Bankruptcy Fees
How much is this going to cost?
There are a few things to consider when discussing how much a bankruptcy attorney might cost you.
First of all, it is important to figure out what type of bankruptcy is best for you. The short time frame of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy may sound enticing, but it may be the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy that will save you more money and get rid of more debt in the long run.
Need help figuring out whether a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is best for you? Why not try out our FREE online Bankruptcy Analysis to get an idea of the type of bankruptcy and what the bankruptcy fee might be.
The second thing to consider is while the bankruptcy fee may be a large amount of money to you, it is less than most other types of legal fees. It may even be less than what mechanics and doctors normally charge for their services. Additionally, think about whether paying the bankruptcy fee is worth getting rid of all of the debt you have.
Below are my average Bankruptcy fee rates. Remember, these are average and your case may be more or less expensive due to the unique circumstances of your situation. These amounts include the court filing fee (Chapter 7 = $338; Chapter 13 = $313), credit reporting costs, postage, and mileage. It doesn’t cover the required credit counseling courses (pre-bankruptcy course = $10-20 per person; pre-discharge course = $10-20 per person), adversary proceedings, or motion to redeem.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy-
Individual Bankruptcy Filing (Not married*)
- No real estate, no business ownership, 1 vehicle = $1,600.00
- No business ownership, buying house or more than 1 vehicle = $1,750.00
- Tax Discharge Analysis (Any tax debt more than 2 years from the present date should be analyzed) = $250/year.
- Business ownership = $2,500.00 (NOTE: If you Uber/DoorDash or similar gig work, you are an independent contractor and own a business.)
* If you are married and living together but wish to file individually, you would be charged for the joint bankruptcy filing rates because it is required to analyze qualification for chapter 7 utilizing the household’s income which would include your spouse. If you are married but separated (not living together), you would be charged for the individual rate.
Joint Bankruptcy Filing (Married)
- No real estate, no business ownership, 2 vehicles or less = $1,750.00
- No business ownership, buying house or more than 2 vehicles = $2,000.00
- Tax Discharge Analysis (Any tax debt more than 2 years from the present year should be analyzed) = $250/year.
- Business ownership = $2,500.00 (NOTE: If you Uber/DoorDash or similar gig work, you are an independent contractor and own a business.)
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy-
Chapter 13 cases have a built-in financing program through the repayment plan. We require a small up-front fee to prepare the bankruptcy and plan, and the remainder of the fee is paid in small monthly increments through the monthly plan payments you make. This fee includes the bankruptcy court’s filing fee, which is currently $313 for Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.
- Individual filing (No business ownership) = $750.00
- Individual filing (Business ownership) = $1,500.00 (NOTE: If you Uber/DoorDash or similar gig work, you are an independent contractor and own a business.)
- Joint filing (No business ownership) = $1000.00
- Joint filing (Business ownership) = $2,500.00 (NOTE: If you Uber/DoorDash or similar gig work, you are an independent contractor and own a business.)
- Tax Discharge Analysis (Any tax debt more than 2 years from the present year should be analyzed) = $250/year.
NOTE: A bankruptcy case with a person who owns a business creates a lot of additional paperwork, analysis, and preparation. The higher fees take into account the more work involved.
Now that you know how much it will cost, are you ready to get out of debt and receive your fresh start? Click the button on the right to schedule an appointment online or click here to contact me directly.
