Pre Bankruptcy education certificates cost $25.00. It costs about $200 to file Chapter 7 and the attorney fees will run about $800 to $1,200. Post filing education costs are in the range of $100 to $250. You can usually get a free consultation and also keep fees at a minimum by being well organized, thus saving your attorney time from having to sort through your documents. You can also save money by not requiring the lawyer to attend the meeting of creditors with you. Check with your attorney on this, however, because in some states, attorneys must attend the 341 meeting with you otherwise it is deemed the attorney did not represent the debtor at all. It is expected that bankruptcy attorney fees will rise because of changing legislation involving bankruptcy. There is more work for the lawyer to perform and there is also a greater legal liability imposed on the lawyer which may result in his legal insurance rising.