Filing for bankruptcy may seem like a drastic measure, but it’s actually a highly effective way for individuals to recover from severe financial difficulties and regain stability in more ways than one. The process of bankruptcy is designed to benefit both the debtor and the creditors involved in the case with a court administered application of either asset liquidation in return for debt discharge or debt reorganization into a manageable repayment plan. Whether you’re struggling with unexpected, sudden debts or you have accumulated debts over time, Behm Law Group, Ltd. provides the legal counsel and support you need to file a successful case for Chapter 13 bankruptcy or Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Pipestone, MN.
No matter what type of bankruptcy you file for, liquidation or reorganization, the court will require you to meet several requirements in order to submit your petition, including paying the current bankruptcy fees.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Fees
The filing fee itself for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $335. If your case is closed and you have grounds to reopen it later, you will have to pay another $335 fee.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Fees
To file a Chapter 13 petition, you’ll be required to pay a filing fee of $310. To reopen a Chapter 13 case, you’ll have to pay another fee of $310.
Any additional bankruptcy fees and information about putting together your petition are provided on the U.S. Court website, including all the necessary forms and files you need to file.
If you’re struggling so severely that even these initial bankruptcy fees are outside of your budget, the court offers two options. You can apply to pay the filing fee in installments or you can apply to have the filing fee waived completely. In order to qualify for an installment plan you have to state your inability to pay the fee upfront and you must be able to pay it within no more than four installments. To qualify for a waived fee your income must be 150% below the Minnesota poverty line and you must be unable to pay an installment plan.
In the event you can’t pay the bankruptcy fee upfront, it’s almost certain that you’ll have to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Because of case requirements and the fact that you’ll still repay some of your debts during a Chapter 13 repayment plan, filers with incomes too low for even bankruptcy filing fees are not expected to choose reorganization as a viable bankruptcy option. Conversely, if you have an income high enough to pay the bankruptcy filing fee, you may well not qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
To learn more about the fees involved in filing for Chapter 13 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Pipestone, MN, or to get started on your case, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.
