“Bankruptcy filing, just $500!”
A lot of people come to this site by searching for “$500 bankruptcy.” It makes sense that someone who feels they are drowning in debt would want to shop around for the best price to file bankruptcy. After all, if you had the money to hire an expensive attorney, would you be thinking about bankruptcy at all?
Hidden costs of bankruptcy
If you decide you want to go the $500 bankruptcy route, that money is probably going to get you a filed petition, and nothing else. You might not actually get all the protection the law can provide.
No one is going to coach you through getting the necessary documents together, or help you come up with alternative documentation if your situation is complicated by business ownership or other factors.
A $500 bankruptcy isn’t going to include the filing fees. It costs $335 to file a chapter 7 petition or $310 for chapter 13, sums that are included in the flat-rate fee charged at Selby Legal, PLLC.
Forget having someone appear with you at the mandatory meeting of creditors: you’ll show up, bankruptcy petition in hand, not at all sure what will be expected of you. Many of my clients tell me that they don’t sleep well the night before their 341 meeting, but afterward they felt much better because I was there every step of the way.
There are other costs, like the debt counseling courses you’re required to take, which won’t be included in that $500 bankruptcy deal. The first course must be finished before you can even file, but it’s the second class that gets some debtors into trouble, because if it’s not completed then your bankruptcy will be dismissed instead of discharged, which means you will still have to pay off all your debts. With a full-service firm like Selby Legal PLLC in your corner, you will have someone checking in to make sure you remember all the many steps you must take to satisfy the bankruptcy judge..
In short, bankruptcy is a complicated process and you’re going to feel a lot better if you can get your attorney on the phone to answer questions along the way. The flat fees charged at Selby Legal PLLC are competitively low, but they are also an incredible value. You will have legal support every step of the way, and if anything unexpected comes up that can make all the difference.
What if I can’t afford your fee?
Remember, bankruptcy is designed to discharge (wipe out) some or all of your debts. Once you have filed, no one can try to collect those debts, and wage garnishments are stopped for the duration. Give us a call for a free consultation. If we determine that you’re eligible to file, there may be creative ways you can save up the modest legal fee.