The cost to file bankruptcy in Arkansas is $338 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy 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 $600 – $1250, but the free bankruptcy cost calculator below should be able to estimate based on your exact city in Arkansas. 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 Arkansas 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 Little Rock or Fort Smith. 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 Arkansas
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 Arkansas bankruptcy means test. As stated above, Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys in Arkansas can cost between $600 – $1250. 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. Little Rock vs Fort Smith
- 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 Arkansas.
Attorney Fees in Little Rock
Little Rock is the most populated city in Arkansas with a population of 197,881. Bankruptcy attorneys in Little Rock can cost an estimated $1,125.
Attorney Fees in Fort Smith
Bankruptcy attorneys in Fort Smith can cost an estimated $1,000.
Attorney Fees in Fayetteville
Bankruptcy attorneys in Fayetteville can cost an estimated $1,170.
2. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Arkansas
Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys fees in Arkansas can cost $2800 – $3000. 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 Arkansas. 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).
Arkansas 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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas credit counseling courses and Arkansas 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:
Western
- United States Courthouse
101 South Jackson Avenue
Room 205
El Dorado, Arkansas - John Paul Hammerschmidt Federal Building
35 East Mountain Street
Room 510
Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701-5354 - Judge Isaac C. Parker Federal Building
30 South 6th Street
Room 1038
Fort Smith, Arkansas
72901-2437 - J. Smith Henley Federal Building
402 North Walnut Street
Harrison, Arkansas
72601-3630 - United States Courthouse
100 Reserve Street
Room 347
Hot Springs, Arkansas
71901-4143
Eastern
- 500 West Capitol Avenue
Little Rock, AR 72201 - 617 Walnut
Helena, AR 72342 - 615 South Main Street
Room 312
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Will Inflation Affect the Cost To File Bankruptcy in Arkansas?
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 Arkansas.
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 Fort Smith or Fayetteville or across Arkansas.
Would My Bankruptcy Cost Be Higher Little Rock Than Fayetteville?
You may live in a suburb in Arkansas and wonder if you should hire a local attorney or an account in a bigger city like Fort Smith to save on bankruptcy costs.
As Little Rock has the highest population in Arkansas of 197,881, you may expect that the cost of bankruptcy attorney fees may be higher in Little Rock than Fayetteville.
While the cost may be higher in Little Rock, 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 Little Rock.
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 estimat
Why Do Some Attorneys Charge Higher Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Fees?
You may compare prices from two different bankruptcy attorneys in Fort Smith, and find attorney costs vary between two attorneys.
The Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys often charge the same amount regardless in Fayetteville 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 Arkansas 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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