Overview
Wisconsin is the only state in the country with a statute providing for a non-bankruptcy, circuit court-ordered debt repayment proceeding available to individual debtors. That statute, Chapter 128 of the Wisconsin Statutes, has been a centerpiece of The Fields Group Law Firm’s practice since the firm’s founding in 2001. Located at 2323 South 109th St, Suite 345, Milwaukee, WI 53227, the firm focuses on debt relief, bankruptcy, and debt consolidation for Wisconsin residents. The firm can be reached by phone at (414) 763-3200 and by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with evening and weekend appointments available.
The firm describes itself as Wisconsin’s largest debt consolidation firm and reports having served more than 15,000 clients. It operates as a Federal Debt Relief Agency and is authorized to assist individuals filing for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code. With four attorneys on staff and a team of paralegals, the firm handles consumer debt matters, business debt, and tax debt across the state.
Practice Areas
Chapter 128 Debt Consolidation
Chapter 128 of the Wisconsin Statutes allows Wisconsin residents to consolidate qualifying debts through a circuit court-supervised repayment plan lasting up to 36 months. This is the only proceeding of its kind in the United States, meaning it is available exclusively to Wisconsin residents. A successfully completed Chapter 128 plan stops collection calls, wage garnishments, and the accrual of interest and late fees on included debts without requiring the debtor to file for bankruptcy.
Because Chapter 128 does not appear on federal bankruptcy records and does not carry the same long-term consequences as a bankruptcy filing, it may be an appropriate option for individuals whose debt burden can be managed through a structured repayment arrangement. The firm evaluates whether Chapter 128 is suitable based on the type and amount of debt a client carries and their income.
Bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13)
For clients whose debt load cannot be resolved through a repayment plan, federal bankruptcy may be the appropriate path. Chapter 7 bankruptcy provides for the discharge of most unsecured debts, including credit card balances, medical bills, and personal loans, in exchange for the liquidation of certain non-exempt assets. Chapter 13 bankruptcy establishes a court-supervised repayment plan lasting three to five years, allowing filers to keep assets such as a home while paying back a portion of their debts.
The firm represents individuals filing for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy before the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin. Attorney Jeffrey K. Fields is admitted to practice in both districts as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
Debt Settlement
Debt settlement involves negotiating directly with creditors to reduce the outstanding balance owed. The firm handles negotiations on behalf of clients with credit card companies, medical debt holders, and other creditors. This process results in a lump-sum payment that is less than the full amount originally owed, in exchange for the creditor agreeing to consider the debt resolved.
Debt settlement carries its own considerations, including potential tax consequences on forgiven amounts and impacts on credit reports. The firm advises clients on these factors as part of the evaluation process.
Business Debt and Tax Debt
The firm’s practice extends beyond consumer debt to include business debt situations. This encompasses merchant cash advances, commercial loans, and other business liabilities that may be creating financial strain. Tax debt resolution is also among the firm’s services, though the specific scope of federal versus state tax matters is not fully detailed in publicly available information.
Attorney Profiles
Jeffrey K. Fields
Jeffrey K. Fields is the founding attorney of The Fields Group Law Firm. He brings more than 25 years of experience in debt relief law, with a background that is unusual among consumer debt attorneys: before establishing his own firm, Fields worked extensively on the creditor side of the lending industry.
He served in senior legal and management roles at several major financial institutions, including as Vice President and CAM National Litigation Manager at Bank One, N.A.; Vice President and National Foreclosure and Bankruptcy Attorney Manager at Chase Bank, N.A.; First Vice President and Senior Counsel at Countrywide Bank; and Vice President and Senior Counsel at M&I Bank. In these roles, he managed collections, bankruptcy, foreclosure, and loss mitigation operations at a national scale.
His experience inside these institutions gives him direct knowledge of how creditors and banks approach debt collection and negotiation, which informs the firm’s strategy when representing debtors. He is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Additional attorneys at the firm are listed on the firm’s website at https://www.tfglaw.com/ though detailed biographical information on each attorney is not fully detailed in publicly available sources.
Consultation Process
The firm offers a free initial debt relief consultation with no obligation to proceed. The consultation follows a structured four-step process: first, a conversation about the nature and amount of the debts involved and what the client can realistically afford; second, gathering information on creditors and employment; third, assignment of a dedicated paralegal who serves as a single point of contact; and fourth, ongoing client support through the resolution process.
The firm emphasizes that each client works with one consistent paralegal rather than being transferred among staff, which it positions as a difference from larger national debt relief operations.
Location and Service Area
The firm’s office is located at 2323 South 109th St, Suite 345, in the West Allis area of Milwaukee County. Milwaukee is the largest city in Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County.
The firm serves clients throughout Wisconsin. Its service area includes the Milwaukee metropolitan area, Waukesha, Racine, Kenosha, Appleton, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, Green Bay, Door County, Wausau, Stevens Point, Eau Claire, La Crosse, and Madison. Because Chapter 128 is a Wisconsin-specific statute, the firm’s practice is confined to Wisconsin residents and Wisconsin state court proceedings.
Client Focus
The firm works primarily with individual consumers facing unmanageable debt from credit cards, medical bills, payday loans, and other unsecured obligations. It also serves businesses facing commercial debt burdens. Clients are typically at a stage where informal negotiation has not resolved the debt and where a court-supervised or bankruptcy framework may be necessary.
Attorney Fields’ background in creditor-side legal work is positioned by the firm as a resource for clients: understanding how lending institutions evaluate and respond to debt situations can inform the strategy used in negotiations and court proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Chapter 128, and how is it different from bankruptcy?
Chapter 128 is a Wisconsin statute that allows debtors to repay qualifying debts through a 36-month circuit court-supervised plan. Unlike federal bankruptcy, a Chapter 128 filing does not appear on federal bankruptcy records and does not carry the same designation as a bankruptcy discharge. It is available only to Wisconsin residents and applies to specific types of debt. The firm evaluates whether Chapter 128 or bankruptcy is more appropriate based on a client’s individual circumstances.
Is the initial consultation free?
Yes. The firm offers a free initial consultation with no obligation to proceed. The consultation is designed to identify the most suitable debt relief option for the client’s specific situation.
Does the firm handle business debts as well as personal debts?
Yes. In addition to consumer debts such as credit cards and medical bills, the firm handles business debt situations including merchant cash advances and commercial loans, as well as tax debt matters.
What geographic area does the firm serve?
The firm serves clients throughout Wisconsin, including Milwaukee and surrounding counties as well as cities across the state such as Green Bay, Madison, Appleton, and others. Chapter 128, being a Wisconsin-specific statute, is available only to Wisconsin residents.
What courts is the firm’s principal attorney admitted to practice before?
Attorney Jeffrey K. Fields is admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, and the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
Closing
The Fields Group Law Firm has operated from Milwaukee since 2001, focusing on debt relief options that include a form of debt restructuring available exclusively under Wisconsin law. With a principal attorney whose career included senior positions at major national lending institutions, the firm approaches debtor representation with knowledge of both sides of the creditor-debtor relationship. The firm is located at 2323 South 109th St, Suite 345, Milwaukee, WI 53227. Phone: (414) 763-3200. Email: [email protected]. Website: https://www.tfglaw.com/