Pricing
NO HIDDEN FEES!
Some bankruptcy providers advertise one cost, only to bury other costs in the fine print. We offer clear, easy to understand, affordable pricing. Once we know a little about your case, we will let you know, in writing, exactly how much your bankruptcy will cost.
The costs involved filing for bankruptcy can be grouped into four categories: (1) the initial consultation (ALWAYS FREE at The Bankruptcy Center); (2) court fees; (3) credit reports and educational courses; and (4) attorney fees.
Initial Consultation
We offer a free 30 minute consultation! During the free consultation, we will ask you questions about your financial situation, including your debts and your assets. We can first help you decide if filing for bankruptcy makes sense at all. Even if you have debts, there can be reasons not to file bankruptcy, or other ways to resolve your debts without bankruptcy. We can help you explore those options (only about half of our clients decide to file bankruptcy after the free consultation). If a bankruptcy does make sense, we can help you decide if filing under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is better, and will guide you along the rest of the process.
$0 (FREE)
Court Fees
To file a bankruptcy case, the bankruptcy court requires a fee of $335 for Chapter 7 cases and $310 for Chapter 13 cases. If you are not able to pay the fee all at once, the court may allow you to file right away, but pay the fee in installments over time. In more unusual situations, the court may waive the fee altogether (this is rare because most people filing for bankruptcy are having financial difficulty, so that alone isn't enough to qualify for waiver).
$0 to $335 (typically $310 or $335)
Credit Report and Educational Courses
Once you decide to file for bankruptcy, it makes sense to do it right. That means making sure all of your debts and creditors are listed. To help you with this process, we can obtain a bankruptcy specific credit report that includes:
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Information from all three credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion)
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A LexisNexis bankruptcies, judgments and liens search
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Current and predictive post-bankruptcy credit scores
VIEW A SAMPLE CREDIT REPORT (CLICK HERE)
Everyone who files for bankruptcy is also required by law to to take a debtor education course before filing and a personal finance course after filing. These can be completed by phone or online. We can make arrangements for you to find a course that fits your schedule (offered in multiple languages, 24/7).
$0-$50 (Credit Report) (typically $37 per person)
$0-$35 (Debtor Education Course) (typically $24)
$0-$35 (Personal Finance Course) (typically $24)
Attorney Fees
After the initial consultation, we will quote you a flat fee, in writing, for the attorney fees in your case. That means you will know exactly how much it will cost. Attorney fees typically range between about $1,500 and $4,000. The biggest factor in determining the price is whether you will be filing under Chapter 7, or under Chapter 13.
Chapter 7 cases are typically simpler and shorter (usually lasting between 4-6 months) and, as a result, are usually on the lower end of that price range. Because a bankruptcy is designed to wipe out past debts (including the attorney fee) and stop anyone from collecting from you (even us!), the entire fee is due before you file.
Chapter 13 cases are typically more complicated and longer (lasting between 36-60 months, or 3-5 years). The attorney fee for a Chapter 13 case is set by the court, and is typically between $3,500 and $4,000 (we will provide you a written estimate). Because a Chapter 13 case will involve a plan to make monthly payments on your debts (which can include the attorney fee), some or all of the attorney fee in a Chapter 13 case can be paid in installments over the course of 36-60 months (3-5 years). In a Chapter 13 case, we typically require a payment of $500 to get us started, but in some situations may be able to start with $0 down.
$ Varies - As low as $0 Down (typically $1,500 to $4,000)
Scheduling
How fast can a new case be filed?
Properly preparing for your bankruptcy can take days or weeks to gather all of the needed information. However, we understand that sometimes you simply don't have that kind of time. In an emergency situation, it may be possible to file for bankruptcy the same day that you first contact us.
Same Day to Weeks (typically 2-5 days)
How fast does a bankruptcy work?
One of the main goals of a bankruptcy is to wipe out debts (called a "discharge"). That discharge happens at the end of a bankruptcy case, which can last months or years (see below for more information). However, certain protections including an "automatic stay" (which stops creditors from collecting against you) go into effect immediately upon filing your case (with some limited exceptions).
Immediately After Filing
How long does a bankruptcy case last?
Most Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases are completed 4-6 months after the case is filed. Click here to learn more about a Chapter 7 case. Chapter 13 require a payment plan that will last between 36-60 months. Click here to learn more about a Chapter 13 case.
Chapter 7 - Typically 4-6 Months
Chapter 13 - 36-60 Months (3-5 years)