How to File Bankruptcy for Cheap in Spokane, Washington
Filing for bankruptcy has both short- and long-term costs. In addition to the immediate cost of bankruptcy filing fees, attorney fees and possible bankruptcy payments, your credit report will be damaged for up to 10 years. If you can even get loans in the future, they will typically be at higher interest rates, adding to the overall cost of bankruptcy. In Spokane, Washington, the bankruptcy process is similar to other states in the country, as bankruptcy follows federal laws. With some planning, you can reduce the initial costs of bankruptcy in Spokane.
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Instructions
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Get free bankruptcy consultations. There are many bankruptcy attorneys in the Spokane area, and many offer free consultations whether or not you ultimately hire them. You can meet with as many attorneys as you like, so use this time to gather all the information you can from professionals who are experts in Washington bankruptcy law.
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File pro se. Although the United States Courts recommend that you hire a competent attorney, the law allows you to file for bankruptcy without an attorney, or pro se. As bankruptcy lawyers typically charge from $750 to $3,000 for a bankruptcy case, handling all of the paperwork yourself will eliminate what is typically the highest expense when filing for bankruptcy.
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Choose Chapter 7 over Chapter 13. While the Chapter 13 filing fee is only $274, versus the $299 required to file Chapter 7, the long-term cost of a Chapter 13 is usually greater than that of a Chapter 7. In addition to court filing fees, a Chapter 13 bankruptcy requires you to make payments to creditors for as long as five years, and three years at a minimum. In a Chapter 7, you make no payments to creditors and usually obtain a discharge in three to six months.
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Download free bankruptcy forms. While some attorneys or document processors may charge you for bankruptcy forms, you can download them for free at the United States Courts website. You can also get free forms from your local bankruptcy clerk, and oftentimes from your district court website.
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Apply for a fee waiver. If you have sufficiently low income to qualify, you do not even have to pay the filing fee for a Chapter 7 case. If your income is less than 150 percent of the poverty level for your state, you may be granted a fee waiver. If not, you can still apply to pay the fee in installments.
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Deliver documents in person. All bankruptcy courts have an intake window where you can deliver your petition in person rather than through the mail. If you are sufficiently close to the Spokane courthouse and can find free or inexpensive parking, you will not have to pay the postage to mail your petition to the court or to have a stamped copy returned to you. As a completed bankruptcy petition can exceed 50 pages, this can be expensive, especially if you send your petition via registered mail or using other enhanced postal services.
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References
- United States Courts: Chapter 7 Fee Waiver
- United States Courts: Filing for Bankruptcy Without an Attorney
- Bankruptcy Information: Washington Bankruptcy
- Bankruptcy Law Network: How Much Does Filing for Bankruptcy Cost?
- United States Courts: Bankruptcy Filing Fees
- LawInfo: Free Consultations: Important for Bankruptcy Cases
