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Bankruptcy Fees
A primary worry for many people considering ways to fix their financial problems is how much any possible solution will cost. This is a completely valid concern that must be looked at closely. Many debt consolidation services or other methods to pay down debt often come with unsustainable interest rates or fees that can put a person in a worse situation.
When it comes to bankruptcy in Kentucky and Ohio, there are definitely fees involved, but it is important to look at the bigger picture and analyze if the process will allow for you to get out of debt and on with your life. For many people, bankruptcy is the only option they have.
Despite realizing that filing for bankruptcy is necessary, many of these same people may avoid filing the necessary paperwork out of concerns about the costs involved. The truth is that filing fees in these cases are usually quite reasonable considering the complexity of the situations.
Certain court costs are mandatory, regardless of whether you have an attorney or are filing pro se. With the help of a qualified bankruptcy lawyer, you will be able to approach this difficult and stressful process in the most effective manner while keeping the costs at a minimum.
Bankruptcy Fees in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky
Much like any other service profession, attorneys charge clients based on their experience and ability, along with the specific complexity of the case itself.
Choosing legal representation based entirely on a low fee rather than experience may lead to unfortunate consequences if that lawyer is unable to provide the level of service necessary to help you achieve your goals.
Steiden Law Offices has made it a primary concern to consistently propose rates that are sustainable and realistic. We offer the professionalism and productivity equal to more expensive avenues of representation, while basing our rates on the complexity of the case and nothing more.
Our Cinccinnati Bankruptcy law firm understands that people considering bankruptcy are in desperate situations and we will make sure to take immediate action so that you can start resolving this issue right away.
In addition to our two Ohio locations in Cincinnati and Mainesville, Steiden Law Offices also has two Kentucky locations in Florence and Covington. Along with serving the residents of these great cities, we also proudly represent those dealing with debt issues in Erlanger, Edgewood, Elsmere, Villa Hills, Fort Mitchell, Taylor Mill, Fort Wright, Ludlow and many other communities.
Call or send an online message to schedule a risk-free consultation to go over the details of your case with Steiden Law Offices today. Learn more about bankruptcy and determine if this is the most favorable path for your situation.
Ohio and Kentucky Bankruptcy Fees Overview
- What court costs can I expect to pay in Ohio?
- How are bankruptcy fees priced in Kentucky?
- Does credit counseling cost anything?
- What will your firm charge for legal representation?
- Where can I learn more about bankruptcy court costs?
Filing Fees in United States Bankruptcy Court Southern District of Ohio
The Bankruptcy Court for Ohio’s Southern District has the following schedule for filing fees. These fees are payable by cash, law firm check, trustee's check, certified check, cashier's check, money order, or a court-approved credit card from a party other than the debtor.
|
Item |
Fee |
|
Adversary Proceeding |
$350 |
|
Amended Schedules |
$30 (charged to add creditors, delete creditors, change the amount of a debt, or change the classification of a debt; no fee to change address of a listed creditor or to add the name and address of an attorney for a creditor already listed on the original schedules) |
|
Appeal – Notice of Appeal or Cross Appeal |
$298 (total fee is comprised of $5 Notice of Appeal / Cross Appeal; Docketing a proceeding on appeal/review from final judgment is $293) |
|
Authorized Direct Appeal or Cross Appeal |
$207 (Filer must first file the direct appeal or cross appeal for a fee of $298; once the direct appeal is authorized, additional $207 is due) |
|
Chapter 7 – New or Split Case |
$335 ($245 Filing Fee; $75 Administrative Fee; $15 Trustee Fee) |
|
Chapter 13 – New or Split Case |
$310 ($235 Filing Fee; $75 Administrative Fee) |
|
Chapter 7 – Reopening |
$260 ($245 Filing Fee; $15 Trustee Fee; the fee does not apply if redaction of a record already filed in a case is the only reason for reopening) |
|
Chapter 13 – Reopening |
$235 (Fee does not apply if redaction of a record already filed in a case is the only reason for reopening) |
|
Conversion from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 |
$15 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 12 to Chapter 7 |
$60 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 12 to Chapter 13 |
$35 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 |
$25 |
|
Conversion of one Joint Debtor from a Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7 |
$335 |
|
Document Certification |
$11 per document |
|
Document Exemplification |
$21 |
|
Electronic Copies |
$0.10 per page |
|
Filing a Transfer of Claim |
$25 per claim transferred (fee applies to partial claim transfers and amendments to claim transfers) |
|
Microfilm / Microfiche of Court Record |
$5 |
|
Motion to Redact Filing |
$25 |
|
Motion to Lift Stay, Compel Abandonment, Withdraw the Reference, or Sell Property Free and |
$176 (fee to file a motion to sell property cannot be deferred by Trustees) |
|
Any payment returned or denied for insufficient funds |
$53 |
|
Photocopies |
$0.50 per page |
|
Registration of a Foreign Judgment |
$46 (includes filing or indexing paper not in a case or proceeding from which a filing fee has been paid) |
|
Retrieval of one box from Federal Records Center |
$64 (for retrievals involving multiple boxes, $39 for each additional box) |
|
Search of Record or Indexes |
$30 per name or item |
|
Tape Duplication |
$30 |
|
Witness Fee |
$40 |
|
Witness Mileage Rate |
$0.56 per mile |
Filing Fees in United States Bankruptcy Court Eastern District of Kentucky
In Kentucky, funds owed to the court must be paid within 24 hours. The court prefers electronic payments made with an attorney's credit card or debit card, but also accepts payments made by money order, certified check, cashier's check, cash, or checks drawn on an attorney's account, a debtor-in-possession account, or a company account. Personal checks or checks drawn on a debtor's account are not acceptable forms of payment.
