The total cost of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Washington DC at Steven C. Fraser, P.A. is $2,088 for a single filer or $2,338 for a married couple filing jointly. That includes both the flat attorney fee and the U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing fee, with no hidden costs added at filing or after discharge.
Most DC bankruptcy firms do not publish their fees publicly. We do — because financial transparency is exactly what someone in financial distress needs.
Total Cost Breakdown
| Component | Single Filer | Married Couple |
|---|---|---|
| Attorney fee (flat) | $1,750 | $2,000 |
| U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing fee | $338 | $338 |
| Total | $2,088 | $2,338 |
The $338 filing fee is set by the U.S. Judicial Conference and is the same in every federal bankruptcy court in the country. It is paid directly to the court and is identical whether you hire an attorney or file pro se.
The $1,750 / $2,000 attorney fee is a flat fee covering Chapter 7 representation from petition preparation through discharge. That includes the means test analysis, schedule preparation, claim of exemption planning, the 341 Meeting of Creditors (handled by phone or video), trustee inquiries, and post-discharge wrap-up.
What Is Included in the Flat Fee
- Initial consultation and means-test analysis under 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)
- Federal vs. DC exemption analysis (DC Code § 15-501 unlimited homestead vs. § 522(d) federal scheme)
- Schedule A/B, C, D, E/F, G, H, I, and J preparation
- Statement of Financial Affairs (Official Form 107)
- Pre-filing credit counseling certificate processing
- Petition filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
- 341 Meeting of Creditors representation (virtual, ~10–15 minutes)
- Trustee correspondence and document production through discharge
- Post-discharge debtor education certificate processing
What Is Not Included
The flat fee is for a standard consumer Chapter 7. The following matters are quoted separately because they require separate court filings or proceedings:
- Student loan adversary proceedings under § 523(a)(8) — typically $2,500–$4,500 depending on complexity
- Tax debt § 523(a)(1) analysis or related litigation
- Reaffirmation hearings if contested
- Stay-violation litigation under § 362(k) — typically taken on contingency
- FDCPA / FCRA enforcement against post-discharge violators — typically taken on contingency
- Small business Chapter 7 cases involving operating-entity assets
Payment Options
The full attorney fee must be paid before the petition is filed — but you do not have to pay it all at once. You can make payments at your own pace through our secure online payment portal (Confido Legal, IOLTA-compliant). We file the case immediately when the balance is paid in full.
For the court filing fee specifically, three options are available:
- Pay $338 at filing — most common option for working filers
- Installment plan under Official Form 103A — up to four installments paid within 120 days of filing
- Fee waiver under Official Form 103B — available to Chapter 7 filers whose income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines (read more in DC Bankruptcy Filing Fees and Fee Waivers)
How DC Compares to Other Jurisdictions
Chapter 7 attorney fees nationally range from approximately $1,000 in low-cost markets to $4,500+ in major metros. Within Washington DC, published rates among solo practitioners and small firms typically fall between $1,500 and $3,000 for a standard consumer case. Many large national firms quote a low headline price and add costs through document fees, monthly maintenance charges, or contested-matter add-ons that drive the effective total significantly higher.
The Steven C. Fraser, P.A. flat fee is set deliberately at the low end of the DC market because the practice is virtual — there is no overhead of a staffed downtown office to recover.
What About Chapter 13?
Chapter 13 is structured very differently. Instead of paying upfront, most of the attorney fee in a Chapter 13 case is paid through the court-supervised plan over 36 to 60 months. See the breakdown at Chapter 13 Attorney Fees in DC or the side-by-side comparison at Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 — Total Cost Comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is $1,750 the cheapest Chapter 7 attorney fee in DC?
Among published flat-fee quotes in DC, $1,750 for a single filer is at or near the lowest end of the market for full attorney representation through discharge. Some petition-preparer services charge less, but they cannot represent you at the 341 meeting or respond to trustee inquiries. The flat fee is set deliberately low because the practice is virtual — no downtown office overhead.
Are there any hidden costs?
No. The $1,750 attorney fee covers everything in a standard consumer Chapter 7 from petition preparation through discharge. The $338 court filing fee is paid directly to the bankruptcy court. The two pre- and post-filing education courses cost $10–$50 each from third-party providers (not Steven C. Fraser, P.A.). Matters outside a standard consumer case — student loan adversaries, contested reaffirmations, business assets — are quoted separately at the consultation.
Can I pay the attorney fee in installments?
Yes. The full attorney fee must be paid before filing, but you can make payments at your own pace through the secure online payment portal. When the balance is paid in full, the case is filed immediately. The court filing fee can also be paid in installments under Official Form 103A — up to four payments within 120 days of filing.
Do I qualify for a court filing fee waiver?
You may qualify if your income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and you cannot pay even in installments. For 2025, the threshold is approximately $22,590/year for a single individual or $46,350/year for a family of four. Fee waivers are only available in Chapter 7 — not Chapter 13. The waiver is filed using Official Form 103B and granted at the court's discretion.
How does the cost compare to Chapter 13?
Chapter 13 attorney fees in DC are higher because the case runs 3–5 years rather than 4–6 months. Steven C. Fraser, P.A. charges $5,499 flat for a standard Chapter 13 case, with $1,850 due upfront and $3,649 paid through the plan. The total cost difference reflects the longer duration and significantly more attorney time across plan confirmation, trustee correspondence, and post-confirmation modifications.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The consultation with Attorney Fraser is free and typically lasts 20–30 minutes by phone or video. No payment information is collected. Submissions through the website are confidential as prospective-client communications under DC Rule of Professional Conduct 1.18.