California Debt Defense

This information is intended for California residents only.  This is general information only.  You must speak with a lawyer to know how the law applies to your case.

Protect Yourself from Creditor Harassment

Law Office of Thomas Hjerpe

350 E Street, Suite 403

Eureka, CA  95501

Telephone:  707 442-7262

- Thomas Hjerpe, Esq.

- Jocelyn Godinho, Esq.

Our Attorneys:



Thomas Hjerpe, Attorney at Law


Admitted to Practice in California December 1994.  Graduated with distinction from McGeorge School of Law in 1994.  Graduated with Honors from Humboldt State University with Bachelor’s degrees in English and Art in 1990. Thomas has been practicing Bankruptcy Law in Eureka, California, since 1996.  Thomas is currently President of the Board of Directors for the Financial Resource Center, a non-profit consumer credit counseling service in Arcata, California.   Our bankruptcy law website is located at www.eurekabankruptcy.com





Jocelyn Godinho, Attorney at Law


Admitted to Practice in California in March 2011.  Graduated with distinction from McGeorge School of Law in 2010.  Graduated with Honors from Humboldt State University.  Jocelyn has been practicing Bankruptcy Law in Eureka, California, since 2011.  Jocelyn is currently President of the Humboldt County Bar Association.  Our bankruptcy law website is located at www.eurekabankruptcy.com

We have been providing consumer bankruptcy and debt defense assistance in Northern California since 1996.  Our primary regions have been Humboldt County, Del Norte County, Lake County, Mendocino County, Sonoma County, Shasta County and Trinity County.  We have helped thousands of consumers to resolve disputes with debt collectors.

Local Attorneys Helping Local People


James Shepherd, Attorney at Law


Jim Shepherd is our referral litigator in the Bay Area.  He is the one who will litigate violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and Fair Credit Report Act in Federal Court.  Admitted to Practice in Virginia, October 1995; practicing and litigating cases in California courts since 2006.  Graduated cum laude from Indiana University - Bloomington School of Law in 1995.  Graduated with Honors from McDaniel College with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1985.  Member of Bench-Bar Committee of the US Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California (Pro Bono and Consumer Practices subcommittees).  James served as a Trial Attorney for the US Department of Justice - US Trustee Program, 2006-2008.  Jim’s website is located at www.jsbankruptcylaw.com