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Informative Steps on How to File Bankruptcy Chapter 7

Is Declaring Bankruptcy That Bad?

Are you unable to pay your mortgage, rent, credit card, or other bills? If so, you may be considering your options. One of the most common questions we receive is: How to File Bankruptcy Chapter 7 if I do not have any money? Many people assume that if they are unable to pay their bills, they will not be able to file for bankruptcy.  There are several different ways for you to confront that problem. 

Fees Involved in Filing for a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

There are three different types of fees, other than attorney fees, involved in filing for bankruptcy.

If you are filing for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you will need to pay:

  • a $245 filing fee
  • $78 administrative fee
  • $15 trustee surcharge—

The total amounts to $338 in fees. If you need to reopen your chapter 7 case, you will need to pay a total of $260 in fees. 

You will also need to complete two mandatory educational courses and pay for them. You may qualify for a fee waiver if your income is within 150% of the federal poverty guidelines. Otherwise, you could pay the fee for installment payments, but you will need to submit an official request with the bankruptcy court to do so.

Should You File For Bankruptcy on Your Own to Save Money?

Once you submit your application, the court will issue an automatic stay order to stop creditors from collecting your debts. It is possible to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy without hiring an attorney, but filing for bankruptcy without a lawyer is not easy. If you do not complete your application correctly, you could risk losing unprotected assets that are non-exempt. 

Filing for bankruptcy on your own could result in a poor outcome, such as the court not discharging any of your debts. If you are working and trying to earn money to pay off your debt, filing for bankruptcy on your own is typically not a wise option. Most people are not trained to engage in legal research, and you will probably save money overall by hiring an attorney to handle your case.

Contact a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer Today

Some bankruptcy lawyers are willing to work on a retainer. In other words, you will pay a specific amount upfront to your lawyer, and they will deduct their fees accordingly. In other cases, you may be able to secure a loan to pay your attorney. Many law firms that handle bankruptcy cases have payment plans or other options available for people who cannot pay attorneys fees upfront. 

It is worth taking the time to discuss your case with our bankruptcy lawyers in San Diego so you can learn about your other options. At Bankruptcy Law Center, we have successfully helped many clients struggling to pay their bills successfully apply for bankruptcy. Contact us today to schedule your initial consultation to learn more about your payment options.

See What Our Clients Have To Say

Yelp Review

Roger C.

I reached out to BLC to help assist with a chapter 7 business bankruptcy and they provided excellent guidance, advice, and support through the entire process. In my case an adversarial action was filed by one of the creditors and attorney Ahren Tiller and his staff provided sound ...arguments which prevailed. Couldn’t have found a more experienced and supportive team to represent me in a tricky situation. I would highly recommend them to anyone making the difficult but sometime necessary decision to find financial relief. Read more
Yelp Review

Justin R.

Like many others before and during the pandemic, life happenings caused me to be in a financial situation to warrant bankruptcy. The BLC was super professional all the way through the entire process. Right after I paid for my Bankruptcy, I got sick and had to have surgery and recovery. Then we ...were in full Pandemic mode. They were gracious to delay my filing until I was recovered and ready to file. I could not ask for more. The process was over all quick and painless for a simple Bankruptcy like mine. I feel a weight has been lifted and I can rebuild. Thank you for all your arduous work and patience, Gabriel, Ahren, and their teams are knowledgeable and efficient. Read more
Google Review

Katey Huntley

Responsive, friendly, kind, extremely easy to work with! So knowledgeable and made this entire process painless. Very grateful!

Google Review

Lynn Molina

Gabriel Hanna, Esq and the staff at BLC helped me in a very difficult time. I appreciate all the help and care they gave my case.

Google Review

Linda Cramer

I can’t say enough of how much this bankruptcy law firm helped me with my financial situation. They were all so helpful, efficient and made the difficult time and process as quick and easy as possible. I would recommend them to anyone I know and am glad to give my public recommendation as well. T...hey truly deserve a five star plus rating. Read more
Yelp Review

Andrea N.

I am very happy with my experience with BLC. Bankruptcy is not something anyone wants to go through, however everyone at BLC made my experience pleasant and easy. The process was explained thoroughly and I had an easy time reaching out and connecting with my attorney. Anika Renaud-Kim was my attorney ...and she was nothing short of amazing! She was very patient and generous with her time. Ms. Renaud-Kim definitely made me feel at ease and comfortable through the entire process. Read more
Facebook Review

Lidia Paramore

they did a great job for me, helped me anytime I needed something, my Lawyer Gabriel Hanna is the best, gave lots of confidence all the time..thanks BLC I will.always recommend you, I’m very grateful for your service!!!

Yelp Review

Rachael C.

When searching for information I had called a few different firms and received consults. BLC was the only one who didn’t shy away and provided answers and information during the consult. Once I agreed to move forward, they were supportive, informative, and eased my anxiety through the whole process.... I can’t recommend them enough. Read more
Google Review

Emily Martinez

AmazingI had many questions and uncertainties and the carefully explained it all and made it easy to understand. They facilitated a fast and easy process making this scary difficult thing simple

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Legal Disclaimer: The Bankruptcy Law Center is a California Licensed law firm with attorneys licensed in the state of CA, NY. Attorney Ahren Tiller is responsible for this advertisement. Bankruptcy Law Center’s principal office is located at 1230 Columbia st. Suite 850 San Diego, CA 92101. Prior results listed on this site do not depict or in any way infer a prediction or outcome.We are a debt relief agency proudly providing options to people with financial problems. View our Privacy Policy

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