How do I pay a bankruptcy attorney and fees when I'm already broke?

If a potential filer has no funds to pay an attorney, he may consider the following options:

• Borrow from friends or family
• Use tax refund
• Borrow from their retirement plan but only in a foreclosure case where there’s urgency to do so
• Go on payment plans if provided by the attorney

More paperwork is now required to be filed electronically with the Bankruptcy Court due to the 2005 Bankruptcy Law reforms. A Bankruptcy attorney’s fees are far less than other legal fees and it is often worth engaging an attorney because aside from their guidance, sometimes amendments to a filing are required. For example, if more creditors are discovered after filing, or additional information needs to be updated, then the bankruptcy attorney will make the changes with no additional cost to the client.

The bankruptcy fees to the court may be waived if your income is below 150% of the Massachusetts or Boston Poverty Guidelines, which is currently around $15,000. The Bankruptcy Court also allows installment plans as well.