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For many clients, that sum,
$794.00, is the total fee. However, you may have to incur other miscellaneous fees, as described below, pursuant to the new bankruptcy law. Generally,
single filers will be at $794, some joint (husband and wife) and some
single filers with spouse will be at $894, and complex cases will be at
$994. All efforts are made to keep the fees as low as possible,
given the workload your particular case will require, and the amount that
is within your budget. You are considering bankruptcy particularly
because of a shortage of funds, and I am aware of this, so there is no
use in charging a fee you can't afford. We'll talk about this more in the
office; you'll know after speaking w/me exactly how much your case will
cost.
- CREDIT REPORT - a downloading
of your credit report from the three credit reporting agencies directly into your bankruptcy - $
35 per client / $70 per couple
- as charged to me by Online Credit Reporting. I require this
for clients with more than 5 creditors or for clients who are not sure
who their creditors are. I will NOT be able to use a credit
report you obtain, so please do not think it is necessary for you to
spend money or time, before we meet, to obtain one on your own, though
you're certainly welcome to do that. Try http://www.annualcreditreport.com
for one free credit report per year that federal law now
permits.
- MOTION TO AVOID
JUDICIAL LIEN on REAL ESTATE - $275 per creditor - This is necessary
ONLY if you have a judgment against you in the Court of Common Pleas of the
county you live in (NOT required for judgments only in the District Justice Court -
magistrate), AND IF you also own real estate and you want to keep that
real estate despite your bankruptcy.
- MOTION TO AVOID
NON-JUDICIAL LIEN on Household Goods $175 per creditor - THIS IS
RARELY NECESSARY
We will go over in my office whether or not you will need these extra services.
PRE-FILING COUNSELING. There is also a fee charged by an approved Credit Counseling Service of $50
per person or married couple which agency will provide you a Certificate of Credit Counseling, through in-person, online, or telephonic counseling. The law requires you provide me such certificate prior to the date we file your case. Currently we are recommending www.cccsatl.org as the quickest way to obtain the certificate - within 24 hours, through online counseling. You may need my "FIRM
CODE." It is: 2025. I strongly recommend you use
that agency, but click here
for a full list of other approved agencies.
YOU CAN "START" WITH A MINIMUM OF $200.
By "starting," what I do is interview you and complete most of the preliminary work except for filing. I can complete the interview without any paperwork from you, but ultimately I will need certain items, such as pay stubs and income tax returns, which we’ll go over. There are no forms or applications for you to fill out.
Once you've paid the balance, and completed the
30-60 minute debtor education course, I’ll file your bankruptcy in federal court. You may need to return to the office one more time before filing.
Creditors will be notified by the court 3 to 6 weeks after your case is file. Once notified, they are prohibited from contacting you. Employers and landlords will not be notified.
I don't take your case unless I know (by experience - over 1,500 cases filed in 10 years) that it will be approved and your unsecured debts (credit cards, bank loans, medical bills, subscription fees, attorney's fees (not mine!) And utility arrears will be discharged, meaning the court will order that you are no longer liable to pay back those debts.
BANKRUPTCY IS A FRESH START, A 2ND CHANCE, AFTER ALL OTHER OPTIONS HAVE PROVEN FRUITLESS.
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