Are you ready to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy? But don't want the expensive fees of an attorney? Ready to go the DIY route? Great, we can help you. We are a bankruptcy petition preparation service. We help you to fill out the bankruptcy forms. You then file these forms with the court and you are able to represent yourself without an attorney.
So i'm guessing you want to know the fees and the process on how to get started. Lets start with the fees.
FEES:
There is a court filing fee that everyone has to pay. The court charges $335 for Chapter 7 bankruptcies. This is paid directly to the court.
Postage - $7 - Although we live in a digital world where email is great. The court requires original signatures on documents from both me and you. So I sign the documents and send them to you by mail. This way, you don't have to worry about finding a place to print the documents etc.
There is a credit report fee of $35 per person. This is paid along with the bankruptcy petition preparation fees.
Bankruptcy petition preparation fees - This is dictated by the bankruptcy court in your state. The most you will pay for my services is $200 (even if you file jointly with your spouse). There are some states where the fee is lower.
Breakdown by State:
Arizona - no services provided. Sorry.
California - *attorney representation only (no DIY services) $1099
Maryland - $100
Michigan - $100
Minnesota - $90
Nevada - *attorney representation only (no DIY services) $1099
New York - $100
North Carolina - $80
Ohio -
*northern district $125
*southern district $200
Oklahoma - $150
Wisconsin - $75
All Other States: $200
You've got your money ready and are sure you want to file. So how do you get started?
How to get the bankruptcy process started:
1) Fill out our bankruptcy questionnaire. Make sure once you hit submit that you get a confirmation that it was successfully submitted and there were no errors. I will then review it and let you know if you are eligible to file chapter 7 bankruptcy.
2) If you are eligible you will then need to start gathering your documents. Here's what I will need from you:
a. Paycheck stubs from you and your spouse for the last 7 months (even if you are filing by yourself, the court still requires paycheck stubs from your spouse to determine your eligibility)
b. Your 2 most recent Federal tax returns
c. Value of your car and your home if you own it. (we cannot provide the value for you - some people use zillow for the home value, but keep in mind that its not 100% accurate - and could result in the loss of your home if too much equity and not enough exemptions. The true value of your home can be ascertained from an appraiser.
d. There are 2 courses necessary when filing bankruptcy. One to get into bankruptcy. One to get out of bankruptcy. They can both be done online and cost approximately $15. I will need a copy of your first course pre-filing credit counseling certificate. I will give you instructions to take your second course after the bankruptcy has been filed.
3) Once you have gathered your documents and paid all the applicable fees I will then begin working on your petition. I will send it to you for your review by PDF. You can let me know if you see any necessary changes. If there are no necessary changes, I will print it and mail it to you to be filed with the court.
4) You will take your petition and $335 court filing fee to the court to file the petition. You will be assigned a case number and a hearing date that you must attend.
5) I will give you instructions to take your second course. I like for you to take it prior to your hearing date so that you don't have to worry about it later. Once you leave your bankruptcy hearing, there is nothing else for you to do but be patient.
Please keep in mind that we are bankruptcy petition preparers and not attorneys. So we cannot give legal advice.
When you are ready to proceed start with step 1 and we will contact you within 1 business day of receiving your questionnaire.
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