Office Information for Law Offices of Karen Ware PC

Q: What are your business hours?

A: Both of our offices are open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, by appointment only. We are closed on weekends and major holidays. To make sure an attorney is available to meet with you, please call ahead to schedule.

Q: Where are your offices located?

A: We have two locations to serve clients in Ventura County and the Conejo Valley.

Our Oxnard office is located at 1000 Town Center Drive, Suite 300, Oxnard, California 93036. We are directly across the street from The Collection at RiverPark.

Our Westlake Village office (which serves our Thousand Oaks clients) is located at 2555 Townsgate Road, Suite 200, Westlake Village, California 91361. When you arrive at Suite 200, you will see doors marked “Office Evolution” — that is the correct entrance. Please check in inside the Office Evolution suite.

Q: Do you offer parking? Is your office accessible?

A: Yes, free parking is available at both locations. Both offices are wheelchair accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs, please let us know when you schedule your appointment so we can make accommodations.

Practice Areas

Q: What types of cases do you handle?

A: Our practice focuses on consumer debt issues. We help clients with:

  • Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy
  • Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy
  • Resolving and/or discharging tax debts
  • Winding up and terminating businesses under California state law
  • Wage garnishment
  • Debt collection lawsuits
  • Bank levies

Q: What languages do you speak?

A: Consultations and case work are conducted in English. If you need assistance in another language, please let us know when you schedule so we can discuss options.

Q: What areas do you serve?

A: We primarily serve clients in Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, including Oxnard, Camarillo, Ventura, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Agoura Hills, Simi Valley, and surrounding communities. Because we handle consultations by phone and Zoom, we are also able to assist clients in other parts of California — please call to ask whether we can help with your specific matter.

Consultations

Q: Do you offer a free consultation?

A: We offer a free initial consultation by phone for potential bankruptcy clients. This is the fastest way to find out whether bankruptcy is the right tool for your situation.

For all other case types — including wage garnishment, debt collection lawsuits, and bank levies — we charge $150 for a 45-minute consultation by Zoom. The paid consultation gives us time to answer your questions in detail and explain your options.

Q: How do I schedule a consultation?

A: You can schedule a consultation by calling our office or by using the scheduling link on our website. When you call, please let us know what type of issue you are dealing with so we can route you to the right consultation track — a free bankruptcy phone consult, or a paid Zoom consult for other matters.

Q: What should I bring or have ready for my consultation?

A: For a bankruptcy phone consultation, it is helpful to have a general idea of your debts, your total household monthly income and expenses, the type of assets you have and the values of those assets, and any lawsuits or garnishments you may be facing.

For a paid, non-bankruptcy Zoom consultation, please have copies of any lawsuit paperwork, garnishment notices, bank levy notices, or collection letters you have received. The more information we have in front of us, the more useful the consultation will be.

Fees and Payments

Q: How much do you charge for bankruptcy?

A: Our fees depend on the type of case. We will quote the exact fee for your specific case during your consultation.

  • Chapter 7 bankruptcy: $2,000 to $6,000 in attorney’s fees. The higher end of that range generally applies to business owners filing bankruptcy.
  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 36-month plan: $6,000 in attorney’s fees.
  • Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 60-month plan: $7,000 in attorney’s fees.

In addition to attorney’s fees, there are court filing fees set by the bankruptcy court:

  • Chapter 7 filing fee: $338
  • Chapter 13 filing fee: $313

Q: What payment methods do you accept?

A: For bankruptcy cases, we accept payment by cash, personal check, or Zelle. We are not permitted to accept debit or credit card payments for bankruptcy matters.

Q: When are fees due?

A: In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, attorney’s fees must be paid in full before the case is filed. For Chapter 7 clients, fees are typically due and paid at the bankruptcy intake meeting.

For Chapter 13, typically 50% of the total case fees is paid at the intake meeting, and the remainder is paid through the bankruptcy repayment plan.

Q: Do you offer payment plans for Chapter 7 cases?

A: Because Chapter 7 fees must be paid before the case is filed, traditional payment plans are not available for Chapter 7. However, we can work with clients on the timing of the initial meeting so they have time to save up the fees. We will discuss what is possible during your consultation.