For an adversary proceeding, the complaint filing fee is $350 if:
- The debtor-in-possession is the plaintiff and if the estate has sufficient assets;
- The trustee is the plaintiff and the estate has sufficient assets; or
- The United States Trustee, acting as trustee, is the plaintiff and the estate has sufficient assets.
The courts require no charge for an adversary proceeding if:
- The debtor is the plaintiff;
- The United States Trustee, individually, is the plaintiff;
- The United States of America is the plaintiff; or
- A child support creditor or their representative is the plaintiff (Form B281 is required).
All other fees in Kentucky are as follows:
|
Item |
Fee |
|
Chapter 7 Filing Fee |
$335 if paid in full or four installments of $83.75 ($245 filing fee; $75 administrative fee; $15 trustee fee) |
|
Chapter 13 Filing Fee |
$310 if paid in full or four installments of $77.50 ($235 filing fee; $75 administrative fee) |
|
Amendments |
$30 (includes amendments to mailing lists of creditors) |
|
Appeal |
$298 ($293 filing fee and $5 notice fee) |
|
Cross Appeal |
$298 ($293 filing fee and $5 notice fee) |
|
Direct Appeal |
$505 ($298 due at filing and additional $207 due upon notice of authorization from Court of Appeals) |
|
Direct Cross Appeal |
$505 ($298 due at filing and additional $207 due upon notice of authorization from Court of Appeals) |
|
Certification of Copies |
$11 |
|
Claims Transfer Fee |
$25 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 11 to Chapter 7 |
$15 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 12 to Chapter 7 |
$60 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 13 to Chapter 7 |
$25 |
|
Conversion from Chapter 12 to Chapter 13 |
No Charge |
|
Copy Charges |
$0.50 per page |
|
Copy of Audio Recording of Court Proceeding |
$30 |
|
Exemplification of Copies |
$21 |
|
Filing a Document Unrelated to a Pending Case or Proceeding |
$46 (includes registering a judgment from another district) |
|
Foreign Deposition Subpoena |
$46 (fee not charged for blank subpoenas; fee is charged only when the Clerk’s Office actually issues the foreign deposition subpoena) |
|
Involuntary Chapter 7 |
$335 ($245 filing fee; $75 administrative fee; and $15 trustee fee) |
|
Motion for Relief |
$176 (No Charge if the movant is a child support creditor or their representative, although Form B281 is required) |
|
Motion for Relief from Co-Debtor Stay |
No Charge |
|
Motion to Compel Abandonment |
$176 |
|
Motion to Split / Bifurcate / Deconsolidate a Joint Case – Chapter 7 |
$335 ($245 filing fee; $75 administrative fee; and $15 trustee fee) |
|
Motion to Split / Bifurcate / Deconsolidate a Joint Case – Chapter 13 |
$310 ($345 filing fee and $75 administrative fee) |
|
Motion to Reopen Case – Chapter 7 |
$260 ($245 filing fee and $15 trustee fee) |
|
Motion to Reopen Case – Chapter 13 |
$235 |
|
Motion to Redact a Filed Record |
$25 per affected case |
|
Motion to Sell Property of the Estate Free and Clear of Liens |
$176, due upon filing of the motion |
|
Motion to Withdraw Reference |
$176 (No Charge if the movant is a child support creditor or their representative, although Form B281 is required) |
|
Record Search |
$30 per name / item searched |
|
Retrieval of Record from National Archives |
$64 for one record or box ($39 for each additional box) |
|
Returned Payment Charge |
$53 |
Credit Counseling Course
The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA) of 2005 states, with limited exceptions, that people who plan to file for bankruptcy protection must get credit counseling from a government-approved organization within 180 days before they file.
