How Much Does Bankruptcy Cost?

Chapter 7 & Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Filing Fees

If you are interested in filing for bankruptcy, you may be wondering how much it’s going to cost. The cost will ultimately depend on the type of bankruptcy that you file and the complexity of your case. Essentially, the more complex your case, the more it is likely to cost. Similarly, the filing fees are different for different chapters of bankruptcy.

As of June 2014, the bankruptcy filing fees for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are:

• Chapter 7 bankruptcy – $335
• Chapter 13 bankruptcy – $310

When you schedule a free, one-hour consultation with the Phoenix bankruptcy attorney at Leonard V. Sominsky, ESQ., PC, we can discuss your budget, income and expenses, as well as the type of bankruptcy that is right for you. We are proud to offer our legal services at a price that you can afford, and we don’t expect you to pay the total cost up-front. Working with us is like paying for a lawyer on “lay away.”

Can I Pay the Bankruptcy Filing Fee in Installments?

If you cannot afford to pay the filing fees at the time that your bankruptcy petition is filed, the court may let you pay it in installments. By filing Form 3A, which is an Application and Order to Pay Filing Fee in Installments, you can propose a schedule for the repayment of this fee. This proposed schedule cannot include more than four installments, and payments cannot be made later than 120 days after filing.

What If I Can’t Afford to Pay the Filing Fee At All?

If you simply can’t afford to pay the filing fee for your bankruptcy petition, even in installments, you can request that the court waive the fee completely. In order to do so, you must be able to show that you cannot pay the fee in installments and that your income is below 150% of the poverty line. This information would be included when you file Form 3B, the Application for Waiver of Chapter 7 Filing Fee.

You may be required to appear in court so that the judge can ask you questions.