how much does it cost to file for bankruptcy with lawyer in nj

by Blaise Mraz 10 min read

Bankruptcy attorneys in New Jersey cost between $965 – $1,550. Written by Upsolve Team. The price of a personal bankruptcy attorney in New Jersey is around $1,257.50 (Low: $965.00. High: $1,550.00).

How much does it cost for bankruptcy in NJ?

Get Your Filing Fee

There is a $338 court filing fee to file bankruptcy in New Jersey. Make a plan for how to pay so you don't risk having your case dismissed.
Feb 10, 2022

How much does a lawyer charge for Chapter 7?

How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy?
Chapter 7Chapter 13
Filing fees$338$313
Attorney fees*$500 - $3,500$1,500 - $6,000
Total$838 - $3,838$1,813 - $6,313

How much does Chapter 7 cost in NJ?

Chapter 7 comes with a filing fee of $306 and this is when you surrender your non-exempt assets. Those assets will be sold and the proceeds will be used to pay your debts. Chapter 13 comes with a filing fee of $281 and this is when you make scheduled payments on a created 5-year payment plan.Jun 6, 2019

How do I file Chapter 7 with no money?

Eligible filers are able to file Chapter 7 for free. If your household income is less than 150% of the federal poverty level, you can ask the bankruptcy judge to waive your court fees with a simple application submitted along with your bankruptcy petition.Feb 8, 2022

What is this chapter 11 all about?

This chapter of the Bankruptcy Code generally provides for reorganization, usually involving a corporation or partnership. A chapter 11 debtor usually proposes a plan of reorganization to keep its business alive and pay creditors over time.

Is it better to file a Chapter 7 or 13?

Most consumers opt for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which is faster and cheaper than Chapter 13. The vast majority of filers qualify for Chapter 7 after taking the means test, which analyzes income, expenses and family size to determine eligibility.

How long does it take to rebuild credit after Chapter 7?

Take your time.

The amount of time it takes to rebuild your credit after bankruptcy varies by borrower, but it can take from two months to two years for your score to improve. Because of this, it's important to build responsible credit habits and stick to them—even after your score has increased.
Jun 16, 2021

What is the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?

With Chapter 7, those types of debts are wiped out with your filing's court approval, which can take a few months. Under Chapter 13, you need to continue making payments on those balances throughout your court-instructed repayment plan; afterwards, the unsecured debts may be discharged.Apr 7, 2021

What can you not file bankruptcies?

8 Kinds of Debt You Can't Lose in Bankruptcy
  • Most back taxes and customs. ...
  • Child support and alimony. ...
  • Student loans. ...
  • Home mortgage and other property liens. ...
  • Debts from fraud, embezzlement, larceny, or from “willful and reckless acts” ...
  • Your car loan, if you want to keep your car. ...
  • Debt that doesn't belong to you.

What does bankruptcies do to your credit?

The exact effects will vary. But according to top scoring model FICO, filing for bankruptcy can send a good credit score of 700 or above plummeting by at least 200 points. If your score is a bit lower—around 680—you can lose between 130 and 150 points.Mar 10, 2020

What are the 3 types of bankruptcies?

With that in mind, below are details about three main bankruptcy types.
  • Chapter 7 Bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is also referred to as a liquidation bankruptcy because it calls for most of the debtor's assets to be sold to pay creditors. ...
  • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. ...
  • Chapter 11 Bankruptcy.
Feb 17, 2022

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in New Jersey

For most people, Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is the quickest, easiest, and most cost-effective choice. If you don’t own a home and don’t have too much income, Chapter 7 may be right for you. There is a range of fees, and payment plans are available as well. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in New Jersey

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is a re-payment plan or re-organization of your debts. If you have above-average income or equity in a home, Chapter 13 may be right for you. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy cases are more complex than typical Chapter 7 Bankruptcy cases therefore the fees are little more costly.

Payment Plans Make Chapter 13 Bankruptcies Easier

Most people who need to file for bankruptcy don’t have the money it takes to pay the fees and costs associated with filing. Payment plans are usually the answer. We do convenient monthly and bi-weekly payment plans, that fit your budget, to make paying for bankruptcy a little easier. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

Court Costs

In addition to attorney’s fees for filing your case, there are Court costs typically around $325 which are due on filing. In some cases, if you apply and the Court agrees, you may be able to pay the Court cost in four payments or even get the fee waived. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

How Do I Come Up With The Money To Pay For The Cost To File Bankruptcy In New Jersey?

The Cost To FIle Bankruptcy In New Jersey can be daunting. Many people can stop paying their credit cards once they have made the decision to file bankruptcy. This often frees-up enough money to make payments for the attorney fee and Court costs. Other people have to rely on friends or family to give them the money.

