Find a bankruptcy lawyer in Santa Ana, CA

Find bankruptcy lawyers in Santa Ana, CA

Q: How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost?

A bankruptcy lawyer costs $600 to $4,000 total, depending on the lawyer's experience, your location, the complexity of your case, and which type of bankruptcy you file. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges unsecured debt like personal loans, credit cards, and medical bills. Chapter 13 bankruptcy also discharges unsecured debt but creates payment plans for secured debt so you don't lose your home or car. Filing fees cost $338 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or $313 for Chapter 13. These fees are charged by the court itself and are the same regardless of your location.

Q: How long do bankruptcy cases take?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases typically take 4 to 6 months , as long as the paperwork is filed correctly and there are no major delays. Selling property to pay off debt may cause a short delay. Chapter 13 cases take much longer because they are contingent upon the payment plan the court makes for you. Most repayment plans take between 3 to 5 years .

Share a few details and we'll show you the best bankruptcy lawyers in your area.

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Find bankruptcy lawyers in Santa Ana, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best bankruptcy lawyers in your area.

Zip code

Top 10 bankruptcy lawyers in Santa Ana, CA

Clients agree: these Santa Ana bankruptcy lawyers are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Your bankruptcy lawyer questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thervo.

How much does a bankruptcy lawyer cost?

A bankruptcy lawyer costs $600 to $4,000 total, depending on the lawyer's experience, your location, the complexity of your case, and which type of bankruptcy you file. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharges unsecured debt like personal loans, credit cards, and medical bills. Chapter 13 bankruptcy also discharges unsecured debt but creates payment plans for secured debt so you don't lose your home or car.

Filing fees cost $338 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or $313for Chapter 13. These fees are charged by the court itself and are the same regardless of your location.

Can I file bankruptcy without a lawyer?

You are allowed to file bankruptcy pro se, or without legal help, but your case is less likely to succeed. Lawyers have the experience and knowledge necessary to file paperwork quickly and correctly. An attorney can also help you decide which type of bankruptcy is best for you.

When would I need a bankruptcy lawyer?

People file for bankruptcy for many different reasons, including:

Medical bills
Credit card debt
Unemployment
Divorce
Unexpected emergencies

If you are unable to pay off your debt, you may want to consider speaking to a bankruptcy lawyer and make a debt relief plan.

How long do bankruptcy cases take?

Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases typically take 4 to 6 months, as long as the paperwork is filed correctly and there are no major delays. Selling property to pay off debt may cause a short delay.

Chapter 13 cases take much longer because they are contingent upon the payment plan the court makes for you. Most repayment plans take between 3 to 5 years.

What happens to my credit after a bankruptcy?

A bankruptcy of any kind will show up on your credit report and stay there for a set period of time. Chapter 7 bankruptcies remain on your report for up to 10 years. After then, the bankruptcy will be discharged, and your score will go back up. Chapter 13 bankruptcies stay for up to 7 years, but your score may rise before then if you make consistent payments on your car or house.

How do I choose a bankruptcy lawyer?

Start by searching our list of bankruptcy lawyers, then:

Get 3+ estimates from different firms to compare.
Read reviews about previous cases on Thervo and Google.
Choose a lawyer with a good reputation and experience.
Verify that they passed the bar and are able to represent you.
Choose a lawyer who makes you feel comfortable and at ease.
Choose a firm that is conveniently located if possible.
Get a written estimate and contract before any casework begins.
· Follow a payment plan instead of making large payments up front.

What questions should I ask a bankruptcy lawyer?

When looking for a bankruptcy lawyer near you, consider asking the following questions:

How long have you been practicing law?
When did you pass the bar?
Do you give free consultations?
Are you able to take on new clients at this time?
What are your rates? Do you charge by the hour, or do you have a flat rate?
Will you give me a contract in writing?

Reviews for Santa Ana bankruptcy lawyers

Recent success stories from people in the Santa Ana area.

Milan M.

Very professional and easy to work with

NHT Law Group

Ben L.

I've been shopping around and most people I talk to are charging an arm and a leg. They also talk about money before they ask me about my situation and what I need. It's quite rare at Benari and Nguyen they actually care and advise on what would be best for your situation. It's hard to find people out there actually trying take time to consult with you on what will be best for you, not how they can make they can make the most money off of you. Also, very affordable prices. I highly recommend my attorney Chris. He's been great with all my BK needs and happy to answer questions.

Law Office of Chris T. Nguyen, APC

Ed B.

Shawn and his staff are very professional, courteous, responsive, helpful, patient, and personable. Any time I had any questions, needed assistance with docs, or needed to understand the process they were there to help right away. I would highly recommend Doan Law Office Escondido to any of my friends or family who might need professional representation with their own financial difficulties. Thank you Shawn, Mona, and Veronica you made this a very easy process.

Doan Law Office

Ruel M.

Effective, timely and pleasant

Katje Law Group, APC

Martha Catalina H.

Honest, reliable, reasonable and extremely professional.

Sánchez Siqueiros Law

Michael W.

Mrs. Desai has been an extreme pleasure to work with in every aspect of her field. She is professional, intelligent and I feel that she is looking out for our best interest in every way. She has great ideas that seem coincide with what we are thinking and also adds with better ideas and methodologies throughout the process. Roshni has the level of experience we were looking for as a Lawyer, a Real Estate agent and a counselor of financial family concerns and I am sure many more. I feel that she has the knowledge and credentials to back it up. It has been a real pleasure to work with her on all of our needs and issues that have arisen and she has come through in every way. Thank you Mrs. Desai for everything you do and have done for our family! Ervin Bright, Charleston, SC

Law Offices of Roshni T. Desai

R. C.

As in-house litigation counsel for an Illinois company with a national presence, John’s ability to crystallize the legal issues unique to California and our case were indispensable and critical to achieving a favorable result for all parties involved. It was a pleasure working with John and his team. Whenever I have an issue in California, he will be the first attorney I call for advice.

Delman Vukmanovic LLP

Kim C.

Our families experience with Craig Walkon, and his Law office was exceptional. We have never been through anything like this before, and every step in the process was explained thoroughly. Walkon 's Law Office accepted our case, after many offices turned us down. He was thorough, efficient and always had our best interest in mind. I would definitely recommend Craig S. Walkon Law Office to anyone that would be in need of his services. I am very thankful for the professionalism and support I was shown, as well as the results we received in a very timely manner. Hopefully, we never experience another problem like this again, however, Craig Walkon would be the first person our family contacted. Throughout the experience I felt comfort to know our interest was in the best hands possible