Bankruptcy filings in the (United States~U. S.} are sharply on the rise and the need for knowledgeable bankruptcy attorneys is prevelent more than ever. National bankruptcy filings last year topped 1.4 million, rising from 1.7 million in 2008 based on the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. With this speed we might experience the amount of bankruptcy filing top 2 million in 2010 and the amount of bankruptcy attorneys and law firms offering bankruptcy increase as well to accommodate people filing personal bankruptcy. The world wide web is packed with bankruptcy lawyers and bankruptcy law firms advertising things like “ $100.00 get’s you started” and “free consultation” or “bankruptcy as low as” and so on, but beware of bankruptcy attorneys! When you see advertisements that stateadvertising “$100.00 get’s you started”, what do you really reckon you get for $100.00? You’re right, NADA! Also, if you are offered a free consultation demand that it’s with the bankruptcy attorney that’s actually going to file your bankruptcy. The most common type of bankruptcy is chapter 7, but since the utilization of the “means test” in 2005 filing chapter 7 bankruptcies is more strenuous today and more homeowners must now file chapter 13. While a chapter 7 allows someone filing bankruptcy to completely wipe out their debt a chapter 13 is a repayment plan, normally lasting 5 years. One problem with bankruptcy is that it’s not an exact science and large bankruptcy law offices, for example Legal Helpers have recieved a lot of complaints from consumers trying to get a deal when filing bankruptcy. The entire business model of these law firms is to get a $100.00 commitment so the consumer will not go anywhere else to hire an attorney. ”It’s ridiculous, what do you think a bankruptcy attorney is really going to do for you for $100.00” says James D. Zhou, bankruptcy lawyer in California and senior partner with the Law Offices of Zhou & Chini. Zhou goes on to say, “bankruptcy is complicated and consumers should look at paying a reasonable fee to a bankruptcy attorney to get a good resoluteness. Repugnant stories about these mega bankruptcy firms are abundant, these firms should consider being upfront and honest with their clients and tell them $100.00 is just to get them to commit to file bankruptcy with their office. Bankruptcy lawyers should typically accept payment plans but none we know of will file your bankruptcy petition unless you are paid in full”.
While the price for filing a chapter 7 throughout the country varies from $1200.00 to $4,000 depending on the county someone lives in and the complexity of the bankruptcy, the average cost for a chapter 7 in California is about $2500.00 and $4,000 for a chapter 13 bankruptcy. If you try to find a bargain basement bankruptcy attorney on line you might end up with a bigger problem than the reason you are filing bankruptcy. Typically when someone accepts they are going bankrupt is when they start their search for a bankruptcy attorney and price is their first priority. Expect to pay a fair and reasonable price for a bankruptcy lawyer and don’t think bargain basement is better, or $100.00 get’s you anything but a trouble. Most honest bankruptcy lawyers will allow you to make payments and then file your bankruptcy when you are fully paid up. Bankruptcy law firms like Zhou & Chini are all over the internet and typically won’t talk about their fees to file bankruptcy until they see the totality of your case. While a uncomplicated chapter 7 may not involve reaffirmation of debt or motions to avoid a lien it may only cost you $1500.00 in Riverside County but as much as $2,500 in Orange County or Los Angeles County. When you hire a bankruptcy lawyer or even consider a free bankruptcy consultation you should ask your bankruptcy attorney if he or she will be doing the actual bankruptcy filing or a paralegal. It might be worth a little more money to make sure your case is handled in good order so you don’t get your bankruptcy case dismissed and lose out all together. While you can file a simple chapter 7 with a paralegal, you will probably get better results with a bankruptcy attorney that provides you a personalized service and properly explain the path to bankruptcy. If you are a California resident and need to file bankruptcy chapter 7 or chapter 13 remember this article, and remember if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. To speak directly with a bankruptcy lawyer or just to get more bankruptcy information visit www.BankruptcyAttorneyinCalifornia.com