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Despite what the sensational media may have you believe, the vast majority of people who file for bankruptcy are honest, hard-working Larimer County residents just like yourself. People who, for one reason or another, can’t seem to keep up with all of their bills. Maybe it’s because of job loss, a medical emergency, or even a divorce– no matter the reason, crushing debt can happen at any time, to anyone, rich, poor, or middle class.
In that same vein, despite what you may have been led to believe, not all lawyers wear five-thousand-dollar suits, drive BMWs, and charge the cost of a small country as a retainer fee. Don’t let the negative stereotypes surrounding lawyers keep you from seeking legal counsel if you’re struggling with overwhelming debt.
Many people have a preconceived notion in their heads that all attorneys charge exorbitant fees to retain their services. That just isn’t the case for our experienced Fort Collins bankruptcy lawyers.
We recognize that the last thing you need if you’re already considering filing for bankruptcy is another high bill from a lawyer that you can’t afford to pay. Contact our firm today for a free case consultation with an experienced Fort Collins debt relief attorney who charges a low flat fee for filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Larimer County.
When filing for bankruptcy in Colorado, you can expect two types of expenses: an attorney’s fee and the fees set by the bankruptcy court.
Our Fort Collins bankruptcy attorneys offer a flat fee for petitioners seeking debt relief through Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The amount of our attorney’s fee is dependent upon several factors, including your income, the chapter of the federal bankruptcy code used, and the complexity of the case. During your free case consultation, one of our Larimer County debt relief attorneys will let you know what your fee will be after going over the specifics of your case with you.
The assorted fees charged by the government for filing for bankruptcy in Colorado are pretty straightforward.
The first bankruptcy-related cost you will likely encounter happens before you can submit your petition to file for bankruptcy. The Federal Bankruptcy Code mandates that anyone seeking debt relief through bankruptcy must complete two bankruptcy-related classes, a credit counseling course (that must be completed before you file for bankruptcy), and a debtor education course (that must be completed before the end of your bankruptcy case). These courses can range from free to $500 each depending on where they are taken. You can find a list of court-approved classes through the Department of Justice’s website, or if you have retained the services of one of our Fort Collins bankruptcy attorneys, we can help you find a class with a location and price point suitable to your needs.
The next fee associated with filing for bankruptcy is due as soon as you file the Schedules. The Schedules comprise all of the paperwork you will need to submit for your bankruptcy petition, and can be found on the United States Federal Bankruptcy Court-District of Colorado website. The fee for a bankruptcy filing will depend on whether you file for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
The flat rate charged by the Federal Bankruptcy Court for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $338. All Chapter 7 fees must be paid before the filing of the bankruptcy petition. It’s important to note that this includes any fees charged by your Fort Collins bankruptcy lawyer.
If you’re still shopping around for a lawyer to help you with your bankruptcy petition, you should be aware that it’s unlawful for any attorney to request payment once your bankruptcy case is settled. In Colorado, any lawyer that accepts payments for attorney’s fees after the filing of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is violating the automatic stay and discharge injunction provisions of the Bankruptcy Code. This is because attorney’s fees owed in a Chapter 7 case are no different than any other dischargeable, pre-petition debt – that is, they are discharged through bankruptcy and cannot be collected once the case is filed.
If you and your Fort Collins bankruptcy attorney have decided that Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a better option for you than Chapter 7, the flat fee for filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Colorado is $313.
If you’re unable to afford these fees, you can ask the court for permission to pay off the amount through installment payments. Additionally, the court will waive the filing fee if your income falls below the poverty line and you cannot afford payments, although this happens only rarely. To see if you qualify for a payment plan or a filing fee waiver, please contact our Fort Collins debt relief attorneys to discuss the details of your case.
It’s worth mentioning that the flat fees listed above don’t include additional services you may require when filing for bankruptcy in Lakewood. For example, if you need to convert your filing from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13 (and vice versa) after you’ve already submitted the bankruptcy schedules, this will cost an extra fee. Additionally, if you are involved in any adversary proceedings during your bankruptcy case, there will be other fees attached to your filing. For a complete list of court-related bankruptcy costs, please visit The United States Bankruptcy Court-District of Colorado website.
Now that you’ve seen the breakdown of costs for filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you may be considering whether you can save more money by filing for bankruptcy without a lawyer. While it is within your legal right to file bankruptcy pro se, or by yourself, in Colorado, we caution you to think long and hard about whether attempting to navigate all of the complex bankruptcy paperwork and procedures by yourself is worth the possibility of saving a few dollars. After all, when you file a bankruptcy case pro se, you are held to the same standards as an attorney, without the benefit of 30 combined years of experience our Fort Collins bankruptcy attorneys offer. And there are no do-overs in Federal Bankruptcy Court– if you make a mistake in any of your paperwork, you run the risk of missing asset exemptions, missing deadlines, or, at worst, having your case thrown out without getting your debts discharged.
The cost of bankruptcy is only one aspect to consider when searching for an attorney. There are dozens of bankruptcy attorneys in Larimer County, many of them offering low-cost bankruptcy services. How can you tell which one is right for you? Do your due diligence– the right Fort Collins bankruptcy law office for you will be friendly, approachable, knowledgeable, and supportive. And the only way to find out who you are compatible with is to speak with an experienced Fort Collins debt relief attorney.
During your free case consultation, one of our legal professionals will go over every aspect of your finances, including your income and debt issues, to help you formulate the best debt relief plan.
Remember, finding the lowest-cost bankruptcy provider in Larimer County probably should not be your goal. Instead, find a Fort Collins bankruptcy attorney that gives you an affordable, fair price – one that you can trust and gives you a concrete plan for a debt-free future.