The cost to file bankruptcy in Oklahoma is $338 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Oklahoma and $313 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy based on that US bankruptcy court fee schedule.
That said, are you going to hire an attorney? Are you going to apply for a fee waiver?
As of 2024, we found that the Chapter 7 attorney fee range can cost between $662 to $2000, but the free bankruptcy cost calculator below should be able to estimate based on your exact city in Oklahoma. We got this information from spending approximately $1,000 on PACER, a public records database containing bankruptcy attorney fees.
If you are like me, you probably wonder how you can afford the cost of bankruptcy in Oklahoma when it’s difficult to pay bills, especially starting in 2024, as interest rates and inflation are still an issue. Thankfully, most bankruptcy attorneys near you provide initial free consultations and take payment plans to help you afford your bankruptcy.
Many bankruptcy costs, such as the filing fee and the credit counseling courses, are relatively similar. That said, the cost of bankruptcy attorney fees could range dramatically whether you are in Oklahoma City or Tulsa. The purpose of this article is to provide you with estimated all-in costs:
- Bankruptcy Attorney Fees
- Bankruptcy Filing Costs
Estimate the All-In Bankruptcy Cost in Your Zip Code
We received the question of how much a bankruptcy costs in Oklahoma so often that we built a database of attorney fees. Use your zip code below to estimate the cost of bankruptcy in your city in Oklahoma.
1. Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Oklahoma
A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is often less expensive than a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. That said, you often have to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on the Oklahoma bankruptcy means test. As stated above, Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys in Oklahoma can cost between $662 – $2000. The cost may increase or decrease based on the following factors:
The bankruptcy lawyer cost is often based on the following attributes:
- Which type of chapter you’re filing (i.e., Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13)
- The complexity of your case (i.e., no asset vs asset)
- Your location (i.e., Oklahoma City vs Tulsa
- Level of attorney connection
- Attorney expertise (i.e., how many years of experience)
Here are some of the ranges of cost in major cities in Oklahoma.
Attorney Fees in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City is the most populated city in Oklahoma, with a population of 649,021. Bankruptcy attorneys in Oklahoma City can cost an estimated $1,500.
Attorney Fees in Tulsa
Bankruptcy attorneys in Tulsa can cost an estimated $1,200.
Attorney Fees in Norman
Bankruptcy attorneys in Norman can cost an estimated $1,170.
2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Oklahoma
Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys fees in Oklahoma can cost $1810 – $6310. The fee can depend on the district.
While Chapter 7 attorney fees have variability, many Chapter 13 fees are relatively similar based on no-look fees, a reasonable cost for the service provided. You may still want to see whether the attorney charges an hourly rate for any additional work after filing the Chapter 13
3. Bankruptcy Filing Costs
Bankruptcy filing costs are similar across the United States, not just Oklahoma. Here are the other costs to consider.
Bankruptcy Filing Fees
The US Courthouse has a fee schedule and a bankruptcy form that provides the filing fee.
The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fee is $338 ($245 filing fee, $78 administrative fee + $15 trustee surcharge).
The Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fee is $313 ($235 filing fee + $78 administrative fee).
If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may be able to pay in installments or it could be waived altogether. For more information, please see the Oklahoma filing fee information and the information below.
Oklahoma Filing Fee Waiver Guidelines
You may be eligible to have your Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fees waived if you are below 150% of Oklahoma poverty guidelines. For example, you can see the guidelines below for cases filed within Oklahoma in 2022.
# of People | 150% Poverty Guideline |
---|---|
1 | $15,060 |
2 | $20,440 |
3 | $25,820 |
4 | $31,200 |
5 | $36,580 |
6 | $41,960 |
7 | $47,340 |
8 | $52,720 |
9 | $58,100 |
* Add $5,380 for each individual in excess of 9. |
Mandatory Course Costs
When you file bankruptcy, you have to take an approved credit counseling course in Oklahoma and a debtor education course. You can often take both courses online. The average cost may is around $10 to $50 per course. Please note that the courses must be approved, so here is the list of approved Oklahoma credit counseling courses and Oklahoma debtor education courses that should also have the cost associated with the course.
Miscellaneous Costs
You may have to pay for transportation to the meeting of creditors at the courthouse, but most 341 meetings of creditors are still online even after COVID. You may also have to pay for a credit report for your attorney (although they may be able to help you with the credit report).
You can estimate the cost of transportation to one of the bankruptcy courts below:
Northern District
- Room 411
Tulsa, OK 74103 - 224 S. Boulder Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74103
Eastern
- 101 North 5th Street, Room 208
Muskogee, OK 74401 - PO Box 607
Muskogee, OK 74402
Western
- 200 NW 4th StreetOklahoma City, OK 73102
Will Inflation Affect the Cost To File Bankruptcy in Oklahoma?
With subsiding inflation in 2024, a question I’ve heard is whether inflation will slow to the extent that attorney fees may not rise. Let’s cover whether inflation may affect Oklahoma’s filing fee and attorney costs.
The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fee was updated from $335 to $338, and the Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fee was updated from $310 to $313, effective December 1st, 2020. Based on the very slight change, I would not expect the filing fee to negatively impact you.
You may see some inflation in attorney fee costs as inflation may force bankruptcy attorneys to pay more to employees and face higher costs of living themselves in cities such as Tulsa or Norman or across Oklahoma.
Would My Bankruptcy Cost Be Higher in Oklahoma City Than in Norman?
You may live in a suburb in Oklahoma and wonder if you should hire a local attorney or an account in a bigger city like Tulsa to save on bankruptcy costs.
As Oklahoma City has the highest population in Oklahoma of 649,021, you may expect that the cost of bankruptcy attorney fees may be higher in Oklahoma City than in Norman.
While the cost may be higher in Oklahoma City, there also may be more bankruptcy attorneys, increasing competition and dropping prices. So, you could find that the total cost to file bankruptcy, including bankruptcy fees, could be much higher in your city than in Oklahoma City.
One thing to be aware of is that most bankruptcy attorneys offer free bankruptcy consultations, so you can get multiple perspectives. Also, our bankruptcy cost calculator below takes into consideration those variables when providing you with an all-in cost estimate.
Why Do Some Attorneys Charge Higher Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Fees?
You may compare prices from two different bankruptcy attorneys in Tulsa and find attorney costs vary between the two attorneys.
The Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys often charge the same amount regardless in Norman due to the no-look fee (a standard fee for the services provided). That said, the Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney fee can vary greatly, so it’s important to understand what you are getting for the additional cost.
For example, let’s say you make $10,000 above the median income for Oklahoma and still want to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The attorney may then have to spend additional time looking over your expenses to see whether you would qualify for a Chapter 7 even though you are above the median. Additional attorney time generally means a higher overall bankruptcy cost.
Conclusion
As you can see, the cost to file bankruptcy in Oklahoma is often based on the city you live in and the type of bankruptcy you’re filing. The biggest variable that affects all-in bankruptcy costs is the attorney fee, which may range between $662 – $2000 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and $1810 – $6310 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
Hopefully, this article provides helpful information to help you understand the all-in costs to file bankruptcy with a bankruptcy lawyer. Please reach out if you have any questions or take the free Oklahoma bankruptcy cost calculator.
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