Free Bankruptcy Filing and Free Bankruptcy Lawyers

Many people who are facing financial difficulties in California and who need to file for bankruptcy may not be able to afford the fees and costs to file. There is a common saying among people who need to file and cannot afford to file:”To broke to file for bankruptcy”. Unfortunately this is the reality for many people who are facing financial hardships. There are some options available for people who cannot afford a regular attorney in California to file for bankruptcy. One of the best options is to qualify for free bankruptcy filing through a legal aid society in your area. Depending on the organization they may simply assist you with completing the paperwork or the attorney may prepare your paperwork and file your case. Although I generally do not recommend filing on your own, if you cannot afford legal assistance you may be able to obtain assistance through a legal aid society. These organizations will generally have a free bankruptcy attorney who will instruct you on how to complete your paperwork or will prepare your paperwork and represent you. We have provided a list of organizations in California who currently offer services. We contacted each organization to find out information on whether they offer bankruptcy assistance. As we learn more information about more legal aid organization we will be adding and updating the list.

Organizations that Currently Offer Free Bankruptcy Help

Orange County Legal Aid Society- This organization serves clients residing in Orange County and Southeast Los Angeles. Currently it is offering free bankruptcy assistance through a bankruptcy clinic that explains the process of filling out the required paperwork to file for bankruptcy. You will need to fill out the paperwork on your own. An attorney will then review the documents to ensure that you have filled out the paperwork correctly.

Bankruptcy Services are currently being offered through the following locations:

Santa Ana Office
2101 N. Tustin Ave11834 E. Firestone
Norwalk, California 90650
Santa Ana, California 92705

Norwalk Office
11834 E. Firestone
Norwalk, California 90650(800) 834-5001

In order to begin the process you must call the organization and they will screen you for eligibility. Only people who meet specific income and eligibility requirements will be allowed to participate in the bankruptcy clinic. You need to have available a list of you creditors and debts prior to contacting the office for eligibility. If you are eligible to participate in the clinic then you will be contacted and scheduled for the next available clinic. Please be aware that you will not be represented by an attorney but will simply be assisted in completing your paperwork by an attorney.

Legal Aid Society of Los Angeles- This organization currently offers free bankruptcy assistance to individuals who qualify. Individuals who qualify for services will have their paperwork prepared by an attorney who will file their bankruptcy case. There is a waiting list and the waiting times varies depending on how many applications they have. To qualify you must call the telephone below and provide them information on your income and other eligibility requirements.

1102 Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019-3111
(323) 801-7991

Currently the only office providing services for the Legal Aid Society of Los Angeles is the Crenshaw office.

Inland Counties Legal Services-The organization offers free bankruptcy assistance based on income and residency requirements. People who qualify for the services will be represented by an attorney and will have their bankruptcy case prepared by an attorney. If you qualify you will be scheduled for a seminar that will provide information on bankruptcy and other options. You will be given the opportunity to have your case prepared by an attorney to file for bankruptcy.

715 N Arrowhead Avenue Suite 113
San Bernardino, CA 92401
(909) 884-8615

The only legal aid office currently offering free bankruptcy assistance is the San Bernardino location. Other legal aid offices that are part of the Inland Counties Legal Services group are currently not offering bankruptcy services at their location.

Legal Services of Northern California Executive Office: This organization is currently not accepting new bankruptcy clients but will begin accepting new clients on September 7th. If you are interested in filing for bankruptcy using this organization then you should have a credit report ready that is not more than 2 months old and call back on September 7th, 2010.

517 - 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95814 Office:
(916) 551-2102

Please be aware that generally all organizations will require you to pay the $299 filing fee for Chapter 7 bankruptcy unless you qualify for a fee waiver. Most of the legal aid societies will only provide service to individuals who reside within specific regions that they service and will not provide assistance in complex Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Another option that people can utilize to obtain free bankruptcy assistance is to contact their local bar association. Many of these organizations have attorneys who volunteer to provide free legal assistance to clients who cannot afford legal services.

Law firm of Southern California Law Advocates: Riverside County Bankruptcy Attorneys Long Beach Bankruptcy Lawyers