USA Today recently ran a story reporting on the increased bankruptcy filings that are typical this time of year. They seemed shocked that a lot of people use their tax refund to pay their bankruptcy court costs instead of splurging on a new TV. Well, I’ve got news for them: life isn’t easy out here in the real world.
When you are in financial trouble, finding the money to pay for a bankruptcy can be the hardest part of the whole process. Even if you decide to skip hiring a lawyer and file the case yourself (typically a terrible idea that ends up causing more problems than it solves), court costs and fees can add up.
It currently costs $310 just to file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and $335 to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This money is paid directly to the courts, and does not include attorneys’ fees.
It is impossible to estimate how much our firm will charge to handle your case without meeting with you and getting to know more about your financial situation. The good news is that the first meeting with an attorney at our firm is FREE.
During the FREE first meeting our team will go over your finances with you, ask you some questions, and then lay out a plan for moving forward. We can provide an estimate of how much our services will cost at that point in time, and you can decide whether to hire us or look for a different attorney.
Depending on what type of bankruptcy you are filing, we may also be able to work out a payment plan so you do not have to come up with all the money for court costs and attorneys’ fees up front. We typically require all clients filing under Chapter 7 to pay up front, but often do a payment plan with those filing under Chapter 13.
Using your tax return or some other financial windfall to pay for bankruptcy can be a good decision because it can put you in a better place in the long run. But you don’t need to wait to talk to an attorney until your refund comes in or you have other money to pay with.