Chapter 13’s basic filing fees vary in different courts, mostly because the trustee (person who oversees the case for the judge) often adds an administrative fee. But if you’re asking how much does a chapter 13 bankruptcy cost, you want numbers. The initial filing fee is usually around $310. Additional filings, like amended schedules or motions to discharge priority unsecured debts, almost always cost extra. Occasionally, judges permit installment payments or grant fee waivers.

In recent years, bureaucrats and courts have whittled away at consumer protections and clearly favored bog debt collectors. So, for many people, bankruptcy is the only way to escape a downward spiral of debt, delinquency, and adverse creditor action.

Chapter 13 halts repossession, foreclosure, and other adverse actions. Chapter 13 debtors also get up to five years to gradually catch up on things like past-due mortgage payments. As a bonus, Chapter 13 discharges most unsecured debts, like medical bills and credit cards.

Various filing options are available, as outlined below. Some are less expensive than others, but as the old saying goes, you get what you pay for. Only an Athens bankruptcy attorney maximizes your fresh start and sets you on the path toward financial stability.

DIY Bankruptcies in Athens, GA

If you are considering bankruptcy, money is probably tight. Additionally, there is a very strong Do-It-Yourself impulse in Georgia. These two factors often prompt people to file DIY pro se bankruptcies, without any help from an Athens bankruptcy lawyer or anyone else.

The forms are available online, usually for a minimal fee. Moreover, some bankruptcies, like a no-asset Chapter 7, are relatively straightforward. So, in a few cases, a DIY bankruptcy is a good idea, especially if you have some free time and some legal expertise.

Filing bankruptcy is much more complex than filing a personal tax return. In fact, filing bankruptcy is like filing an LLC’s tax return without looking at the instructions. It’s a very daunting task. Additionally, if there is any bump in the road, DIY filers are on their own. To an Athens bankruptcy lawyer, small bumps are nothing. But a small speed bump often causes a DIY filer to lose control of the vehicle.

Athens, Georgia BPP Bankruptcies

To stay with the tax example, a Bankruptcy Petition Preparer bankruptcy is a bit like using H&R Block to file an LLC’s return. Tax preparers have some basic expertise. Additionally, they can fill out forms and offer some generic advice. But that’s as far as it goes.

Similarly, BPPs are not Athens bankruptcy lawyers. In fact, there are no licensing or other requirements for BPPs. Anyone can be one.

Like the guy at H&R Block, a BPP can only fill out forms and give some generic advice about the nature of bankruptcy. Oh, and a BPP can also take your money. They’re very good at that. Since your family’s financial future is at risk, a BPP may not be the best way to go, especially in a complex Chapter 13.

The Emotional and Financial Benefits of Bankruptcy in Georgia

Partnering with an Athens bankruptcy lawyer is like using an accountant to handle an LLC’s tax return. The financial and emotional benefits are significant, to say the least.

Emotional Benefits of Bankruptcy

Let’s start with the emotional benefits. Financial stress is extremely hard on everyone in your family. Offloading bankruptcy to a professional is a significant weight off your shoulders. Instead of you using every free moment struggling with bankruptcy forms and hoping you filled them out correctly, your Athens bankruptcy lawyer does all the work and bears that entire burden.

Financial Benefits of Bankruptcy

An attorney has the experience to unlock some advanced bankruptcy features which, in many cases, could save your family thousands of dollars.

A cram down is a good example. Assume Sally still has $10,000 to pay on a vehicle which is only worth $5,000. If Sally pays the current fair market value before the bankruptcy closes, which would only be an extra few dollars a month, she might own the vehicle free and clear. The bank must tear up the loan and forgive the additional $5,000. Cram downs like this one are only available through an Athens bankruptcy lawyer, because only a lawyer advocates for you in court.

Discuss Your Chapter 13 With a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Athens, GA?

If your wondering how much does a Chapter 13 bankruptcy cost, it varies, mostly depending on how important your fresh start is to you. For a free consultation with an experienced Athens bankruptcy lawyer, contact Morgan & Morgan, Attorneys at Law, P.C. Convenient payment plans are available.