According to the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys, the number of people filing for bankruptcy in 2011 has dropped as much as 30% in some states from 2010 to 2011. It speculates that the reason for the decline in bankruptcy filings may be due to the costs associated with filing bankruptcy, rather than an indication that people’s debts are becoming more manageable. In Minnesota, the court filing fee for Chapter 7 is $299 and the attorney fees in a typical Chapter 7 case can average $2,000 or more for a simple case. While bankruptcy attorneys should be especially busy in a downturned economy, their clients are scrambling to make mortgage payments and keep up with routine living expenses on less and less income, thus leaving little funds available for the expense of actually getting long term debt relief in bankruptcy.
However, the irony that bankruptcy is expensive shouldn’t prevent people from understanding the ramifications of debt and getting educated on their bankruptcy and non-bankruptcy options. Most bankruptcy attorneys offer free, no commitment consultations where they will review your circumstances and give you guidance and advice on how much bankruptcy will cost and how long it will take. The last thing most people want is to find themselves in the midst of a foreclosure, lawsuit or facing a wage garnishment and not having known there were options available to them to avoid that sticky situation, including filing for bankruptcy and sometimes options that don’t even involve bankruptcy. It never hurts to educate yourself especially if the only cost is a couple hours of your time.
Debts don’t go away fast, as we all know. Bankruptcy is your constitutional right to relief from struggling under debt. Find out what bankruptcy can do for you and then decide if it makes sense.
Wartchow Law Office represents consumer and business bankruptcy clients in Chapter 7, Chapter 13 and Chapter 11 business reorganizations.