Nothing in life is free, not even bankruptcy, the process that helps you deal with the debts from too many “not free” life things. Typically what you run into is not so much a price on Chapter 7 bankruptcy, but rather a series of fees that you encounter.

The first of the fees is the filing fee from the U.S. bankruptcy court. Since there is no upfront fee, the money you will need to come up with first is this filing fee which is a flat $375 for everyone. If you can’t afford this up front, luckily the court are accommodating with payment plans.

The second fee you will encounter is for Minnesota approved pre-bankruptcy credit counseling courses that you must take before filing a petition. You need to have a certificate from the course alongside your filing. After you file, you need to take a debtor education course as well. These can range between $50 to $100 dollars.

Finally, in bankruptcy, you need to pay your bankruptcy lawyer fees. While you can file without a lawyer, your chances to succeed are much lower. However, while your lawyer’s fees can be a thousand or a couple thousand dollars, it is well worth it for success. The nice thing is, the fees often depend on the complexity of you case. So if you have a simple case, you may pay less.

If you are filing bankruptcy, but need help with the process and the fees, contact us today. We can walk you through the process step-by-step to make sure you succeed.