Our Chapter 13 attorney fee is the Central District of California's RARA no-look fee: $7,000 for a non-business consumer case, or $8,500 where a business is involved. That number is set by the court's guidelines, not by us.
The part that surprises people is that most of it is paid through the plan over three to five years rather than before we file. The out-of-pocket cost to start a Chapter 13 is usually far less than the total fee.
What RARA actually is
The Rights and Responsibilities Agreement between Chapter 13 debtors and their attorneys is a court-approved document you and your lawyer both sign. It sets out what the attorney will do, what you have to do, and what the fee is. Attorneys who use it can be paid the flat no-look amount without filing a detailed fee application.
The upside for you is transparency. You know the number before you file and it doesn't move because a case got complicated.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Chapter 13 attorney fee, non-business | $7,000 |
| Chapter 13 attorney fee, business involved | $8,500 |
| Court filing fee, Chapter 13 | $313 |
| Credit counseling course | Roughly $15 to $50 |
| Financial management course | Roughly $15 to $50 |
| Credit report pull | Around $40 |
How the payment is actually structured
A portion is paid before filing and the balance rides in the plan, paid by the trustee out of your monthly payment. In many cases the up-front amount is a fraction of the total, which is the whole reason Chapter 13 is accessible to people facing a foreclosure next month.
Understand what that means for your budget, though. Unpaid attorney fees are a claim in the plan, so they're part of what drives your monthly payment. The fee doesn't vanish. It gets spread out.
Chapter 7 is cheaper, and that's the honest comparison
Our Chapter 7 flat fee starts at $1,850 plus the $338 filing fee, and it's paid before filing. If Chapter 7 fits your situation, it's the less expensive path by a wide margin.
Work that falls outside the flat fee
The no-look fee covers the normal course of a case: preparing and filing, the plan, the 341 meeting, confirmation, and routine communication with the trustee. Some work is billed separately and requires court approval:
- Motions to strip a junior lien, including the appraisal cost
- Defending a contested motion for relief from stay
- Plan modifications after confirmation
- Adversary proceedings
- Mortgage modification mediation
We tell you before that work starts, and any additional fee goes through the court.
“People ask why Chapter 13 costs four times what Chapter 7 does. Because it's four years longer. A Chapter 7 is done in about four months. A Chapter 13 is a relationship, and things happen in five years that need handling.”
Naomi Reyes-AshfordAbout the 2,400 cases
Naomi Reyes-Ashford has been admitted to the California Bar since 2006 and is a State Bar of California Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law, with roughly 2,400 cases filed. Certified specialist status requires examination, ongoing education, and peer review. It's worth asking any bankruptcy attorney whether they hold it.
Questions we get asked
Can I pay the entire fee up front?
You can, and it slightly reduces your plan payment because the fee isn't riding in the plan. Most clients don't have $7,000 available, which is generally why they're filing.
Is the filing fee payable in installments?
The $313 Chapter 13 filing fee can typically be paid in installments with court approval. Chapter 13 filing fees generally can't be waived.
What if my case gets dismissed early?
The attorney is paid only for the portion earned and approved, and the trustee stops disbursing on the fee claim. You won't owe the full amount for a case that ended in month three.
Do you charge for the consultation?
No. Consultations are by video and there's no charge for the first one.
What to do next
Book a video consultation and bring your last two pay stubs, your mortgage statement, and a rough list of debts. We'll give you the up-front number, the plan payment estimate, and a straight answer on whether Chapter 7 would serve you better. Bamboo Law Group, 9454 Wilshire Blvd., Penthouse Floor, Beverly Hills, CA 90212, (310) 555-0184.