Filing for Bankruptcy in Ohio: How Much Does it Cost?

A common bankruptcy question we hear is, “How much does it cost to file for bankruptcy?” The cost of filing for bankruptcy in Ohio can be influenced by several factors, including the type of bankruptcy you are filing, attorney fees, where you live, the complexity of your case, and the details of your income and debts. Here’s what you need to know.

Factors That Increase Bankruptcy Cost

As a start, court filing costs are $338 for a chapter 7 case and $313 for a chapter 13 case. These costs include both the filing and administrative fees, and an additional $15 trustee surcharge for chapter 7 cases. The average cost of an Ohio bankruptcy lawyer is affected by the complexity of your case. The more complex the case, the more time is needed to work on it. Since bankruptcy attorneys are compensated for their time spent, attorney fees for what are generally simpler chapter 7 cases can range from $1,000 to $1,500 on average. But because chapter 13 cases are typically more complex, they can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $4,000. If your bankruptcy attorney has to come back to your case in the years after filing, more fees will be added at that time. 

There are some key factors that can affect the overall cost of filing for bankruptcy in Ohio, a few of these are:

• Income: Having more than one source of income, income above the Ohio household average, and filing for personal and business bankruptcies concurrently can bring on extra charges. 
• Amount and type of debt: Student loans, past-due taxes, a large number of creditors, child support, or any other non-dischargeable debts can increase fees when filing.
• Other factors: Stopping a legal action (a bank levy, eviction, and repossession of property that was used as loan collateral), having filed for other bankruptcies in the past eight years, or being suspected or accused of fraud can also increase the cost of filing for bankruptcy in Ohio.

One non-negotiable cost associated with filing for chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcy in Ohio is the required credit counseling course. This vital educational class helps debtors determine whether bankruptcy is the best way forward and must be completed within six months prior to filing bankruptcy. Costs will vary based on the course provider, and waivers are often available depending on your situation–contact us to learn more about our partnership with Allen Credit & Debt Counseling Agency.

Recovering from bankruptcy is not an easy task; it can impact your ability to get loans, as it affects your credit record for ten years. However, a chapter 7 bankruptcy will be discharged after a successful case petition. A chapter 13 case, when resolved, requires adherence to a loan repayment plan, whether a court reduces your credits or not. Including a credit repair course as part of your efforts to clean up your credit and rebuild your score can go a long way to getting you back on your financial feet.

Get Your Bankruptcy Questions Answered By An Experienced Ohio Bankruptcy Lawyer

Sometimes bankruptcy is the best way forward to get out from under unmanageable debt. Once you’ve made that decision, it’s time to choose a bankruptcy attorney. It could be tempting to go it alone, but that upfront savings could cost more in the long run, especially in complex cases that are difficult to navigate. Completing documents on time or facing a difficult creditor is best done with an expert on your team. Working with an experienced Ohio bankruptcy lawyer will ensure that the process is an efficient one, ultimately resulting in a more cost-effective bankruptcy filing–time really is money. 

For help with all things bankruptcy in Ohio, contact our Northeast Ohio Bankruptcy Attorneys–we’re here for you. Hausen Law is happy to serve all of Northeast Ohio, including the Akron, Canton, Cleveland, Wooster, Dover/New Philadelphia, and Youngstown communities. Contact us today to set up a free consultation or to inquire about our credit counseling and credit repair programs. We can help you to navigate bankruptcy and take the best steps for your financial future.