Karen Bentley

Karen Bentley is an Arizona bankruptcy and student loan attorney who helps individuals seek relief from serious debt burdens. Her practice focuses on bankruptcy, student loan debt discharge, debt resolution, and litigation. Drawing on experience gained in private practice and at the Arizona Office of the Attorney General, she guides clients through adversary proceedings and other disputes from the filing of a complaint through trial. Her background as a former teacher and principal also informs her clear, practical approach to complex student loan issues.

Karen earned a B.A. from the University of Arizona, followed by an M.Ed. in Leadership from Northern Arizona University. She later received her J.D. from Arizona Summit Law School. Her experience in education gives her valuable insight when explaining the detailed rules surrounding student loan discharge. Combined with her legal training, that background helps her evaluate when bankruptcy exceptions may apply and guide clients through demanding financial and legal decisions.

Karen has negotiated multiple settlements involving student loan discharges and debt resolution with a combined value exceeding $1 million. She assists clients with bankruptcy litigation and adversary proceedings, handling matters from the initial complaint through trial. She is admitted to practice in the State Court of Arizona, the District Court of Arizona, and the District Court of Nebraska. Her work centers on identifying available paths to debt relief and helping clients understand their options at each stage of a case.

Karen Bentley was selected to Southwest Super Lawyers Rising Stars in 2026. She belongs to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel, and the Arizona Inn of Court. She has presented programs on student loan bankruptcy litigation, bankruptcy ethics, and post-COVID bankruptcy issues for the State Bar of Arizona. She also authored a 2024 article on discharging student loan debt through bankruptcy, reflecting her continued involvement in legal education and developments affecting borrowers.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Guidant Law, PLC
• Member, State Bar of Arizona
• Member, National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys
• Member, Arizona Consumer Bankruptcy Counsel
• Member, Arizona Inn of Court

Licensed State

• Arizona

Education

• Arizona Summit Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Northern Arizona University
  MEd in Leadership
• University of Arizona
  Bachelor of Arts

Awards & Badges