If you have been having financial difficulties to the point of needing to file bankruptcy, you are probably wondering how to pay the fees to do so. You will need to pay your attorney, and then there will be filing fees to the court. When filing a Chapter 7, all fees will need to be paid upfront. If filing a Chapter 13, you may be able to have the cost spread out with your other debts. Here are a few options for covering the costs of bankruptcy.

Legal Clinics

Many jurisdictions offer free legal clinics. While this will not provide you with an attorney for the duration of the bankruptcy, it will give you help in preparing the paperwork. You should be prepared to make a few appointments with the clinic. The first visit should explain the whole process to you and tell you what documents you need. Meet again once you have the documents and have filled out the paperwork. Having a lawyer look over everything before being filed could make the difference in having your petition approved.

Pro Bono Lawyer

While it may be hard to believe, many lawyers do pro bono work. In fact, the American Bar Association suggests that every member contribute to society by preforming at least 50 hours of pro bono work annually. Of course, it might take a bit of time and research to find an attorney willing to take on your case. Also, even if the lawyer agrees to reduce or eliminate his fees, you may still have to pay for the credit counseling and any court filing fees.

Apply to Have Fees Waived

If you are in dire need, and there is absolutely no way for you to pay any of the fees to the court or the credit counseling company, you can apply to have the fees waived. It is usually best to have a pro bono attorney or someone from legal aid help with the waiver application. It should be noted that a waiver is reserved for people with no assets, very little income and no way of improving their financial situation in the foreseeable future.

Filing bankruptcy is not something to be considered lightly. The first step should always be to talk with a bankruptcy attorney, most will give you a free initial consultation. He or she may be able to give you advice on alternatives to bankruptcy that will be better for your credit reports. If you find yourself in need of bankruptcy advice, see http://www.tblakelaw.com or visit a local bankruptcy attorney.