If Heavner, Beyers & Mihlar has contacted you, it almost certainly concerns a mortgage in default -- not an unsecured account. That one fact reshapes what you should do next, because a home loan runs on a completely different track than a credit card or medical bill.
Short answer
Yes, Heavner, Beyers & Mihlar is legit -- a real, active law firm that handles mortgage foreclosure and default servicing for banks and mortgage servicers across Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana. Because this is a secured mortgage matter, do not treat it as a "settle-for-less" consumer debt: focus on loss mitigation, reinstatement or payoff, and your state's foreclosure and redemption deadlines.
Who they are
Heavner, Beyers & Mihlar, LLC is a creditors'-rights and default-servicing law firm. It is headquartered in Decatur, in Central Illinois, and also keeps a Chicago office and a Missouri office in the St. Louis metro area. It practices in Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana, and its practice is concentrated in mortgage-related work: foreclosure litigation, evictions, closings on bank-owned (REO) property, bankruptcy matters, and related default servicing. If you have seen the name written as "Heavner, Scott, Beyers & Mihlar" in older paperwork, that is the same lineage -- and because the name is easy to mistype, double-check that the firm on your notice matches before you act on anything.
Why this is a secured matter -- not a debt you "settle"
This is the part most people get wrong. A firm like this contacts you because a mortgage is in default, and a mortgage is a SECURED debt: the loan is backed by your home. There is no free-floating unsecured balance sitting there waiting to be negotiated down to a lump sum, so the consumer debt-settlement playbook simply does not apply. There is no "pay X cents and walk away" figure, and there is no savings-calculator scenario -- anyone selling you one for a mortgage default is misreading the situation. Instead, the lender's remedy is to enforce its lien through foreclosure, and your options run along the secured track described below. Because the debt is secured by real estate, you should also not expect the tax mechanics that come with a forgiven unsecured balance; the relevant questions are about keeping the home, curing the default, or an orderly exit -- not settlement.
What actually helps: the secured track
On a mortgage in default, the real levers are different from anything on the unsecured side:
- Loss mitigation / loan modification. Contact your mortgage servicer's loss-mitigation department and ask what workout options you qualify for -- a modification, repayment plan, or forbearance. This is the core of stopping a foreclosure, and it goes through the servicer, not the law firm.
- Reinstatement or payoff. Reinstating means curing the missed payments plus allowable fees to bring the loan current; a payoff clears the whole balance. Ask for a written reinstatement or payoff quote with a firm good-through date.
- Know your state's timeline and redemption rights. Illinois, Missouri, and Indiana each handle foreclosure and any redemption period differently, and the deadlines in your notices control everything. Understand how missed payments turn into foreclosure so you know where you are in the process.
- Get expert help. A HUD-approved housing counselor is free and specializes in exactly this. A qualified attorney or legal aid office can review your notices and defenses.
The clock is driven by notices, not a settlement window
Unlike an unsecured account, where a statute of limitations often matters most, a foreclosure runs on notice deadlines, redemption periods, and eviction timelines. Read every notice carefully and calendar the dates. Never ignore a foreclosure complaint or court summons -- a written response by the stated deadline is what protects your rights. If a sale has already happened, the next questions become whether a deficiency can survive it: whether you still owe money after a foreclosure and whether the lender can sue you for a deficiency judgment both depend on your state.
Your FDCPA rights still apply
An attorney or firm that regularly collects debts is still a "debt collector" under the FDCPA, so your validation and dispute rights survive even on a secured mortgage matter. You can request written validation of the debt and dispute anything that looks wrong -- see whether a debt validation letter works. You generally have a 30-day window after the firm's first written notice to request validation. Use it to confirm the amount, the servicer, and the accounting on your arrears before you send money.
Is it a scam?
No -- Heavner, Beyers & Mihlar is a real, active law firm, not a fake front. But foreclosure is a magnet for impersonation: scammers imitate legitimate foreclosure firms and pressure homeowners into fast, irreversible wire transfers or gift-card payments. Protect yourself by verifying that any notice actually came through proper legal channels, confirming the firm's real contact information independently, and never paying off a phone call, text, or emailed link. A genuine firm will not demand a same-day wire to a personal account. When in doubt, route your questions through your servicer, a HUD-approved counselor, or an attorney.
This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Your rights and timelines vary by state, and secured mortgage and foreclosure matters are treated very differently from unsecured consumer debts; consider consulting a qualified attorney, a HUD-approved housing counselor, or legal aid.