Chapter 7 Lawyer Fees in Boston
Chapter 7 lawyer fees in Boston, Massachusetts average about $2,250 — roughly 148% of the U.S. average and in line with the Massachusetts state average of $2,250.
What this typically includes
Means testing, preparing and filing the petition and schedules, guidance through the required pre-filing credit-counseling and pre-discharge debtor-education courses, and representation at the 341 meeting of creditors. The court filing fee, the course fees, and any adversary proceeding are billed separately.
Massachusetts lets you choose between the federal bankruptcy exemptions and Massachusetts’s own, so in Chapter 7 you can pick whichever set protects more of your home, car, and savings.
Chapter 7 attorneys in Massachusetts charge a flat fee that must be paid in full before filing, plus the $338 court filing fee. Massachusetts’s exemptions — especially the homestead exemption — decide what you keep, so they shape whether Chapter 7 is the right fit.
Get in touch with a chapter 7 lawyer in Boston
Browse these chapter 7 attorneys serving Boston. Give a call or request an estimate and connect with local firm that fits your case.
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About Boston, MA
With a cost-of-living index of 148% of the U.S. average and a median household income of $89,212, chapter 7 attorney fees in Boston generally land 48% higher than the national norm. The Boston area supports roughly 3,167 law firms, so there is real local competition for your case.
How Boston compares
Average chapter 7 lawyer fees, Boston vs. Massachusetts vs. the U.S.
Boston comes in about 48% higher than the national average for chapter 7 lawyer fees.
What affects chapter 7 lawyer fees in Boston
In Boston, the cost of living sits at 148% of the U.S. average and the median household income is $89,212 — both of which influence what local attorneys charge. Beyond location, these factors move chapter 7 lawyer fees:
- Case complexity — Many creditors, significant assets, or a business add work.
- Income & means test — Higher income or a failed means test can push you toward Chapter 13.
- Assets to protect — More non-exempt property means more planning before you file.
- Self-employment — Business income and assets complicate the schedules and means test.
- Prior filings or disputes — Adversary proceedings or creditor objections raise the cost.
- Local court practice — Customary fees and trustee practices vary by district.
How to choose a chapter 7 lawyer in Boston
Fees matter, but the right chapter 7 attorney in Boston also protects both your time and your result. Before you hire:
- Confirm the fee structure. Chapter 7 matters are usually a flat fee — one agreed price for the work. Get it in writing before you sign — our flat fees guide explains exactly what to look for.
- Look for chapter 7 experience. Choose an attorney who regularly handles chapter 7 cases in Massachusetts, not a generalist.
- Use the free consultation. Most Boston chapter 7 attorneys review your case at no cost — use it to compare two or three.
- Verify licensing. Confirm the attorney is licensed and in good standing with the Massachusetts state bar.
- Clarify what's included. Ask which case costs are separate from the fee and how they are billed — see attorney fees vs. case costs.
Average attorney fees in Boston by case type
National benchmarks adjusted by Boston's cost-of-living index (148). Open a case type for its full Boston fee breakdown.
