When a debtor files
bankruptcy they must pay a filing fee to the bankruptcy court, paid to the
Clerk of Court for the United States Bankruptcy Court. The filing fees are
currently $274 for a chapter 13 bankruptcy, $299 for a chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Each of these fees is broken down by the law into different components in the
bankruptcy court system that each factor of the fee pays, but debtors don't
have to deal with that.



The debtor's filing fees are charged on their attorney’s registered credit card
by the clerk of court when the attorney files the case electronically. The
debtor basically reimburses the attorney for the charge on their credit card.



The new bankruptcy law burdens the debtor’s attorney to investigate the
debtor’s affairs to ensure the information is as complete and correct as
possible when given to the attorney as well as filed with the bankruptcy court.
Keep in mind that everything is filed under oath as being true and accurate and
is subject to the penalties of perjury when filed with the bankruptcy court by
debtors.



For this reason, an attorney may use outside assistance to verify the
information of debtors, and with the court filing fees, those costs are passed
on to the debtor as well. Some examples are that I may pay to have the three
major credit reporting agencies checked because I have a service that charges
to import credit data into my file, which I charge approximately $50. I can't
guarantee that it's correct, but it's better than nothing. Also for your
convenience, we'll help you at our office by using an internet service (www.hummingbirdcreditcounseling.com
or www.bankruptcyinfo.org) to do your required credit counseling, or you can do
it yourself at home with the link on this website. For our help, the use of the
computers and our time we charge $35.



Also you have to pay the credit counselor’s fee, which Hummingbird in NC is
only $40-80 for the credit counseling class, then $19-50 per debtor for the
debt management class. Mr. Hardy’s fee structure usually covers these costs.



 Attorney’s fees depend on the case and
they can't determine what it costs based on what chapter it falls under. Since
all cases have unlike sets of facts, a different amount of creditors, a
dissimilar emergency that's taken into account, and other variables. Attorney’s
fees are usually a fixed fee, which in normal cases means that once you pay the
set fees and costs there's no other costs. Some attorneys publicize that their
fees “start at” a certain low amount, but once you're in their office they tend
to charge more. It's almost impossible to give an exact idea of how difficult a
certain bankruptcy is without a consultation. The amount of creditors you have
isn't even the biggest cost determinant!



A range of attorney’s fees is usually around $1000-1800 or so for chapter 7
bankruptcies. A complicated case for self-employed people, truck drivers, or a
person with many creditors or lawsuits could be as much as $3500, I've charged
less than $1000 though (that's why I say to come for an office visit and we
shall discuss it). Mr. Hardy’s fees are very reasonable for this area. Also,
the bankruptcy court shall know exactly what I charge and must approve any fee
arrangements.



For a chapter 13, the only upfront costs paid by the client directly to the
attorney are usually $500-800 total. The full court-approved fee of $3000 is
usually charged, but most of that fee isn't paid initially. For most of it, the
attorney fees are put inside the chapter 13 payment plan so that payment is
from you through the court over months or years. Since almost every Chapter 13
case has the same fee from every lawyer, it is wise to hire a lawyer with plenty
of experience. Mr Hardy has successfully represented thousands of debtors in
the U.S. Bankruptcy Court over 20 years. Mr. Hardy has fought for his clients
benefit and has had successful cases making and clarifying law reported in the
Bankruptcy Reporter. Other attorneys use Mr. Hardy’s reported successful cases
to influence bankruptcy judges around the nation to rule in their client’s
favor.



For all attorneys’ fees our office will give you enough time to make payments
on attorney’s fees and costs after a down payment. You just pay all of the
initial costs before we actually set up the bankruptcy paperwork. We'll let you
refer creditors to us only after the down payment is paid. You must pay your
fees with cash, money orders, certified checks or other similar methods. Our office
doesn't take debit cards or credit cards from any debtor for bankruptcy fees
unless it is someone else’s, such as a relative or friend.

The court has approved
a fee structure for work done, usually motions, after the filing of the
bankruptcy. Most debtors never need any other work done, but sometimes during
the bankruptcy issues arise in a debtor’s life that require changes while the
bankruptcy is in progress      (car
wrecks, job loss, deaths, etc.). Mr Hardy will discuss these situations with
you if anything arises. Usually, the additional fees can be paid through the
Chapter 13 bankruptcies and no additional payment is required of the debtor.

All moneys paid to Mr.
Hardy are applied to attorney’s fees first, are considered earned when paid and
are non-refundable.