The cost to file bankruptcy in Washington is $338 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Washington 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 $700 – $1500, but the free bankruptcy cost calculator below should be able to estimate based on your exact city in Washington. We got this information from spending approximately $1,000 on PACER, which is public records database that contains bankruptcy attorney fees.
If you are like me, you probably wonder how you can afford the cost of bankruptcy in Washington 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 may range dramatically whether you are in Seattle or Spokane. 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
1. Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Washington
A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is often less expensive than Chapter 13 bankruptcy. That said, you often have to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on the Washington bankruptcy means test. As stated above, Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys in Washington can cost between $700 – $1500. 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 are filing (i.e. Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13)
- The complexity of your case (i.e. no asset vs asset)
- Your location (i.e. Seattle vs Spokane
- 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 Washington.
Attorney Fees in Seattle
Seattle is the most populated city in Washington with a population of 754,567. Bankruptcy attorneys in Seattle can cost an estimated $1,500.
Attorney Fees in Spokane
Bankruptcy attorneys in Spokane can cost an estimated $1,500.
Attorney Fees in Tacoma
Bankruptcy attorneys in Tacoma can cost an estimated $1,170.
2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Washington
Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys fees in Washington can cost $3,500. 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 pretty similar across the United States, not just Washington. 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).
Washington Filing Fee Waiver Guidelines
| # 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 Washington 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 Washington credit counseling courses and Washington 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:
Eastern District
- 920 West Riverside Ave, Room 840
Spokane, WA 99201 - 25 South 3rd St, Room 201
Yakima, WA 98901 - 825 Jadwin Avenue, Room 174
Richland, WA 99352
Western
- 700 Stewart Street, Suite 2310
Seattle, WA 98101 - 1717 Pacific Avenue, Room 3100
Tacoma, WA 98402-3200
Will Inflation Affect the Cost To File Bankruptcy in Washington?
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 the filing fee and the attorney costs in Washington.
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 Spokane or Tacoma or across Washington.
Would My Bankruptcy Cost Be Higher Seattle Than Tacoma?
You may live in a suburb in Washington and wonder if you should hire a local attorney or an account in a bigger city like Spokane to save on bankruptcy costs.
As Seattle has the highest population in Washington of 754,567, you may expect that the cost of bankruptcy attorney fees may be higher in Seattle than Tacoma.
While the cost may be higher in Seattle, there also may be more bankruptcy attorneys increasing competition and dropping prices. So, you actually could find that the total cost to file bankruptcy including bankruptcy fees could be actually much higher in your city than in Seattle.
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 Spokane, and find attorney costs vary between two attorneys.
The Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys often charge the same amount regardless in Tacoma due to the no-look fee (a normal 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 Washington 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.
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