how much is a bankruptcy lawyer in ny

by Marc Pfannerstill 4 min read

Bankruptcy attorneys in New York cost between $ 965 – $ 1,550 Upsolve is a nonprofit tool that helps you file bankruptcy for free. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy.

Full Answer

What is the average cost of a bankruptcy attorney?

Apr 02, 2022 · The price of a personal bankruptcy attorney in New York is around $1,257.50 (Low: $965.00. High: $1,550.00). These prices are above the national average. This information is provided by multiple service providers and open marketplaces. Upsolve is free.

Where is the cheapest bankruptcy lawyer?

New York bankruptcy lawyers who charge an hourly fee typically break down the hour into either 15-minute or 6-minute increments. That may sound like a small difference, but it adds up. Take, for example, a 5-minute phone call. A lawyer who charges $200 an hour in 15-minute increments will want $50 for that 5-minute conversations, while a lawyer ...

How does a bankruptcy lawyer get paid and how m?

Sep 26, 2021 · How Much Tax Will You Have To Pay As A Bankruptcy Lawyer In New York City Ny. For an individual filer in this tax bracket, you would have an estimated average federal tax in 2018 of 22% and an added New York state tax of 6.33%. After the combined taxes have been taken out, Bankruptcy Lawyers could expect to have a take-home pay of $59,516/year ...

How can I pay for a bankruptcy lawyer?

Larger offices often charge up to $10,000 for a consumer Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you live in New York and are interested a free bankruptcy consultation please call 212-244-2882 anytime. The Law Office of William Waldner only practices Bankruptcy Law and is always here to help you. This article is intended for educational purposes only.

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How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost in NYC?

Bankruptcy attorneys in New York cost between $965 – $1,550 The price of a personal bankruptcy attorney in New York is around $1,257.50 (Low: $965.00. High: $1,550.00). These prices are above the national average. This information is provided by multiple service providers and open marketplaces.

How much does a bankruptcy cost in New York State?

As of December 2020, it costs $338 for court fees to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 and $313 to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 13. You may be allowed to pay the filing fee in installments if you cannot pay all at once. In addition to the filing fee, you will likely have fees for an attorney as well.

Will I lose my house with Chapter 7?

If you do not have significant home equity and the mortgage on your home is still current, you will not lose your house if you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Most people who file Chapter 7 bankruptcy are able to retain all of their assets, which can include your house.

How much cash can you keep when filing Chapter 7 in NY?

If you are using the New York State exemptions the amount of cash you can exempt is $2,500 unless you own a home and plan on using the New York Homestead exemption. If you are using the Homestead exemption which can protect up to $150,000 in home equity in New York City then you may only exempt $2,500 in cash.

Hiring a New York Bankruptcy Attorney by the Hour

Whether you are from Brooklyn or Albany or any other part of the state, if you decide to hire an attorney by the hour, you will probably have to pay a retainer fee, which is like a down payment. From then on, you'll likely receive monthly statements for the hours your lawyer worked on your filing.

Hiring a New York Bankruptcy Lawyer for a Flat Fee

Attorneys who handle routine matters, such as writing a will or filing bankruptcies, sometimes charge one flat fee instead of billing hourly. If you decide to hire a New York bankruptcy attorney for a flat fee, you should be clear on what's included and what is not. Often, related legal expenses, such as court filing fees, are not included.

The Cost of Hiring a New York Bankruptcy Attorney

As you can now see, you should ask a number of questions about legal fees and expenses while interviewing lawyers to hire. Here are some questions to ask that should help you get a handle on how much it may cost to file bankruptcy:

How much does bankruptcy cost in NYC?

The answer depends on whether you file pro se (without an attorney), with an attorney or pay a petition preparer to prepare your paperwork. I will try to outline the typical costs for each:

Filing Fees

The filing fees recently increased to $306 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, $281 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and $1,213 for a Chapter 11 filing.

Credit Counseling and Debtor Education courses

In order to obtain a bankruptcy discharge the Credit Counseling course must be taken before a case is filed and the debtor education must be taken after a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy case is filed. These courses can range from $0 to $500 each depending on where they are taken.

