How much did your Chapter 13 cost?

[MJJ3767]

I saw an attorney last week. His fee is $4000. He requires $500 upfront and the rest is rolled into the Chapter 13. My case is very simple..........no assess, property, nothing. This is what I didn't understand. My payment is going to be around $110 a month over 36 months. That hardly covers the fee he quoted me let alone paying any creditors. $4000 seemed very high but I have a very low payment. I've considered filing on my own but I think it's hardly worth the headache over paying $110 a month.

[Flamingo]

Fees vary. Depending on your location and attorney's expertise in his field. If he is good at what he does, he is well worth the fee, believe me. To give you an idea as to Chapter 13 fees, we filed in April 2002. Our attorney's fees and the filing fee for the court totaled $1800. That was almost 7 years ago. We utilized a top attorney in our state and while we thought that was high, he was well worth more than what he charged. We put $600 of that into our Plan.

[Andyman]

My attorney is going to cost $3000 of which all of it will go into the plan. I will have to pay the $299 filing fee and that's it. He said I'll be able to keep my truck and the CC's will be discharged. Not sure what my monthly payment might be because I owe about $9700 on my truck. But, without the CC payments I'll be able to make the Chapter 13 payments and at least keep my head above water. I have no assets to speak of other than a pistol and a well used sailboat that he said he was sure that I'd be able to keep.

[kornellred]

I filed in March of this year and my attorney charged $3500. I was told that this was the maximum allowable fee for a Chapter 13 - I don't know if this is true any longer or if it is still true on a state-by-state basis (I am in New Jersey).

[13bound]

$3k to the attorney which was put in the plan and $750 in fees which i paid up front, $100 and $650. i'm still waiting to be confirmed as i had a motion to dismiss by the trustee. for the record, my attorney has been great so far.

[liz417]

Hi,

My attorney is charging $3375 and it is NOT rolled into our ch 13 payments. We will be able to file once we pay him in full...
I'm in Ca.

[BKParalegal]

Hi,

My attorney is charging $3375 and it is NOT rolled into our ch 13 payments. We will be able to file once we pay him in full...
I'm in Ca.

In the 1470 or so BK's I have been involved with, never in the history of any Chapter 13, have I seen where the attorney collected all the fees upfront before filing. Are you sure you are not filing a chapter 7? If not, I would run very fast and very far from your attorney.

Good Luck

[santadawg]

Our lawyer charged us 3200.00 and he had to be paid in full to retain him before he would do anything. He hasn't even done to means test yet.

[BKParalegal]

Our lawyer charged us 3200.00 and he had to be paid in full to retain him before he would do anything. He hasn't even done to means test yet.

Chapter 13 or 7?

[santadawg]

Hopefully a chapter 7, we are under the means ( I think) test for our state (ma). We seen him early this month, and he just sent us a letter, our next meeting is late in Nov.

[DebtSlave]

My attorney fee for CH 13 was 1500.00. 500 up front the rest rolled into the plan.

[liz417]

Chapter 13 or 7?

Yes, I am filing ch 13....don't know what to say to this...he just requires his fees paid up front (payments). Hmmmmm....

[poor@budgeting]

In the 1470 or so BK's I have been involved with, never in the history of any Chapter 13, have I seen where the attorney collected all the fees upfront before filing. Are you sure you are not filing a chapter 7? If not, I would run very fast and very far from your attorney.

Good Luck

I wished I've consulted more atty. Mine required ~800 for retainer and rest(~2600) prior to filing. Even charged an additional ~200 in the plan which was paid during the first payment to creditors. Maybe this has to do with disposable money that one has prior to filing?

He also wanted us to sell a 4 yr old suv/van and get a used car for < 5k(from car equity).

[holding on]

This is what I didn't understand. My payment is going to be around $110 a month over 36 months. That hardly covers the fee he quoted me let alone paying any creditors.

Back to some of the OP's original question. Just how does a payment plan of 36 x $110 ($3960) cover the $3500 fee left over, and pay back creditors? I think your unsecureds are gonna be paid very very little. How much your unsecured and priority/secured amounts are I guess is the determinig factor.

[syn]

Going to cost $3,500 - $4,000.


How it's going to be paid hasn't been worked out yet.