What are the fees to file Iowa Bankruptcy?
Attorney Fee $900
+ Filing Fee $299
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Total = $1,199 |
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We charge a fixed fee of $900 and your filing fee is $299 for a total of $1,199. If you are filing a joint petition (married or common law), you still pay a total of $1,199 since we only have to draft one petition. Both of you will need to attend the office appointment.
We do not accept payments because we do not want to become one of your creditors. And since attorney fees are discharged just like most other debt, any fees you owe us at the time of filing would be discharged. So, nothing personal, but we have kids to feed too and cannot work for free. Also, attorneys who accept payments spend a lot of time calling clients asking for money. This is time they cannot spend working on cases. We would rather spend all our time guiding your case to a successful discharge and none of our time calling and harassing our own clients for money.
We do not accept checks because when we tried that, we got a lot of bad checks. Once we start a case we don't want to close it without a successful discharge. That can be a challenge if the original check to us was bad. So, please don't take it personally but we do need cash or a money order for payment. Of course, when you come into the office if you decide not to go forward you do not owe us anything.
Many of our clients do borrow the money to file from family or a friend. That is fine as long as you pay it back. Some clients will stop making credit card payments and save that money until they have the $1,199.
Here is why some attorneys have to charge more than $900.
- They accept payments
Normally due to forces beyond their control, bankruptcy clients have difficulty making payments. So attorneys who accept payments end up spending a lot of time chasing their own clients for payments. Some even sue clients who don’t pay them in full.
- They use Packets
A typical bankruptcy packet is 49 pages long. You are required to list your property, all your debts, income, expenses etc. before the petition is prepared. We used to use these bankruptcy packets too. Clients hated them. They were confusing. They were inefficient. We quit using them.
We use efficiency to keep your fees, stress & hassle as low as possible. During your one office appointment we will prepare your entire petition and have it ready to file the following Thursday. You will not go home with a long packet to fill out and will not have to keep coming back to the office trying to finish it. No attorney can file your case until all payments are made since bankruptcy attorneys are discharged too. Even if you do make payments to your bankruptcy attorney, collection efforts can continue until all payments are made.
While you are waiting to file:
- If you will be filing within six months, go ahead and do your pre-filing credit counseling certificate.
- Just let your voice mail pick up. If you tell creditors you plan to file bankruptcy they won’t believe you. Or if they do, they just accelerate collection efforts to try and garnish your bank account or wages before you can get it filed. If you have judgments, don’t leave money laying around in the bank, it could be garnished at any time.
- Get organized. All bills neatly in order. Collection letters clipped behind each one. Keep your paystubs so you will have at least 60 days worth when you come in.
Email Jeff
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