If you’ve considered filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, it would make sense that you’re curious about what expenses to expect. Florida bankruptcies are standardized to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code’s Chapter 13 guidelines, including what fees are charged and how other related expenses are handled.
As part of the Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing process, the court has to assess all of your expenses, including what you pay an attorney. Accordingly, all Chapter 13 case lawyers must report their fees to the court for approval, and if the court finds that their price is too costly, they can require the attorney to refund all or a portion of the fee.
While filing alone (without the help of an attorney) can be significantly cheaper (the filing fee for a Chapter 13 is $313), the overall risk of managing the extensive paperwork, developing a working payment plan, and preparing for creditor meetings makes it more difficult to successfully complete their filing. Most petitioners who begin their bankruptcy without an attorney end up seeking out legal advice down the line. In fact, over 97% of a sampled group of petitioners completed their bankruptcy case with an attorney.
Having an experienced attorney on your side means you’ll have on-hand legal resources, and a team ready to help solve any complex problems that may arise during your bankruptcy case. Talk to an experienced Florida bankruptcy attorney to learn more about what costs to expect and how to otherwise prepare for your Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing.