Massachusetts Bankruptcy Attorney

 

Nicholas F. Ortiz Attorney & Counselor At Law 306 Dartmouth Street Suite 501 Boston, MA 02116 Tel: (617) 338-9400 Fax: (617) 507-3456 Email: nfo@mass-legal.com Experienced and Effective Consumer and Business Bankruptcy Representation Close to the MBTA Copley Stop in Boston's Bay Bay   Click Here to Read What Some Recent Clients Have Been Saying

Fees and Costs in Bankruptcy The cost of bankruptcy is not always obvious.  The filing fees are well-known ($299 for Chapter 7 and $274 for Chapter 13).  However, attorney's fees vary based on office policies and case complexity.  Many lawyers do not want to disclose any fee information upfront.  It is true that individual case details can increase complexity and cost. However, I am posting my usual fees for certain types of consumer cases. An actual fee is only determined after a consultation.  However, this information should be a useful guide to what I normally charge for consumer cases. The "Standard" Chapter 7 Case I charge a minimum of $1,750 for Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases. The lowest fee is for people with a so-called “standard” Chapter 7 cases. A person with a “standard” Chapter 7 case usually has all or most of the following characteristics: They live in a town that is assigned to the Boston Bankruptcy Court (most of eastern Massachusetts). They have internet access. They do not own real estate. They do not have the need to reaffirm secured debts. They do not own a part of a business. They have less than $40,000 in unsecured debts. They have income that is easy to verify from one source (like a job, unemployment, or pension). They are below median income and have no disposable income after their reasonable and necessary living expenses. They have no non-exempt property. They have no tax or child support problems. They have no criminal, fraudulent conveyance, preference, lien, denial of discharge, dischargeability problems, or other special issues at play in their case. * If one or more factors above do not apply to you, don't despair. A few complicating factors usually only increase fees by $250 to $500.

There are also "costs" in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case:

1. The $299 court filing fee,
2. $20 for a special type of credit report,
3. and about $50 for a credit counseling certificate.

For some people, the fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is difficult to pay all at once.  Some people chose a Chapter 13 bankruptcy for this reason.  Chapter 13 is better for some people because it is cheaper upfront. This allows people to file bankruptcy more quickly and obtain the benefits of the automatic stay, which include putting a stop to debt collection attempts and lawsuits. People can pay as little as $1,250 (plus $274 filing fee, plus $20 credit report fee, plus credit counseling certificate expense) to get a Chapter 13 case filed. Chapter 13 bankruptcies stay on credit reports for seven years -- three years fewer than a Chapter 7. 

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As defined by federal law, the Law Office of Nicholas F. Ortiz, P.C. is a debt relief agency.  We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.

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