Fees
How our fees work
We charge flat fees, not by the hour. The fee we quote is the fee, unless a creditor sues you inside your case, which is rare, and we'd quote that separately before doing any work.
First meeting
Sit down with a lawyer, go through what you owe, and leave with a plan, even if the plan isn't bankruptcy.
- A lawyer, not an intake form
- The Chapter 7 income test, run on your pay stubs
- Your fee, in writing, before you decide
- Filing anything with the court
- Term:
- Free, 45 minutes
In person or by video
Chapter 7
Most clientsFor most people whose income can't cover what they owe. One fee covers the case from petition to discharge.
- Your petition and schedules, drafted by us
- A lawyer beside you at the trustee meeting
- Calls to any collector who keeps calling
- Lawsuits a creditor files inside your case
- Term:
- Flat fee, quoted in writing before you decide
Payment plans before filing
Chapter 13
For catching up on a house or car over three to five years. The rest of our fee is paid through your plan.
- A repayment plan built around your budget
- Every court hearing on your plan
- Changes to the plan if your income changes
- Lawsuits a creditor files inside your case
- Term:
- A set amount to start, the rest through your plan
Rest of the fee through the plan
These are our attorney's fees. The court's filing fee and the two required courses are separate costs; the court can let you pay its fee in installments.
Separate costs
What you pay to others
These go to the court and the course providers, not to us. We tell you the current amounts at your first meeting.
The court's filing fee
Set by the court and paid when we file. For Chapter 7 you can ask to pay it in installments, or to have it waived if your income is low.
Credit counseling
A short course, online or by phone, that the law requires before filing. Many providers lower the price if you can't afford it.
Debtor education
A second short course, taken after filing and before discharge. Same rules, often the same provider.
Paying us
Can I pay in parts?
Yes. For Chapter 7, most clients pay over a few months before we file. We file once the fee is paid.
Why is only part of the Chapter 13 fee due to start?
Because only a set amount is due to start. The rest of our fee goes into your court-approved plan and is paid out over time, alongside your other payments.
Do you charge for phone calls or emails?
No. Calls and emails about your case are part of the flat fee.
What if bankruptcy isn't right for me?
Then you've spent nothing. Sometimes the answer is a letter to a creditor or a payment plan you set up yourself, and we'll tell you so.
Get your price in writing
Book a free first meeting and leave with your fee on paper.