Bankruptcy fees vary from firm to firm in Utah. Some firms will give you cost upfront, others will make you first meet with them before they tell you their charge. We try to be upfront with our potential clients about the cost. Most people find the fresh start through bankruptcy is more affordable than they expected.
Chapter 7 Fees
The fees in a chapter 7 case involve fixed court filing fees ($338.00), a fee to take a required online class called Credit Counseling ($10.00 – $35.00) as well as a second class taken before the case is finished called Debtor Education ($10.00 – $35.00) and the attorney fee.
Most attorneys in Utah charge an attorney fee between $1,000 to $2,200.00 to handle a chapter 7 case. Thus, the total cost including court filing fees, fees for pulling credit reports, and fees for the classes average between $1,423.00 and $2,623.00.
Although we are not the least expensive firm out there, we are definitely not the most expensive. We have extensive experience with handling hundreds Utah bankruptcy cases. We strive to have competitive rates and provide high quality service. We try to keep the costs affordable so that even clients in tough situations can benefit from our extensive experience.
Our attorney fee for most chapter 7 cases is $1,200.00 and the classes we typically recommend to clients charge only $10.00 per household. Thus, the average cost for a chapter 7 case through our firm is about $1,558.00. We don’t charge to pull credit reports. We don’t charge for the consultation. We carefully review each client’s situation and review with our clients their bankruptcy paperwork before filing anything with the court to ensure we are in a strong position. This takes a little more time, but it also leads to successful outcomes.
Here’s our breakdown of fees for a typical chapter 7 case:
- Court filing fee: $338.00
- Attorney fee: $1,200.00
- Classes (Credit Counseling and Debtor Education): $20.00 total
- Total: $1,558.00*
*Because it is oftentimes difficult for a client to come up with these funds upfront, we offer payment plans.
Chapter 13 Fees
As in a chapter 7, the fees in a chapter 13 case involve fixed court filing fees ($313.00), a fee to take a required online class called Credit Counseling ($10.00 – $35.00) as well as a second class taken before the case is finished called Debtor Education ($10.00 – $35.00) and the attorney fee. The course provider we typically recommend charges $10.00 per household for each course.
The amount an attorney charges for handling a chapter 13 bankruptcy case is set by the courts. Since 2018, the standard rate for attorney fees for most cases range between $3,500.00 to $4,000.00. This amount depends largely on three factors: 1. The types of debts you have, 2. Average monthly household earnings, and 3. Net disposable income—the difference between income and acceptable expenses. The majority of attorney fees are paid as a part of the chapter 13 payment plan.
To file a chapter 13 case, the initial credit counseling class must be taken and a court filing fee must be paid. ($323.00 total.) The vast majority of our fees will be paid later through the course of the chapter 13 plan. We require $400.00 down to file your chapter 13 case. This can be paid in installments.
We have extensive experience with handling Utah bankruptcy cases. We strive to have competitive rates and provide high quality service. Experience, personalized service and maintaining the highest professional standards are the three elements we hang our hat on.
Our consultations are free. Give us a call! 801-326-1975
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