Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Louisiana
How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Louisiana 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 Louisiana: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be in a writing signed by the client, and the client must get a copy or duplicate original when it is signed. It must state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated, and any expenses the client owes whether or not they win. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and the client's share. Contingent fees are banned for criminal defendants and for domestic relations fees contingent on a divorce or the amount of alimony, support or property settlement. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Louisiana State Bar Association's Lawyer Fee Dispute Resolution Program handles minor attorney fee disputes between lawyers and clients (or between lawyers) through volunteer arbitrators. The LSBA charges a nominal administrative fee and may decline disputes that are too complex, involve many issues or parties, are pending elsewhere, or fall under a statutory scheme such as succession or workers' compensation. LSBA staff cannot give legal advice. Contact: (504) 619-0153 or (504) 619-0143. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The LSBA Client Assistance Fund compensates clients who lose money or property due to a lawyer's dishonest conduct (not incompetence or failure to act), reimbursing up to $50,000 for thefts by a lawyer; interest and consequential damages are not paid, and fees are reimbursable only in limited cases, such as when the lawyer did no work. You must show the money or property reached the lawyer. Applying is free and no lawyer is needed; deadlines apply, so apply promptly. The fund also advises filing a complaint with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel. Contact: 601 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130-3427; (504) 566-1600 or (800) 421-5722, ext. 107. |
Louisiana rules to know first
| Standard Chapter 13 lawyer fee | Eastern District of Louisiana: Amended General Order 2020-8 (dated April 29, 2021) sets the presumptive base fee for debtor's attorneys in chapter 13 cases filed on or after June 1, 2020 at $4,000.00 in confirmed "direct-payment" plans and $4,500.00 in confirmed "conduit" plans; if the total amount paid into the confirmed plan will be less than $6,000.00, the base fee is capped at $2,500.00. The base fee must be elected in the first plan (irrevocably) and is paid by the chapter 13 trustee upon confirmation without a fee application. It covers the usual and ordinary services in the case; listed "Non-Base Services" carry separate presumptive fees (e.g., $400 for a motion to refinance or modify a mortgage or an objection to a stay-relief motion; $250 for a section 1329 plan modification). Middle District of Louisiana: Standing Order 2023-3 (August 30, 2023) provides that, effective for chapter 13 cases filed on or after September 1, 2023, unless the court orders otherwise, $4,800 is a reasonable "no look" fee for debtor's counsel (plus reimbursement of filing fees). It covers all matters in the main case for one year from the petition and after plan completion through discharge, including preconfirmation matters, claim objections bearing on confirmation, defense of stay relief motions, and most contested matters; it excludes adversary proceedings and hardship discharge motions. Western District of Louisiana: General Order 2025-2 (amending General Order 2021-2, Chapter 13 Fixed ("No-Look") Fees) provides that the fixed fee payable to the debtor's attorney in chapter 13 cases filed on or after April 1, 2025 is $5,025, except that where the total amount to be paid in to the Trustee under a confirmed plan is $9,050 or less, the fixed fee is capped at $2,825. Middle District Standing Order 2023-3: https://www.lamb.uscourts.gov/sites/lamb/files/so_2023-3.pdf ; Western District General Order 2025-2: https://www.lawb.uscourts.gov/sites/lawb/files/general-orders/General%20Order%202025%20-%202.pdf |
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| Means test median income | 1 person: $59,447; 2 people: $72,348; 3 people: $84,602; 4 people: $103,628; 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 $35,000 in value of a residence occupied by the owner, with the land and contiguous tracts up to 5 acres inside a municipality or up to 200 acres outside one. For obligations arising directly from a catastrophic or terminal illness or injury (as defined), the full value is protected. Does not apply to purchase-price debts, improvement liens, taxes and certain other debts. |
| State or federal exemptions | Louisiana filers must use Louisiana exemptions: in bankruptcy, only property exempt "under the laws of the state of Louisiana and under federal laws other than 11 U.S.C. 522(d)" is exempt. Source: La. R.S. 13:3881(B)(1) |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Louisiana State Bar Association's Find Legal Help portal does not describe a statewide LSBA referral line; its Find an Attorney directory can locate a local lawyer referral program for certain cities, and its Modest Means Directory lists attorneys who charge reduced fees to people who meet income requirements. LSBA phone: (800) 421-LSBA (5722) or (504) 566-1600. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board's lawyer search lets you look up attorneys by name, city and status. Each result shows the date admitted, a status code (such as ELIG for eligible to practice, SUS suspended, DIS disbarred, INA inactive), public disciplinary actions with dates, and current administrative status. It does not show complaints, investigations or private discipline; full disciplinary history can be requested separately. Discipline history request: https://www.ladb.org/Account/DataRequest.aspx |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Louisiana lawyers must be in writing to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC), using the Ethical Conduct Complaint Form or a letter describing what the lawyer did or failed to do, with the lawyer's contact details, dates and copies of documents. Mail to ODC, 4000 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 607, Baton Rouge, LA 70816; phone (225) 293-3900 or (800) 326-8022. Anyone may file. ODC screens the complaint, may send it to the lawyer for a response (which you usually see), and may dismiss, issue a private admonition or file formal charges. You may appeal a dismissal in writing within 30 days. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Louisiana's LSC-funded legal aid organizations, Acadiana Legal Service Corporation and Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people. The LSBA also points people to the Louisiana Civil Legal Navigator (free legal information, court forms and legal aid referrals), LA.FreeLegalAnswers.org (online answers from volunteer attorneys for eligible adults), LouisianaLawHelp.org, and court self-help centers. LSBA page: https://www.lsba.org/goto/FindLegalHelp |
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All legal help in Louisiana · 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.