| Case type | How it’s billed | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Car Accidents | Contingency | $2,950 | $8,900 | $22,250 |
| Divorce | Flat fee | $2,950 | $11,150 | $29,700 |
| Real Estate | Flat fee | $1,200 | $2,250 | $5,200 |
| Personal Injury | Contingency | $4,450 | $14,850 | $44,500 |
| Bankruptcy | Flat fee | $1,500 | $2,950 | $6,700 |
| Criminal Defense | Flat fee | $2,250 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Immigration | Flat fee | $1,500 | $5,200 | $14,850 |
| Disability | Contingency | $2,950 | $5,950 | $13,650 |
| Probate | Flat fee | $2,250 | $6,700 | $22,250 |
| Truck Accident | Contingency | $7,400 | $23,750 | $74,200 |
| Motorcycle Accident | Contingency | $4,450 | $13,350 | $44,500 |
| Bicycle Accident | Contingency | $3,700 | $11,850 | $37,100 |
| Uber Accident | Contingency | $4,450 | $13,350 | $48,950 |
| Property Damage | Contingency | $2,250 | $8,900 | $29,700 |
| Dog Attack Injury | Contingency | $4,450 | $14,850 | $44,500 |
| Insurance Claim | Contingency | $2,950 | $11,150 | $37,100 |
| Wrongful Death | Contingency | $22,250 | $89,050 | $371,000 |
| Uncontested Divorce | Flat fee | $740 | $1,800 | $3,700 |
| Family Law | Hourly | $2,250 | $10,400 | $29,700 |
| Child Custody | Hourly | $2,950 | $11,850 | $37,100 |
| Adoption | Flat fee | $2,250 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Prenuptial Agreement | Flat fee | $1,500 | $3,700 | $11,150 |
| Child Support | Hourly | $1,500 | $5,200 | $14,850 |
| Domestic Violence | Flat fee | $2,250 | $5,950 | $17,800 |
| Restraining Order | Flat fee | $1,500 | $3,700 | $11,150 |
| Guardianship | Flat fee | $2,250 | $5,950 | $17,800 |
| Surrogacy | Flat fee | $5,200 | $11,850 | $22,250 |
| Power of Attorney | Flat fee | $300 | $590 | $1,500 |
| Estate Planning | Flat fee | $740 | $2,950 | $7,400 |
| Living Trust | Flat fee | $1,800 | $3,700 | $7,400 |
| Elder Law | Hourly | $2,250 | $7,400 | $17,800 |
| Will | Flat fee | $220 | $590 | $1,500 |
| Defense | Flat fee | $2,250 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| DUI | Flat fee | $2,250 | $5,950 | $14,850 |
| Pardon | Flat fee | $2,250 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Expungement | Flat fee | $740 | $2,250 | $5,950 |
| Juvenile | Flat fee | $2,250 | $5,200 | $14,850 |
| Felony Defense | Flat fee | $5,200 | $14,850 | $44,500 |
| Clemency | Flat fee | $2,950 | $8,900 | $22,250 |
| Probation Violation | Flat fee | $1,500 | $3,700 | $11,150 |
| Misdemeanor | Flat fee | $1,100 | $2,250 | $5,200 |
| Security Clearance | Flat fee | $3,700 | $11,150 | $29,700 |
| Discharge Upgrade | Flat fee | $2,250 | $5,950 | $14,850 |
| H-1B Visa | Flat fee | $2,950 | $5,200 | $8,900 |
| Green Card | Flat fee | $2,950 | $5,950 | $11,850 |
| Citizenship | Flat fee | $740 | $1,500 | $3,700 |
| EB-2 NIW | Flat fee | $5,950 | $10,400 | $17,800 |
| K-1 Visa | Flat fee | $2,250 | $3,700 | $5,950 |
| E-2 Visa | Flat fee | $5,200 | $8,900 | $14,850 |
| Deportation | Hourly | $4,450 | $11,850 | $29,700 |
| O-1 Visa | Flat fee | $5,200 | $8,900 | $14,850 |
| Closing | Flat fee | $1,050 | $1,800 | $3,700 |
| House Purchase | Flat fee | $1,200 | $1,950 | $3,700 |
| Eviction | Flat fee | $740 | $1,800 | $4,450 |
| Property Tax Appeal | Contingency | $220 | $740 | $2,950 |
| Foreclosure | Flat fee | $2,250 | $5,200 | $11,150 |
| HOA | Hourly | $2,250 | $5,950 | $14,850 |
| Tenant | Hourly | $1,500 | $3,700 | $8,900 |
| Chapter 7 | Flat fee | $1,500 | $2,250 | $3,700 |
| Chapter 13 | Flat fee | $4,450 | $5,950 | $8,900 |
| Personal Loan | Hourly | $740 | $2,950 | $7,400 |
| Debt Settlement | Contingency | $1,500 | $4,450 | $11,850 |
