How Much Does it Cost to File Bankruptcy in Omaha, Nebraska?
If you are considering or preparing to file for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy money is probably a concern. The cost and fees to file will depend on your situation and complexity of your case along with the type of bankruptcy. Below is a breakdown of the filing fees, attorney fees, and helpful information about what to expect.
Key Takeaways
For readers who need the essential information quickly, here’s a summary of what you need to know about the cost of filing for bankruptcy in Omaha:
- Chapter 7 Cost: The total average cost for a typical Chapter 7 case is around $2,200. This includes court fees, credit report, and attorney fees.
- Chapter 13 Cost: Chapter 13 bankruptcy has a much lower upfront cost, often starting at $363 to cover the court filing fee and other basics. Attorney fees are then paid over time through your repayment plan.
- Beware of Gimmicks: Be cautious of ads promising unusually “cheap” bankruptcy filings. They often hide costs and can lead to you paying more in the end. A transparent fee breakdown is the sign of a trustworthy attorney.
- You Can Lower Your Cost: Being organized, gathering your documents promptly, and being completely honest with your attorney can reduce the legal time required, potentially lowering your total cost.
- Get a Clear Picture: The best way to understand your options and the exact costs for your situation is to talk to an experienced attorney. For a free, no-obligation consultation, call our team at 402-933-8600.
Average Cost to File Bankruptcy
It is important to understand the breakdown of the total cost to file bankruptcy because different lawyers include different services and fees in their quotes. When you have a full understanding of what is involved, you can truly compare apples to apples.
Chapter 7
In 2025, for the average person or couple filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Omaha, Nebraska, the cost is around $2,200. On the lower end, the total cost may only be around $1,900, while a more involved case might be closer to $2,400 or perhaps a bit more. These amounts only apply to relatively simple consumer cases and they do not apply to bankruptcies related to businesses.
Chapter 13
The initial cost to file a Chapter 13 can be as low as $0.00 in attorney fees (or higher if the case is more complicated or presents more risk). However, there is a $313 filing fee (this goes to the Bankruptcy Court) and a credit report of $50 (actual cost). Thus, the minimum down to file a Chapter 13 for qualified clients is $363.
Special Note: In rare and special circumstances, the Court will temporarily allow the payment of the $313 in installments over a few months but will not go lower than $75.00 up front (in Nebraska).
Beware of “Too Good to Be True” Offers
You may see advertisements for “cheap bankruptcy” or “$300 bankruptcy filings.” Be cautious. These are often marketing gimmicks to appeal to people who are in a tough financial situation. As an experienced bankruptcy attorney with over 35 years of practice, I can tell you that there is very little price difference between the various reputable law firms.
Some attorneys may quote you just the attorney fees, not including the other required costs. For example, if they say it will be $1,900 for attorney fees for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the real cost might be closer to $2,300 or more.
March 2021 Update & Warning
Beware of attorneys that have recently begun a new fee scheme for Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases where they state that upfront Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs only $75.00 to just a few hundred dollars.
The key to that working is the usage of upfront costs. The marketing scheme involves breaking the cost of Chapter 7 bankruptcy services into “pre-bankruptcy filing” work and “post-bankruptcy filing” legal work.
In this fantasy world, the attorney suggests to you and the court that very few legal fees were incurred pre-bankruptcy. The truth is most of the work is done pre-filing. Then, a moment after an electronic filing is made, the attorney requests that you sign a second contract for post-filing bankruptcy work.
Watch out! Expect to pay at least $2,400 or more! Don’t fall for this trick. In the opinion of many bankruptcy courts and bankruptcy professionals, the practice is unethical, inherently dishonest, and it will cost you more in the end. While it may be technically a legal practice, the Department of Justice, under its Office of the United States Trustee, specifically requires that all necessary pre-bankruptcy work be paid before the bankruptcy is filed. Otherwise, any balance for work completed pre-bankruptcy must be waived by the attorney.
In my opinion as a bankruptcy attorney, 85% of the necessary legal work must be completed before the bankruptcy is filed. Thus, to pay a significant amount post filing is not logical.
Bankruptcy Cost Breakdown: A Real-World Example
Let’s look at an example of the cost to file bankruptcy in Omaha for a simple and uncomplicated case.
Bankruptcy Background
- Jane Doe lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
- Jane is recently divorced.
- She has two kids, ages 3 and 7.
- Jane works full-time as a dental assistant and earns a salary of $45,00 per year.
- She also is supposed to receive child support in the amount of $850 per month, but her ex-husband is self-employed and is very spotty at paying her because of a struggling business.
- In the divorce decree, John Doe (her ex-husband) was ordered to pay the joint credit card debts that total $27,000. However, because John’s business is not making a profit, he has been unable to pay these creditors.
- Since Jane is also listed as an owner of the credit cards, she is getting sued and garnished. Jane just received a garnishment on her wages. The creditor will be taking 25% of her take-home pay next week!
Consultation With Bankruptcy Attorney
Jane sets an appointment to have a free bankruptcy consultation with one of the bankruptcy lawyers at John T. Turco & Associates, P.C., L.L.O. At the appointment, Jane lets the attorney know about the background information. The attorney asks a lot of other questions too:
- Are you being sued by any other creditors other than the one we know about?
- Do you own a house?
- Do you have a car loan?
- Do you have any tax problems?
- What about assets? What do you own?
The bankruptcy attorney determines that Jane’s case is really pretty basic other than a few little things. Obviously, the wage garnishment will need to be immediately stopped once the bankruptcy is filed.
Another big advantage that Jane has going for her in terms of getting an affordable bankruptcy quote is that she is very organized. She has all of her pay stubs going back six months, her bills are all in one folder and she also has her tax returns for the last two years with her. Jane is prepared and knows who she owes.
