How much does bankruptcy cost?

Filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Attorney fees typically range from $1,000 to $3,500 depending on the chapter and complexity. Fee waivers and installment payments are available for those who qualify.

Can I file bankruptcy if I can't afford an attorney?

Yes. You can file pro se (without an attorney), apply for a fee waiver to eliminate the filing fee, or pay the filing fee in installments. Some legal aid organizations also provide free bankruptcy assistance.

Are there hidden fees in bankruptcy?

The main costs are the filing fee, attorney fee, and credit counseling courses (about $20-50 total). Some attorneys charge extra for adversary proceedings or plan modifications, so ask for a complete fee breakdown upfront.

What is the cheapest way to file bankruptcy?

The cheapest option is filing pro se with a fee waiver, which costs nothing. If you hire an attorney, Chapter 7 is generally less expensive than Chapter 13. Always compare quotes from multiple attorneys.

Can I pay bankruptcy attorney fees in installments?

Most bankruptcy attorneys accept payment plans. In Chapter 13, attorney fees can even be paid through your repayment plan. In Chapter 7, many attorneys require full payment before filing, but installment arrangements are common.

How to Check an Attorney's Dismissal Rate

Free Screener at 1328f.com

The free screener at 1328f.com allows you to search for attorneys and see their case outcomes. The underlying data comes from the FJC Integrated Database covering 4.9 million federal bankruptcy cases across all 94 districts.

PACER and CourtListener

PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) contains every federal bankruptcy case. Access costs $0.10 per page. CourtListener provides free access to millions of PACER records through the RECAP Archive.

What to Look For

Total cases filed in the district. Number dismissed vs discharged. Dismissal rate compared to the district average. Pattern of bare petition filings. Frequency of trustee motions to dismiss. Time from filing to outcome.

A dismissal rate above the district average is a red flag. The national Chapter 13 dismissal rate is approximately 40-50%, but it varies significantly by district. Some districts dismiss fewer than 30% of cases while others exceed 60%. An individual attorney whose clients are dismissed at rates well above the district norm may be filing cases without adequate preparation, failing to file required documents on time, or taking on clients who are not good candidates for Chapter 13.

Look specifically for patterns of bare petition filings - cases filed with only the petition and no schedules. This often indicates an attorney filing cases primarily to trigger the automatic stay without intending to prosecute the case to completion. The FJC Integrated Database tracks case outcomes across all 94 federal bankruptcy districts, making cross-district comparisons possible for the first time.

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