| SSDI | Contingency | $2,950 | $5,950 | $13,650 |
| Social Security | Contingency | $2,950 | $5,950 | $13,650 |
| VA Disability | Contingency | $2,250 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Long-Term Disability | Contingency | $3,700 | $11,850 | $37,100 |
| Traffic Ticket | Flat fee | $150 | $450 | $1,100 |
| Speeding Ticket | Flat fee | $150 | $450 | $1,100 |
| Traffic Violation | Flat fee | $150 | $450 | $1,100 |
| Reckless Driving | Flat fee | $1,500 | $3,700 | $7,400 |
| Suspended License | Flat fee | $1,100 | $2,600 | $4,450 |
| Patent | Flat fee | $7,400 | $14,850 | $26,700 |
| Trademark | Flat fee | $890 | $1,800 | $3,700 |
| Workers Compensation | Contingency | $2,250 | $5,950 | $14,850 |
| Small Claims | Flat fee | $150 | $740 | $2,250 |
| Civil Lawsuit | Hourly | $4,450 | $22,250 | $74,200 |
| Consumer Protection | Contingency | $2,950 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Lemon Law | Contingency | $2,950 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Defamation | Hourly | $7,400 | $22,250 | $74,200 |
| Employment | Contingency | $3,700 | $14,850 | $59,350 |
| Discrimination | Contingency | $4,450 | $17,800 | $66,800 |
| Wrongful Termination | Contingency | $4,450 | $17,800 | $66,800 |
| Whistleblower | Contingency | $7,400 | $29,700 | $148,400 |
| Tax | Hourly | $2,250 | $7,400 | $22,250 |
| Business | Hourly | $2,250 | $8,900 | $37,100 |
| Medical Malpractice | Contingency | $37,100 | $148,400 | $519,400 |
Chapter 7 lawyer fees in other Massachusetts cities
Compare local chapter 7 attorney fees across Massachusetts.
FAQs - Chapter 7 attorney fees in Boston
Chapter 7 lawyer fees in Boston average about $2,250, with a typical range of $1,500 to $3,700. That is roughly 148% of the U.S. average, adjusted for the local cost of living.
Boston's cost-of-living index is about 148% of the national average, so chapter 7 attorney fees here tend to run 48% higher than the U.S. norm.
The figures here are local averages. For a number tied to your specific situation, request a free match with a chapter 7 attorney in Boston, or enter your ZIP code for a more precise estimate.
We take the national benchmark for chapter 7 cases and adjust it by Boston's cost-of-living index — about 148% of the U.S. average — giving a local Low, Average, and High of $1,500, $2,250, and $3,700.
Boston averages about $2,250 for chapter 7 lawyer fees, compared with roughly $2,250 across Massachusetts and $1,500 nationally.
Many chapter 7 attorneys in Boston offer a free initial consultation to review your case before you commit. Check each firm's listing above for details.
Look for a Boston attorney who regularly handles chapter 7 cases, check reviews and their standing with the Massachusetts state bar, and use free consultations to compare a few before you decide.
Attorney fees pay for the lawyer's time and skill, while case costs are separate out-of-pocket expenses such as filing fees, records, and expert witnesses. In a Boston chapter 7 matter, always confirm how the costs are handled alongside the fee.
In Boston, chapter 7 lawyer fees are typically paid as a single flat fee agreed up front. Case costs are usually billed separately from the fee.
For most chapter 7 matters, yes — the right attorney can improve your outcome by more than the fee, and many work on terms that limit your risk. Use a free Boston consultation to weigh it for your situation.
ZIP codes covered
These Boston chapter 7 fee estimates span ZIP code 02101.
Last updated Aug 6, 2026 · Fee figures are local averages for informational purposes only and are not legal advice or a quote. See how we estimate fees.