So, How Much Does Filing For Bankruptcy Cost?
Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Costs
Based on all of this above information, the lawyer quotes Jane $2,200 for everything related to her Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. But what is everything? Here is a breakdown for illustration purposes only:
Here is a breakdown for illustration purposes only:
- $338 – Bankruptcy court filing fee (required by federal law)
- $50 – Credit report (not legally required but it is crazy not to get one)
- $1812 – Bankruptcy attorney fees
- $2,200 = Total Cost for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (not including government required pre and post bankruptcy online courses). Each online class is $15.00 that Jane handles directly with a recommended vendor that we provide.
What if Jane files for Chapter 13, How Much Will that Cost?
- $313 – Bankruptcy court filing fee (required by federal law)
- $15 – Pre-bankruptcy credit counseling course (required by federal law), which Jane handles directly.
- $50 – Credit report (not legally required but it is crazy not to get one)
- $0 – Bankruptcy attorney fees (if Jane has reliable employment, is an ordinary case and her monthly Plan payment is withdrawn from her paycheck).
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: A Quick Comparison
Understanding the fundamental differences between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 is the first step in determining the right path for you. This table breaks down the key aspects of each.
| Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (Liquidation) | Chapter 13 Bankruptcy (Reorganization) | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | The full fee (e.g., ~$2,200) is typically paid upfront before the case is filed. | Low upfront cost (e.g., ~$363). Attorney fees are paid over 3 to 5 years as part of a court-approved repayment plan. |
| Timeline | A much faster process. Cases are typically completed and debts are discharged in 3 to 4 months. | A longer process. You make payments through a structured plan over 3 to 5 years. |
| Debt Forgiveness | Qualifying unsecured debts (like credit cards and medical bills) are completely eliminated or “discharged.” | Debts are restructured into a manageable monthly payment. Any remaining qualifying debt is discharged at the successful completion of the payment plan. |
| Asset Protection | A court-appointed trustee can sell your non-exempt property to pay creditors. However, Nebraska and Iowa exemptions are generous, and most filers keep all their assets. | You get to keep all of your property, including non-exempt assets. However, you must repay creditors an amount at least equal to the value of your non-exempt assets. |
| Eligibility | Primarily for individuals with income below the Nebraska or Iowa median or who pass a “means test,” showing they have little to no disposable income to repay debts. | For individuals with a regular source of income who can afford a monthly payment. It’s often used by those who don’t qualify for Chapter 7 or need to protect assets. |
The Dangers of Filing Without an Attorney
Filing any bankruptcy without a truly experienced attorney is fraught with trouble. Even for highly capable individuals that are professional DIYers, bankruptcy law is not easy to figure out and there are many traditions and customs that are not found in any written materials.
You can lose complete control over your assets (including your home and car) if you do not possess the experience of bankruptcy law. Moreover, there are significant variances between the different states and divisions of Bankruptcy Courts. While you might save on the attorney fee portion of the “total cost,” the risks often outweigh the savings.
5 Helpful Tips to Reduce the Cost of Filing Bankruptcy
Understandably, people needing to file bankruptcy are looking for the best deal possible. There are practical steps that a person can take to meaningfully reduce the cost of their bankruptcy and, at the same time, increase the speed and ultimate successful outcome of their bankruptcy proceeding.
- Get your necessary documents organized and sorted. One of the most important factors regarding the cost of filing bankruptcy is obtaining adequate documentation. If you have all of your necessary documents for filing bankruptcy ready to go, your bankruptcy lawyer will be in a much better position to offer a discount because it will take them less time to prepare everything properly.
- Be completely honest with your attorney. Seasoned bankruptcy attorneys and other bankruptcy professionals (including the judges and trustees) are very good at figuring out financial dealings. Piecing together a legal jigsaw puzzle takes time and more legal time results in higher costs. Therefore, to keep your bankruptcy costs down, lay out your entire situation right from the beginning so that your attorney can put together the correct strategy and procedures from the start.
- Move quickly to assemble the necessary information and other requirements. Filing bankruptcy is like taking a picture of a moving train. What is true today may not be true tomorrow. For example, if a person qualifies for Chapter 7 right now, he or she may not qualify (due to changes in income or the law) in a month or so. Getting a bankruptcy filed sooner rather than later (when a possible crisis occurs) keeps the costs down because there is less tracking and updating required for the attorney.
- Take time to understand the bankruptcy process. Educating yourself about the bankruptcy process by reading all of the information that your attorney provides to you and by reading this website. The more knowledgeable you are about the process, the better the process will go and the cheaper the case will be.
- Keep track of deadlines, legal requirements and court dates. By keeping track of your deadlines and requirements, your case will proceed much smoother and efficiently. By being timely with the various deadlines that are everywhere in the bankruptcy world, you will absolutely save on attorney fees.
We Can Help
In conclusion, bankruptcy attorney fees need to be fair and reasonable for the services rendered or else you will likely get burned in the end by someone that is unwilling or unable to provide the service and skill level that will get your case done right the first time and done quickly.
The best bankruptcy advice that I can give anyone is to actually go personally and meet with several Omaha bankruptcy lawyers and determine for yourself who makes the most sense. Obviously, the total cost of the bankruptcy is absolutely a factor in your decision making process. However, most people are surprised to find out that the best choice for a highly skilled bankruptcy lawyer is not more expensive than the other guy.
An experienced bankruptcy attorney can provide you all the details you need. Please call 402-933-8600 or contact us to request a free, in-depth consultation. We’ll walk through your options to determine if bankruptcy is a solid strategy for you and your family.