Payment Plans

Check out our payment plans by clicking the box below. Bankruptcy hits at the least opportune times – usually when you don’t have the money to pay the legal fee and maybe when a wage garnishment, car repo, or sheriff sale is imminent. Payment plans are the answer. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in New Jersey

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is a re-payment plan or re-organization of your debts. If you have above-average income or equity in a home, Chapter 13 may be right for you. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy cases are more complex than typical Chapter 7 Bankruptcy cases therefore the fees are little more costly.

Payment Plans Make Chapter 13 Bankruptcies Easier

Most people who need to file for bankruptcy don’t have the money it takes to pay the fees and costs associated with filing. Payment plans are usually the answer. We do convenient monthly and bi-weekly payment plans, that fit your budget, to make paying for bankruptcy a little easier. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

Court Costs

In addition to attorney’s fees for filing your case, there are Court costs typically around $325 which are due on filing. In some cases, if you apply and the Court agrees, you may be able to pay the Court cost in four payments or even get the fee waived. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

How Do I Come Up With The Money To Pay For The Cost To File Bankruptcy In New Jersey?

The Cost To FIle Bankruptcy In New Jersey can be daunting. Many people can stop paying their credit cards once they have made the decision to file bankruptcy. This often frees-up enough money to make payments for the attorney fee and Court costs. Other people have to rely on friends or family to give them the money.

Payment Plans

Check out our payment plans by clicking the box below. Bankruptcy hits at the least opportune times – usually when you don’t have the money to pay the legal fee and maybe when a wage garnishment, car repo, or sheriff sale is imminent. Payment plans are the answer. Click here to see our latest payment plans.

What are the services required to file for bankruptcy?

In considering the cost of filing bankruptcy, individual and business debtors frequently require the services of professionals to assist in their liquidation or reorganization. The most common types of professionals retained by debtors are accountants, appraisers, auctioneers, brokers, and special counsel. In a reorganization bankruptcy, such as Chapter 11 and Chapter 13, the bankruptcy court must pre-authorize a debtor’s retention of these professionals. In addition, before these professionals are paid by a debtor, the bankruptcy court must approve the professional’s fees through a process called a fee application.

Why is filing for bankruptcy important?

Filing bankruptcy is an important step for many businesses and individuals struggling with debt, law suits, foreclosures, and other issues that “trigger” their need for financial relief. For the majority of businesses and people that file bankruptcy, the debt relief they obtain in bankruptcy vastly outweighs the cost of filing bankruptcy. This is especially true where bankruptcy may be the only thing standing between a person/business and foreclosure on their real property, repossession of their car, or a turnover of their levied bank account funds.

Presumptive Chapter 13 Fee Guideline in New Jersey

In the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey, the guideline (found in local bankruptcy rule 2016-5) for presumptive attorneys’ fees and services in all Chapter 13 cases is $3,500. The rule lists the services that this fee covers.

About This Report

The data referenced above is from Martindale-Nolo Research's 2016 bankruptcy study, which analyzed survey responses from readers who had filed bankruptcy and had researched hiring a lawyer. The names of any quoted readers have been changed to protect their privacy.

How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost in New Jersey?

A Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey will cost you, on average, somewhere between $965 - $1550 in attorneys’ fees. Keep in mind, however, that no two cases are exactly the same.

How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy in New Jersey?

The biggest expense for folks filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey usually takes the form of attorney's fees, followed by the $338 court filing fee. Folks who can't afford (or don't want) a lawyer for their New Jersey bankruptcy don't have to have one and can file "pro se" instead.

What is Upsolve for bankruptcy?

Upsolve is a nonprofit tool that helps you file bankruptcy for free. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. Get free education, customer support, and community. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University so we'll never ask you for a credit card. Explore our free tool

What is the means test for bankruptcy in New Jersey?

New Jersey Bankruptcy Means Test. Most folks who file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey have to qualify to file under the means test , which compares your household income to that of similar-sized households in New Jersey to make sure you don't make “ too much” money.

How many copies of bankruptcy documents are needed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey?

One of the main requirements for you to remember is that you have to bring 2 full copies of your bankruptcy documents to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey.

Can you redeem a car in bankruptcy?

Alternatively, if you want to keep your car, but the loan balance far exceeds its actual value, you can redeem the vehicle by paying only it's value to the creditor and have the discharge entered in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey eliminate the remaining loan balance.

What happens to the debtor in Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the court sells the debtor’s non-exempt assets. The proceeds of the sale of those assets are used to pay creditors. Their interests are prioritized under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Many creditors walk away with little or nothing, and the debtor is discharged in bankruptcy.

How long can you make installments in Chapter 13?

If that plan is accepted by the bankruptcy court, the debtor will be allowed to make installment payments to the court over a period of three to five years.

Where are all bankruptcy cases heard?

All bankruptcies in the United States are heard in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The good news about that is the filing fees for a bankruptcy case are uniform across the country.

Can you represent yourself in bankruptcy?

It’s never recommended that you represent yourself pro se in any legal action. Any bankruptcy case can get complicated very quickly. Without a quality bankruptcy attorney, your case could get stalled or even dismissed.