Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Georgia
How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Georgia means test and exemptions, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Georgia: fee rules
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Georgia's Fee Arbitration Program handles fee disputes between lawyers and clients (and between lawyers). It is free to clients and lawyers in attorney/client disputes. Participation is a choice, but the program offers only binding arbitration, so both sides agree to be bound by the award. Most hearings use a panel of two lawyers and one non-lawyer. Start with a Petition for Fee Arbitration. Phone: 404-527-8750. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The State Bar of Georgia Clients' Security Fund, created in 1968, can reimburse eligible clients who lost money through a Georgia lawyer's dishonest conduct in a lawyer-client relationship. The lawyer must have been disbarred, indefinitely suspended or voluntarily surrendered the license (unless deceased). Malpractice and insured or bonded losses are excluded. There is no fixed cap on the page: the Board of Trustees sets amounts based on available funds, number of claims and work the lawyer actually did, and claims are typically not paid in full. Apply no later than two years after the Supreme Court of Georgia's final disciplinary action; no filing fee is listed. |
Georgia rules to know first
| Standard Chapter 13 lawyer fee | Middle District of Georgia: Administrative Order 2024-01 (Amended Order on Attorneys' Fees in Chapter 13 Cases, superseding Administrative Order #147 dated October 6, 2022), effective as to cases filed on or after February 1, 2024, allows a "Single Set Fee" agreed between debtor and attorney of a specific amount up to, but not to exceed, $3,900.00. The fee is expected to cover costs and expenses (other than the filing fee) and all services from the filing of the petition to the closing of the case; an attorney receiving it is excused from filing an initial fee application or reporting hours or expenses, and no supplemental fee application may be filed unless a significant matter arises that could not be anticipated. The order states it does not set any minimum or maximum fee; attorneys may instead seek fees by itemized application. Southern District of Georgia: General Order 2017-2 (Order on Compensation of Debtors' Attorneys in Chapter 13 Cases) provides that, effective in all chapter 13 cases filed on or after July 24, 2017, a claim for attorney's fees and expenses will be deemed automatically approved, absent objection, so long as it does not exceed $4,500.00 (commonly referred to as the no look fee). The fee is expected to cover costs and expenses (other than the initial filing fee) and all services from the filing of the petition to the closing of the case, including appearance at the section 341 meeting and all hearings. Southern District General Order 2017-2: https://www.gasb.uscourts.gov/sites/gasb/files/GO2017-2.pdf |
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| Means test median income | 1 person: $68,478; 2 people: $84,965; 3 people: $101,479; 4 people: $123,481; add $11,100 for each additional person over 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026 (the Census median income data was last updated for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026). The U.S. Trustee updates this table periodically; check https://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing for the table in effect on the filing date. The table's one-person column is labeled "1 EARNER." Income at or below the median for the household size generally means the Chapter 7 means test's further calculations are not required. |
| Homestead exemption | Up to $21,500 in real or personal property used as a residence; $43,000 where the property is titled solely in one of two spouses who is a debtor. Read on FindLaw ("Current as of March 28, 2024"), a mirror permitted for Georgia; verify against the official Georgia Code. No acreage limit is stated in this section. Source: O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(a)(1) |
| State or federal exemptions | Georgia filers must use Georgia's exemptions: a Georgia-domiciled debtor "is prohibited from applying or utilizing 11 U.S.C. Section 522(d)." Read on FindLaw ("Current as of March 28, 2024"), a mirror permitted for Georgia; verify against the official Georgia Code. Source: O.C.G.A. 44-13-100(b) |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Georgia says it "is not able to directly refer clients to lawyers." It offers the ReliaGuide Enhanced Directory to search for lawyers by type of law, and points people to the referral services run by many local and voluntary bar associations (it links a list of referral services that comply with Bar Rule 7.3(c)(2)). |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of Georgia offers an online Member Directory with basic and advanced search for looking up Georgia lawyers. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Grievances about Georgia lawyers are filed online with the State Bar of Georgia's Office of the General Counsel (OGC). An OGC attorney reviews each grievance to see whether it shows a possible violation of the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct; grievances outside its jurisdiction or without sufficient evidence or merit are dismissed. If a possible violation appears, the grievance is sent to the lawyer for a response, and those that appear to involve a violation go to the State Disciplinary Board for investigation. The lawyer will likely see what you submit. State Bar: 104 Marietta St. NW, Suite 100, Atlanta, GA 30303; 404-527-8700 or 800-334-6865. Online grievance portal: https://portals.georgiabar.org/ogc/grievance |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Georgia's LSC-funded legal aid organizations are Atlanta Legal Aid Society and Georgia Legal Services Program, which give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The State Bar of Georgia points people to GeorgiaLegalAid.org for a complete directory of civil legal assistance programs, and to the Pro Bono Resource Center (co-sponsored by Georgia Legal Services Program and the State Bar) at 404-527-8763. The Bar warns that many businesses advertise "legal aid" online, so ask whether a service is free. Bar page: https://www.gabar.org/public/legal-aid---pro-bono-resource-center |
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All legal help in Georgia · Do I need a lawyer?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.