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Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: How Much Does It Cost?
So how much does bankruptcy cost? When you seek bankruptcy protection under chapter 7 in Washington, DC, you are obviously in debt trouble. Not only that, but chapter 7 is also means tested, which means that you must have low-income by definition. Unfortunately, despite the fact that you are already facing serious financial problems, there are costs associated with filing for bankruptcy.
While it may seem insurmountable to come up with the money to pay the costs of a bankruptcy filing, often bankruptcy is the only way to get financial relief and to start on a better money path. You should try to find a way to pay the costs. An experienced Washington DC bankruptcy lawyer can both help you to determine what you will pay and to find solutions such as fee waivers that can make bankruptcy more affordable.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Washington DC: Filing fees and credit counseling
The costs of filing for chapter 7 will vary depending upon what state you live in. For Washington D.C. residents, bankruptcy must be filed in the United States bankruptcy court for the District of Columbia. Fees in this court for filing a chapter 7 are $338.00. If you can’t pay the costs of filing for chapter 7 bankruptcy, you may apply for a waiver using Official Form B 3B. You should have an attorney assist you in completing the paperwork to apply for the waiver. waiver being granted.
The court fees are not the only costs associated with a chapter 7 bankruptcy either. You are also required to undergo credit counseling prior to filing, which you need to pay for. The costs of this counseling will vary depending upon which accredited credit counselor you get help from. Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $25 to $60 for credit counseling, but you may be able to have fees waived if you have low income.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Washington DC: Attorneys fees
Finally, you will have attorney fees that you must pay to get help with a bankruptcy filing. Attorneys who help clients to file for bankruptcy protection usually charge a flat feeon an hourly basis, with a set rate per hour. In some cases, it may be possible to find an attorney that charges a flat fee. The costs of hiring an attorney are well worth it. You will have the legal guidance and advice needed to move your bankruptcy forward. If you do not have legal representation, you could make mistakes that result in delay or even mistakes that could make it impossible to discharge some debts.
Don’t take the chance of your bankruptcy not working as planned. Instead, contact an experienced and affordable Washington DC bankruptcy lawyer at Lee Legal, serving Washington D.C., Virginia and Maryland. Call today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help.
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Brian Lee from Lee Legal was an amazing attorney to work with. He took his time, reviewed my documents and we discussed my situation thoroughly. He explained the process and my options as well as gave his recommendation. Not only did he assist, but he ensured that I knew this...
I was very nervous and scared about going through this process. But Brian was very knowledgeable and helped me through it. I was notified about any and all updates to my case and he was very responsive when I had questions regarding any concerns I had. Although a bit nerve...
Brian provided me with a very detailed analysis about my potential case after our first consultation. He promptly responded to all my complex questions, especially navigating student loans and some tax discussions. He is very professional and experienced at what he does, I would...
I've had the pleasure of working alongside Brian V. Lee for several years, and I can say without hesitation that he is one of the most knowledgeable bankruptcy attorneys in the DMV area. Brian's command of Chapter 7, 11, and 13 practice is exceptional, and his clients in the DC...
Brian has the amazing talent of taking complicated legal matters and distilling them down to seamless, frictionless resolutions. He is a phenomenal problem solver and a trusted advisor.
Brian is both warm and professional. He helped me navigate a financial issue that I had not been looking forward to working on and he made the entire experience non-stressful, receiving a lot of anxiety I had around the matter. He is straight forward and a fantastic problem...
I had the opportunity to work with Brian at a time when I was challenged by a professional setback and forced with the challenge of making some very difficult legal decisions. Additionally, I worked with him again as I was dealing with some financial issues pertaining to my...
Still several years from Public Service Student Loan Forgiveness and saddled with significant student loan payments in proportion to my income, I came to Lee Legal to explore the bankruptcy path. Through his counsel, Brian took the fear out of the process and helped me to...
