Just had free consultation w/Lawyer on phone...

[deesown]

He was very friendly and answered most of my questions. He wants me to come in with my paperwork to go over the figures. He said if we decide to hire him he would charge us a thousand and another 299 for the filing fee He said if we dont qualify for 7 and need to file 13 it would be around 2500.

Does this sound like a resonible amount? My initial gut feeling of him seems ok. He sounds very friendly and seems to know all the ends and outs.

I still dont think we will qualify for 7 since my husband made 84,000.00 last year (4,000) a month. I guess we will have to wait till next weeks appointment.

I will keep you guys posted!

[demismom]

That's a reasonable rate for the Chapter 7, we paid $1694 and that included the $299 filing fee and debt counseling classes.

[Cassiopeia]

That is EXACTLY what I paid. $1,000 plus the filing fee.

(This is middle district FL).

[leftyf]

I just paid $1,400.00 for the case and I still owe $299.00 filing fee. I am filing for a 7, but I am border-line.

[familyof7]

what state are you in and how many people in your house? There have been people on this board that have been well over the median and successfully filed pro se even so you may stil qualify.

[nc73]

Damn I must be gettin ripped off. try 2500 total.

[deesown]

what state are you in and how many people in your house? There have been people on this board that have been well over the median and successfully filed pro se even so you may stil qualify.

we are in California and we have two kids under 18.

I am just worried we won't make chapter 7 because he nets 4,000 thousand monthly.

[lrprn]

we are in California and we have two kids under 18. I am just worried we won't make chapter 7 because he nets 4,000 thousand monthly.

In California right now the median family income for a family of 4 is $72,996/year - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/2...come_table.htm . You've given us your husband's NET income after taxes and insurance are taken out. However, it's your husband's GROSS income that counts. What is his gross income before taxes, etc. are removed?

Do you personally have an income of any kind? Have either of you received one-time bonuses, cash gifts, cashed out stock or retirement funds, or other kinds of cash $$ added into your family's money over the last six months? Do you have secured assets (home, cars, etc) that you want to keep if you file Ch 7? How much equity (actual value minus what you owe on it) does each asset have?

If you can answer these questions for us, we can help you sort out if you can qualify for Ch 7.

[jbr12]

I paid basically the same: $1001 + 299 filing fee

[lrprn]

Damn I must be gettin ripped off. try 2500 total.

Not necessarily, NC.

Just as the cost of living varies widely across the country depending on where you live, so do lawyer fees. It generally costs more to file in CA or NY than it does in the Midwest. You can't cross-compare lawyer fees without also knowing the area of the country the filer lives in.

Also the complexity of your case impacts how much a bk lawyer will charge as well.

As long as your lawyer represents you well and your case is successfully discharged, that's what truly matters. Bargain shopping for bankruptcy lawyers can lead to some real heartache - we've seen that here before where a member picked the lawyer with the lowest fee and ended up with a lawyer who wasn't as knowledgeable as he/she should have been about bankruptcy. The best lawyers are typically not the cheapest lawyers....but they aren't necessarily the most expensive ones either. Gotta learn everything you can about bankruptcy first to know who's on the ball and who isn't during your free initial consultations

[chpxiii]

I'm in Dallas, TX, and in 2003 when I filed chpt. 13, I paid $2,000 to my lawyer.

[nc73]

I'm in Dallas, TX, and in 2003 when I filed chpt. 13, I paid $2,000 to my lawyer.

My lawyer was also in dallas. Shoulda asked someone for reference here....I need all the money I can get and every few dollar matters when you are broke. My free consult wasn't even with an actual attorney! I got the assistant instead. Oh well what do you expect when it's free. I even had to wait an hour.. It was worth it though she answered my eviction question. Going to serve the 3 day notice to vacate to my tenant.

[deesown]

In California right now the median family income for a family of 4 is $72,996/year - http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/2...come_table.htm . You've given us your husband's NET income after taxes and insurance are taken out. However, it's your husband's GROSS income that counts. What is his gross income before taxes, etc. are removed?

Do you personally have an income of any kind? Have either of you received one-time bonuses, cash gifts, cashed out stock or retirement funds, or other kinds of cash $$ added into your family's money over the last six months? Do you have secured assets (home, cars, etc) that you want to keep if you file Ch 7? How much equity (actual value minus what you owe on it) does each asset have?

If you can answer these questions for us, we can help you sort out if you can qualify for Ch 7.

I do not work as of now and no we haven't received any other income besides him paycheck. WE do not own a home (rent) and our 1 car is quite old.

On his paystub he gets around 3400.00 e Gross before taxes 2,400 Net AFTER taxes, every two weeks. That's with overtime- without overtime he gets 3,000 before taxes.

[Bandit]

I just had free consultaion with an attorney. He told me to hire an attorney.

Just Teasing!

Really, that did happen though

[SinkingFast]

Also the complexity of your case impacts how much a bk lawyer will charge as well.

As long as your lawyer represents you well and your case is successfully discharged, that's what truly matters.

That's soooooo true.

The going rate for a straight forward Ch 7 here was $700-$1K when we filed. Depending on the attny chosen.

Our attny charged $2K. BUT,......... We'd recently moved. Had to use out of State Exemptions. And a couple of other questionable issues to boot.

Our attny has a good re pore with the Trustees. He researched our Exemptions application via conference with an attny from our old State. And he slid us thru without any trouble at all.

The old adage is true.

Sometimes you do get what you pay for.