You can file without an attorney, but remember, bankruptcy is federal law governed by legal rules and procedures. You'll find using an attorney will get you a better result. Some firms like mine offer payment plans and filing bankruptcy for $0 money down.

Answer Applies to: Colorado
Replied: 12/21/2011

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Many attorney's will allow you to pay your attys fees through the plan in a Chapter 13. This allows many people who can't afford to file bankruptcy the opportunity to do so.

Answer Applies to: North Carolina
Replied: 12/20/2011

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Regrettably, hardly anyone in Ohio qualifies for Legal Aid. If you are elderly or handicapped and living on a real low income, you may have a chance of getting bankruptcy help from Legal Aid. Give it a try. Otherwise, the rule of thumb is, if you are too broke to hire a bankruptcy attorney, you clearly don't have any wages or assets that need the protection of Bankruptcy Court. On the other hand, if you have wages or assets large enough to garnish, then you need to expend those wages and assets to hire a bankruptcy attorney to protect those assets. Most attorneys have payment plans available, but Chapter 7 Bankruptcies are not filed until the fees are finally paid in full. Chapter 13 Plans are allowed to have a portion of the attorney fees paid after they are filed. These fees are said to be paid "inside the plan." Mamy people simply stop paying their unsecured creditors so they can give that money to their bankruptcy attorney instead and get into the shelter of the Bankruptcy Court. Good luck. Whatever course you choose, I strongly recommend that you file with an attorney. Those who attempt to file without an attorney are endangering their assets and their right to a discharge in bankruptcy. It is close to impossible to do it right without an attorney.

Answer Applies to: Ohio
Replied: 12/19/2011

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Payment plans are illegal if they require you to make payments AFTER the case is filed. We allow all of our clients to make payments and then we file when they have it paid up. Shop around for price, it varies quite a bit.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 12/19/2011

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The Clerk's office may give you a payment plan on your filing fee but no attorney is going to give you a payment plan if you expect to ask for a plan on the fees.

Answer Applies to: Texas
Replied: 12/19/2011

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You have to remember everyone filing for bankruptcy is having trouble with money and many ask this same question. Most attorneys will take payment plans to pay your fees. You have to compare the amount it costs you to file against the value get (elimination of much greater debt, relief from calls, lawsuits and creditor harassment). Chapter 7s can cost anywhere from $800 to $2000 or more depending on your situation, but as most people are eliminating debts totaling many times the amount they are paying their attorney, they make arrangements to get on a payment plan with their attorney or use their tax refunds to pay the attorney. Chapter 13s cost more, usually $3500 to $4000, but you generally only have to pay a portion of that before filing and the balance of you fees are paid along with creditors in the payment plan you make with the court.

Answer Applies to: Wisconsin
Replied: 12/19/2011

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Generally, unless you have absolutely no source of income and can't borrow money from friends or family, everyone can afford to file bankruptcy. If you want it done right, you will need to hire an attorney. In addition to the attorney fees, you will have to pay the court's filing fee, which is $306 for Chapter 7. Costs of mandatory credit counseling may be waived depending on your household income level. It will take some saving and cost cutting to save up money to pay an attorney, but to file bankruptcy and get rid of all other dischargable debts and obligations, it should be well worth it in the long run to have a successful bankruptcy case.

Answer Applies to: Indiana
Replied: 12/18/2011

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Bankruptcy is often the most efficient way to start rebuilding your credit and your financial health. It may sound expensive to you but often you are paying 1,500.00 or so to eliminate 50,000+ in debt. You won't find a better deal anywhere.

Answer Applies to: Maryland
Replied: 12/17/2011

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Some attorneys, such as myself, will set up payment plan with clients, but you will have to be paid in full before they file your bankruptcy. Or you can do it yourself and get the instructions from the local bankruptcy courts.

Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 12/17/2011

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Pay the filing fee and skip other payments.

Answer Applies to: Georgia
Replied: 12/17/2011

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Since I'm not 100% sure what you mean, i will address the possibilities one at a time. First, if you can't afford to pay filing fees to the Court up-front, you can apply to pay them over time. Second, if you cannot pay your lawyer then it is possible, in a reorganization at least (Ch.13, Ch. 11), to incorporate payments into your plan. Finally, if you enter into a plan of reorganization and find yourself unable to make all of the payments, your case can be dismissed. I hope this information was helpful.

Answer Applies to: Illinois
Replied: 12/17/2011

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I do not take payments for a chapter 7, because I take the position that any portion of my fee which is unpaid upon the filing is discharged. I generally charge between $1300-$1400.00 for a chapter 7 petition. It does take considerable time. It is possible for you to research, and to try to file a bankruptcy petition without a lawyer. You may inquire with the clerk's office in your jurisdiction. You can find that informationby searching for Bankruptcy Court on your computer or at the library or call the bankruptcy court in Miami or the United States Trustee's office in Miami Florida. I represent clients who live in PB County. You may also contact the Florida Bar for an attorney who might handle your case pro bono.

Answer Applies to: Florida
Replied: 12/16/2011

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Shop around and talk to several attorneys about what they charge. Several attorneys offer payment plans.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 12/16/2011

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You can request a fee waiver. The bankruptcy courts have a form that needs to submitted.

Answer Applies to: Florida
Replied: 12/16/2011

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If you file without an attorney, all you have to pay is the filing fee, depending on your county it would be about $306. If you hire an attorney, you should be able to set up a payment plan.

Answer Applies to: California
Replied: 12/16/2011

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You can't afford not to have a lawyer, so save up.

Answer Applies to: Georgia
Replied: 12/16/2011

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Bankruptcy Attorneys understand that their client's are already experiencing hardship in keeping up with their obligations and therefore extend reasonable payment arrangements. Furthermore, an Attorney can advise whether you should stop making payments to certain creditors while you are preparing to file for bankruptcy. This money can be used to pay for the expenses associated with the bankruptcy filing. Seek an attorney that offers a free consultation so that you can be assisted in making such decisions.

Answer Applies to: New York
Replied: 12/16/2011

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If you fall within 150% poverty line you can file a waiver of filing fee. If you don't know how bankruptcy works and cannot pay for an attorney, go to your local legal aid to see if you qualify for free help.

Answer Applies to: Florida
Replied: 12/16/2011

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File the case yourself, or talk to your local legal aid office for assistance.

Answer Applies to: Washington
Replied: 12/16/2011

Disclaimer: The response above does not form an attorney-client relationship. This answer may or may not apply to you and should not be relied upon as legal advice. LawQA does not make any representation as to the expertise or qualifications of this attorney. This attorney may or may not be admitted to state bar of your state.