file. Texas exemption laws and federal bankruptcy rules both play a role in this analysis. When you meet with us, we review your property, your income, and your goals, then explain how different options could affect your home so you can make an informed choice.

What if I already have a foreclosure sale date set?

If a foreclosure sale date has already been set, it is especially important to act quickly. There may still be legal tools available that could affect the sale, but timing becomes a critical factor. The first thing we usually do is review your notice of sale and any related documents to confirm the exact date and to understand how far along the process is. We also ask about your prior bankruptcy history and your overall financial picture, because these details influence what options remain. While we cannot promise to stop any particular sale, we can explain what steps might still be possible in your situation and what information we would need in order to move forward.

How much does it cost to work with your firm?

The cost of working with Erin Baker Shank, PC. depends on the type of case you file and the complexity of your financial situation. Bankruptcy cases typically involve court filing fees and attorney fees, and we discuss these clearly before you decide how to proceed. Our aim is to structure fees in a way that supports your overall financial goals, rather than adding unnecessary strain. During a consultation, we can outline the likely costs for the types of cases that may apply to you and talk about how payment would work. We want you to understand both the legal options and the financial aspects of hiring our firm before you make any commitments.

Will foreclosure or bankruptcy affect my security clearance?

Financial problems, including foreclosure and significant debt, can raise questions in some security clearance reviews, and the impact depends heavily on your specific role, history, and how you address the issues. In many cases, taking proactive steps to deal with debt through lawful means is viewed more favorably than ignoring mounting problems. During a consultation, we encourage military and clearance holding clients to describe their professional situation so we can factor that into our discussion of options. While we cannot control clearance decisions, we can help you think through how different choices might be perceived and support you in presenting your actions as part of a responsible effort to regain financial stability.

Can we meet virtually instead of coming into an office?

Yes, we regularly meet with clients virtually instead of requiring in person office visits. Many Temple homeowners find that virtual meetings make it easier to fit legal help into their schedules and to speak frankly from the comfort of their own home. During these meetings, you receive the same level of attention and legal analysis that you would receive sitting across a desk. We use phone, video, and secure online tools to share information and documents. If you prefer in person contact for some parts of your case, we can discuss that as well, but our virtual model is designed to make getting help as straightforward and convenient as possible.

Talk With Our Team About Your Foreclosure Timeline

If you are facing foreclosure, time rarely feels like it is on your side. Texas procedures move faster than many people expect, and once a sale occurs, your options may narrow. Speaking with a knowledgeable foreclosure lawyer Temple residents can rely on before key dates arrive can make a real difference in the choices available to you.

At Erin Baker Shank, PC., we bring forty years of focused bankruptcy practice to homeowners in Temple and throughout Central Texas. We take the time to understand your mortgage, your other debts, and your goals, then we explain possible paths in clear, everyday language. Through virtual consultations, you can talk with us about your foreclosure concerns without adding travel or disruption to your already full schedule.

To discuss your foreclosure timeline and possible legal options, call (254) 690-4110 to connect with our team.