A counseling session with an approved organization should include an analysis of your personal financial situation and a personal budget plan. A typical counseling session should last about 60 to 90 minutes, and could take place in person, on the phone, or through a website. The counseling organization is required to provide services free of charge for those who are unable to afford the course.
If you cannot afford to pay a fee for credit counseling, you must request a fee waiver from the counseling organization before the session begins. Otherwise, you may be charged a fee for the counseling, which will generally be about $50, depending on where you live, the types of services you receive, and other factors. The organization is required to disclose any fees with you before starting the counseling session.
Once you have completed the required counseling, you must get a certificate as proof. To be certain that you receive the certificate from a counseling organization that is approved in the district where you are filing for protection, you can check the United States Trustee Program website. Credit counseling organizations are not supposed to charge an extra fee for the certificate.
Our Attorney Fees for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Two costs are involved in a bankruptcy filing: Court costs charged by the Bankruptcy Court, and legal fees charged by our firm. Steiden Law Offices offers rates that allow you to focus your energy on getting through the bankruptcy process and not worry about how you are going to pay to file for bankruptcy.
When it comes to legal fees, Steiden Law Offices works on an arrangement that is realistic for all parties involved. The law firm's services for a Chapter 7 filing start at $950.00 (plus court costs), and this fee must be paid before any filing as it is a violation of the Bankruptcy Code for lawyers to receive any payments after a Chapter 7 case has been filed.
Depending on the complexity of the issues, this fee may be higher, but this will be determined during your consultation.
For Chapter 13 cases, Steiden Law Offices offers our attorney services starting at $700.00 (plus court costs of $313.00). The balance of the fees are reviewed and approved by the Court, and paid through the Chapter 13 case. The fees vary from case-to-case. In some circumstances, we may charge no legal fees to file the case, placing all of the fees inside the case as part of your payment plan.
Court costs and case expenses will be the responsibility of the client.
Bankruptcy Fees Legal Resources
United States Trustee Program – This agency of the Department of Justice is responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees. You can find information about the program and the federal bankruptcy system in general on this website.
Federally Approved Credit Counseling – Ohio – This is a list of credit counseling agencies serving Ohio approved by the United States Department of Justice..
Kentucky Federally Approved Credit Counseling – This is a list of credit counseling agencies serving Kentucky approved by the United States Department of Justice.
Find an Ohio Bankruptcy Lawyer
If you are currently considering bankruptcy, now is the time to schedule a free consultation with an experienced Cincinnati bankruptcy attorney to see what chapter of protection you qualify for. With a strict adherence to providing great value for clients who need to keep their expenses low, Steiden Law Offices offer competitive rates that are sustainable yet commensurate with their extensive experience.
The initial consultation and bankruptcy filing process is so simple that it frequently leads to many clients lamenting about how they "should have started this sooner." Our firm is committed to helping guide you through your filing while making certain that you are well taken care of. Intently focused on efficiency while maintaining quality, we have a quick response time coupled with precise representation.
Although it is very easy to ignore your legal financial issues or turn a blind eye to your increasing debt, hoping the problem will eventually fix itself is not a realistic solution. In most every case, it is a disastrous one.
Just like any problem in life, it is best to meet your own dilemma head on and do everything in your power to make sure that you are positioned to benefit from the bankruptcy process and move on with your life. Denying the problem will only exacerbate the situation and lead to a more difficult road in the future.
Steiden Law Offices is ready and willing to immediately begin working for you and finding solutions to your legal financial woes. With more than two decades of experience and over 10,000 successful case filings, our firm has the legal knowledge and courtroom know-how to effectively represent you throughout every step.
We understand the situation you are in and will do everything in our power to help you end this process feeling stronger than you were when you came in. To schedule a free consultation that will allow us to go over the specifics of your bankruptcy situation, call or send an online message today. Steiden Law Offices proudly serves individuals throughout Kentucky and Ohio, including Hamilton County, Kenton County, and Boone County.