Credit report with public records search

In my opinion a credit report is one of the most valuable tools necessary to prepare a consumer bankruptcy petition. At my office we use a company called A Suite Solution, which provides an ultra comprehensive 3-bureau credit report as well as a thorough public records search.

Pro Se filings or bankruptcy petition preparers

If you are looking for the cheapest way to file for bankruptcy, you can file pro se or without an attorney. If you prepare your own paperwork the process is free. If you have a petition preparer your case will not be free. I have heard that these preparers charge from $200 to $2000 to “construct” your paperwork.

How much will it cost to hire a NYC bankruptcy attorney?

Legal fees vary from attorney to attorney. However, you should know a few things. First, all bankruptcy attorneys are required to report their legal fees charged for each case to the US Trustee. If the fee is too high they may be required to refund it to the client.

Look For Competence And Experience First

Experience doesn’t translate into competence – just because you’ve been doing something for a long time doesn’t necessarily mean you’re any good at it.

Get A Feel For The Lawyer

You’re going to want to make a few phone calls to get a sense for the attorney as well as the way they run their practice.

Expect To Pay For Advice

Lots of bankruptcy attorneys in New York offer free consultations in one form or another. That consultation is typically a very broad overview of bankruptcy options, and seldom a deep dive into your specific problem.

What happens if you can't pay your debts?

Being unable to pay your debts can be very stressful, especially if you are worried about being sued by your creditors or, even worse, you have already been sued and you are being threatened with a wage garnishment or bank levy. If you do not have the money to pay your debts, or you have already tried to pay your debts but creditors won’t accept your payments, you may be considering bankruptcy as an option.

Is debt a stress?

For most people, where there’s debt, there’s financial stress. The good news is that there are many options available for people who are overwhelmed by their debt and would like to be able to live their lives without being tied to it.

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

What is the same is the filing price. The filing fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New York costs around $335 to the court (additional attorney’s fees vary).

What are the advantages of filing for bankruptcy?

One of the key advantages in filing bankruptcy is making certain property exempt. New York law, for example, allows protection of your home, car, and other properties to a certain extent. But this is where it can be complicated and where the right attorney can help.

Is bankruptcy a good option?

Bankruptcy is a good alternative to losing all your possessions, but with the new laws making it harder to file in certain cases, hiring professional bankruptcy attorneys can save you a lot of time and money. It isn't always a good choice to file bankruptcy.

What can a bankruptcy lawyer do?

An experienced bankruptcy lawyer can assist you in weighing the risks and benefits of filing for bankruptcy, and can help you in selecting the proper chapter of bankruptcy based on your personal circumstances. They can also aid you in drafting and filing the legal documents required to file for bankruptcy in court.

What is the purpose of bankruptcy?

The primary goal of bankruptcy is to restructure and manage a person’s overwhelming debts. In some cases, such as those for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the purpose may shift to partially reducing or entirely eliminating such debts. Bankruptcy attorneys can provide a wide range of legal services to help their clients achieve these goals. Some examples of what a bankruptcy attorney does on a regular basis can include: 1 Ensuring that the client understands what bankruptcy is, how filing for bankruptcy will personally affect them and/or their business, and that they know what their legal obligations are if their petition for bankruptcy is approved by the court. 2 Making sure that the client complies with all the laws and procedural requirements associated with the bankruptcy process, such as attending the mandatory credit counseling courses and the 341 meeting of the creditors. 3 Gathering, drafting, and reviewing all documents and any evidence pertaining to the bankruptcy matter. 4 Offering legal counsel on any questions or concerns that a client has prior to, during, and/or after the bankruptcy petition is filed. 5 Explaining the rights and protections that a client has under the relevant bankruptcy laws. 6 Assisting the client with further bankruptcy issues, such as resolving disputes with creditors, converting their case to a different chapter of bankruptcy if necessary, and stopping creditors from harassing them after they declare bankruptcy.

Do bankruptcy lawyers charge flat fees?

Fee structure: Many lawyers will charge a flat rate when taking on a bankruptcy case. This is especially true in cases for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. This means that a client will have a general idea of how much a bankruptcy lawyer’s services will cost. It also means that the client will likely need to pay a portion of the flat fee upfront.

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