If you are considering filing a personal bankruptcy, you are likely worried about how much it cost you. The cost of filing for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 has been increasing since the 2005 Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act was passed. Examples of the fees a debtor must pay include a charge to file the paperwork with the court, mandatory pre-bankruptcy and pre-discharge credit counseling courses and attorney’s fees.
So, how can you afford to file bankruptcy when you are struggling financially? There are a variety of options. Many people use their tax refunds to pay for their bankruptcy filing. A tax refund is a lump sum payment that may be sufficient to cover your attorney fees and filing costs. Other people obtain gifts of money from relatives and friends to help with their filing or they simply stop paying bills in order to save the necessary funds.
If you are facing financial struggles and you believe you cannot afford to hire a bankruptcy attorney, it is important to discuss this issue with a lawyer before giving up. Bankruptcy attorneys are fully aware of your financial struggles, but they also cannot afford to provide their services for free. Thus, you may have to get creative on ways to afford your filing. Just be sure to consult with your attorney about what actions you are taking to pay their fee because they may have ideas that can help you too.
If you are considering filing for bankruptcy protection, contact The Koplen Law Firm. Our attorneys strive to provide quality representation effectively and efficiently and to ensure that you achieve every legal benefit available. When you retain the services of our law firm, you can be confident that your case will get the personal attention and care that it deserves. We serve residents of the Hudson Valley area of New York, including Rockland County, Orange County, Putnam County and Westchester County.