What Does It Cost to File for Bankruptcy?

It now costs $209 to file for bankruptcy under chapter 7 and $194 to file for bankruptcy under chapter 13, whether for one person or a married couple.  These fees cannot be waived, however, the court may allow you to pay this filing fee in installments if you cannot pay all at once.  If you hire an attorney you will also have to pay the attorney’s fees you agree to.

The fee paid to an attorney representing a debtor in a bankruptcy case must be disclosed to the court.  The court will allow the attorney to charge and collect only a reasonable fee. That being said, our rates are competitive with other firms in the area.

The cost of the filing and the time of the payments depends on a number of variables -- whether you choose to file a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, how complex your case is, what your personal circumstances are, and guidelines established by the court.

For Chapter 7, our fees are comparable to fees charged by other firms in the area. Chapter 7 fees must be paid before the filing, as those fees would be dischargeable in the bankruptcy.

For Chapter 13, Consumer Law Center follows the fee guidelines established by the San Jose Bankruptcy Court.  In most cases these fees can be included and paid through the Chapter 13 plan.

Our pledge to our clients is that, once their circumstances have been determined at the free consultation, we will be clear and forthcoming about all fees associated with the case. We will never lure you in by promoting a low charge and then hit you with hidden charges later.

If you would like to discuss fees or other issues, send us an e-mail or call Fred W. Schwinn at 408-294-6100.