2018 Bankruptcy Filing Fees in Arizona
Bankruptcy filing fees and attorney fees will vary depending on the type of bankruptcy you intend to file, whether you’re filing as a business or as an individual and the amount of debt you have accumulated (having multiple creditors could potentially increase the cost). Arizona periodically changes the filing fees and the ones applicable right now will remain valid through 2018.
Arizona Filing Fees
More information about the filing fees can be found on the United States Bankruptcy Court District of Arizona website.
The filing fee for a Chapter 7 petition is currently 335 dollars. A Chapter 13 filing will cost you 310 dollars. Other bankruptcy chapters will be more expensive. The Chapter 11 filing is set at 1,717 dollars for 2018. A Chapter 15 bankruptcy (the least used type of bankruptcy – it enables international bankruptcy processes) filing will cost you 1,717 dollars.
If you are making a switch from one type of bankruptcy to another, you will also have to pay a fee. The switch from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 will cost you 25 dollars. The other options are less likely and more expensive (Chapter 7 to Chapter 11, for example, is going to cost 922 dollars).
Finally, there are fees for the reopening of a bankruptcy case. In Arizona, the reopening of Chapter 7 bankruptcy is going to cost you 260 dollars. The reopening of a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is set at 235 dollars for 2018. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy reopening will cost 1,167 dollars.
There is some flexibility when it comes to handling the filing fees. Depending on your income level and the amount of debt you have, a court could make it possible to pay the filing fee in several installments. You will propose the payment schedule and if the court approves of it, the payment plan will go into effect.
Keep in mind that a filing fee payment schedule can consist of up to four installments and the entire sum will have to be paid in the 120 days following the filing.
People in dire financial circumstances can request a complete fee waiver from the court. To get such a fee cancellation, you will need to show prove that your income is below the poverty line.
Attorney Fees and Other Factors
While the bankruptcy fees are easy to understand and they’re fixed, calculating attorney fees may be a bit more complex than that.
The fee structure is the first factor to consider. Some attorneys have a flat fee that will apply to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings. It may be possible to come to an agreement about installments with the attorney, as well. Typically, reputable Arizona bankruptcy attorneys will offer their clients a free of charge first consultation that can be used to address some of the most pressing questions about the bankruptcy (including the cost of the filing).
Attorney fees for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Arizona can range between 600 and 2,500 dollars. The amount of debt, the number of creditors and the complexity of the process will determine what the fee is going to be.
There is one more expense you will have to keep in mind. All individuals doing a bankruptcy filing will have to complete a financial education course. Bankruptcy debtor education programs will vary in cost, just like the attorney fees. There are online programs available for as little as 30 dollars but you’ll have to make sure these are being provided by a court-approved institution. A certificate of course completion will have to be filed in court alongside all of the other bankruptcy documents. Click here for information on how many times you can file bankruptcy in Arizona.
Knowing what the actual 2018 costs are will help you plan the financial aspects of a bankruptcy filing. If you need some additional help to do the calculation, get a free attorney consultation today. You’ll also be provided with more data about the waivers and the installment payment options.
