When you are unable to pay your bills, it is hard to imagine how you could afford to pay for bankruptcy. When you’re already struggling with debt, the last thing you want is another bill to pay.
Most of our clients come to us worried about how they are going to pay for bankruptcy. This is one reason why we offer free consultations. We will work with you to give you the opportunity for a fresh start.
Paying for Bankruptcy
Many of our clients are making monthly payments on debts that will ultimately be erased in their bankruptcy. In these cases, they may choose to reallocate those funds toward paying for their bankruptcy.
Some of our clients choose to accept a gift of cash from a friend or relative to pay for the bankruptcy, and we are committed to working with each client to ensure they have the opportunity for a fresh financial start.
The Costs of Filing for Bankruptcy
The costs associated with filing for bankruptcy include attorneys’ fees, a bankruptcy court filing fee, and the cost of mandatory credit counseling and a debtor education course.
Chapter 7 Attorneys’ Fees
We charge a flat fee to file your bankruptcy case. We make sure our clients are never surprised with an unaffordable or outrageous bill. Before you retain us as your bankruptcy attorney, we will go over the flat-rate attorneys’ fees and what services are covered by those fees.
Attorneys’ fees are paid in full before we file your case. We require full payment in advance because as soon as your case is filed, your creditors are not allowed to attempt to collect from you, including us.
Chapter 13 Attorneys’ Fees
In the Southern District of Georgia, the Chapter 13 bankruptcy Attorneys’ fees are set by the court. This is called a “no look” fee. However, unlike with a Chapter 7 filing, we do not collect the attorneys’ fees up front. Our office can be paid from the Chapter 13 plan.
Bankruptcy Court Filing Fee
The court filing fee is set by the Bankruptcy Court. Currently, the filing fees are $335 for Chapter 7 and $310 for Chapter 13.
Mandatory Credit Counseling and Personal Financial Management Course
The U.S. Bankruptcy Code requires that every person who files for bankruptcy complete two courses. The first is credit counseling, that must be completed before filing. The other is a course in personal financial management, that must be completed after filing, but before the Court grants your bankruptcy discharge of debts.
Generally speaking, these courses are straightforward, inexpensive, and not too time-consuming. They can even serve as a tool to help you regain control of your finances after bankruptcy. We outline the details of these two courses in our article Debt Counseling Requirement here.
No Surprise Fees or Bills
At our free consultation, we will review all of the fees associated with filing for bankruptcy. You will never get a surprise bill from our law office. Reach out to us right now at (833) 522-1069 to schedule your free consultation. Together we will explore how bankruptcy can give you a fresh start.
The Law Office of Barbara B. Braziel is located centrally in the Savannah, GA area.
We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
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