In 2024, the cost to file bankruptcy is $338 for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and $313 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy (source), but an important question is whether you will use a lawyer in your bankruptcy filing.
The filing fee does not cover the cost of attorney fees.
In 2024, the cost to file bankruptcy is $338 for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and $313 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy (source), but an important question is whether you will use a lawyer to work with in your bankruptcy filing.
The filing fee does not cover the cost of attorney fees.
Deciding whether to file with an attorney may depend on your finances, and complexity of the case. For example, the American Bankruptcy Institute conducted a study and found that only 240 individuals out of 10,560 individuals (2.3%) successfully reached the end of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy when filing without a bankruptcy attorney.
If you don't know which bankruptcy you would file, it may be helpful to take a quick look at this guide to understand the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
So, that being said, how much does an attorney charge for Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
A bankruptcy lawyer can charge $600 - $3000 based on your zip code. For example, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy may cost $2500 in Orlando Florida, but $700 in a remote area of Ohio. There also me a big variance of how much a bankruptcy lawyer charges in Texas which is a larger state with 4 districts. There are other factors such as complexity, attorney interaction time, etc. that may also affect your total cost, but location is a major factor.
If you cannot afford an attorney's payment plan or you want to file without an attorney, you could also see whether your used case is compatible for Fresh Start Finance's online do it yourself bankruptcy program. It has the feeling of a Turbo Tax for bankruptcy, and you can get started for free before paying a small fee for the program.
Below is a free Chapter 7 attorney fee calculator that considers your zip code to estimate how much your bankruptcy would cost you using a bankruptcy attorney near you. Feel free to click the link below to estimate the cost of filing for your circumstances.
Alabama: $1,170 and $1,500
Alaska: $1,170 to $1,500
Arizona: $925 - $1,500
Arkansas: $ 800 - 1,500
California: $862 - $2162
Colorado: $800 and $2,000
Connecticut: $1,150 and $1,650
Delaware: $1,170 and $1,250
Florida: $1,000 to $3,000
Georgia: $1,000 and $2,000
Hawaii: $1,170 and $1,500
Idaho: $1,170 and $1,500
Illinois: $1,075 to $2,000
Indiana: $1,000 and $1,400
Iowa: $1,170 and $1,500
Kansas: $1,075 and $1,500
Kentucky: $1,170 and $2,000
Louisiana: $800 to $1,500
Maryland: $899 and $2,000
Massachusetts: $1,150 to $2,500
Michigan: $1,000 and $1,500
Minnesota: $1,170 and $1,450
Mississippi: $1,170 to $1,500
Missouri: $1,075 to $1,400
Montana: $1,075 and $1,500
Nebraska: $800 and $1,200
Nevada: $1,170 to $2,000
New Hampshire: $1,000 to $1,500
New Jersey: $1,000 to $2,800
New Mexico: $1,170 to $2,000
New York: $1,170 to $1,950
North Carolina: $900 to $1550
North Dakota: $1,170 to $1,450
Ohio: $1,090 and $1,500
Oklahoma: $800 and $1500
Oregon: $1,170 to $1,500
Pennsylvania: $1,000 and $2,000
Rhode Island: $1,170 to $1,500
South Carolina: $1,000 and $2,800
South Dakota: $1170 and $1450
Tennessee: $1,000 and $1,500
Texas: $800 to $2,700
Utah: $1,170 to $1,500
Vermont: $1170 and $1500
Virginia: $800 to $1500
Washington: $1,000 to $2,000
West Virginia: $1,000 and $1,500
Wisconsin: $1,100 to $1,500
Wyoming: $1,170 to $1,500
A Chapter 13 lawyer can charge between $1800 - $7500 based on your zip code.
While bankruptcy attorneys have some flexibility with how much they charge for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, there's generally a cap in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy called the no-look fee, which was instituted to relieve courts of reviewing fee applications for routine cases.
This means that Chapter 13 attorney fees may be the exact same in each city. Some bankruptcy attorney do not like this approach, given the potential complications of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
This free Chapter 13 calculator considers your zip code to help you estimate what the Chapter 13 attorney fee will be. As mentioned above, feel free to use the calculator to help estimate your potential costs.
Bankruptcy can be a great way to get a fresh start when your debt has become unaffordable due to financial hardship. Bankruptcy is for those who have a strong desire to pay their bills, but may not have the ability to pay those bills.
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