So you’ve decided to file for bankruptcy and you can’t afford the expense to file for it. The question is then often asked if you can file for bankruptcy for free. We will be discussing the possibilities and the process involved of going about filing for bankruptcy.

Filing for bankruptcy can be a very expensive process. There are three main costs involved. First there are the the attorney fees, next the court costs and filing fees, and last there are the credit counseling classes.

There are new laws that require you to go to credit and financial management classes to help you to avoid filing altogether. These cost about $60. It is possible to get the classes free of charge but it is difficult process. The filing fess cost about $300 but it is the attorney fees that are the most expensive. You may be able to get legal services for free. To see if you qualify for free or pro bono legal services you should contact your local bar association. There are legal clinics that offer these services and you can find information about them on court websites.

It is possible to file for bankruptcy for free. The forms for filing for free are available online from the bankruptcy court in your district. There is a procedure in the bankruptcy code that allows the debtor to ask for bankruptcy filing fee to be waived.

There are several criteria that will determine if you can file for free. They are based on how bad your financial position is. You will have to submit every bank statement you have along with any other documents regarding your monthly expenses. It will take a lot of perseverance and you may still not get granted the waiver.

Bankruptcy is a complicated procedure involving both state and federal laws. It is not advisable to file for bankruptcy for free because it may cost more to fix the procedure than to initially pay for legal advice and retain a lawyer during the process. The process is very technical and if you miss a crucial step you may affect your rights.

Bankruptcy cannot be erased from your credit report. If you see services that offer this, they are almost always illegal services and should be avoided at all costs. The best thing to do is build up a new credit rating from scratch.

It is always recommended that you use a lawyer to assist you through the process. The process involved of filing for free takes a lot of time and administration, but can you file for bankruptcy for free? Yes it is possible, but not recommended.

This is the third installment in our bankruptcy series. Be sure to check back for updates…

Filed under: Bankruptcy

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