Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Mississippi

How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Mississippi 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 Mississippi: 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 writing and state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated. 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. Source: Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)-(d)
If you disagree with a lawyer's bill	The Mississippi Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Committee offers free mediation or arbitration of fee disagreements between clients and lawyers (and between lawyers). It is voluntary: each side must separately agree, and the consent form must be returned within 15 days or the matter is closed. Mediation is non-binding unless the parties sign an agreement (enforceable in court); arbitration produces a decision binding on both sides. Fee disputes involving a rule violation go through the grievance process instead. Source: The Mississippi Bar, Fee Disputes

Rules on contingency fees

Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. The agreement must be in writing and state how the fee is figured, including percentages on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses come out before or after the fee is calculated. 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.

Source: Mississippi Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.5(c)-(d)

If you disagree with a lawyer's bill

The Mississippi Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Committee offers free mediation or arbitration of fee disagreements between clients and lawyers (and between lawyers). It is voluntary: each side must separately agree, and the consent form must be returned within 15 days or the matter is closed. Mediation is non-binding unless the parties sign an agreement (enforceable in court); arbitration produces a decision binding on both sides. Fee disputes involving a rule violation go through the grievance process instead.

Source: The Mississippi Bar, Fee Disputes

Mississippi rules to know first

Standard Chapter 13 lawyer fee	Northern and Southern Districts of Mississippi (joint order): the Amended Standing Order Regarding Use of "No-Look" Fee in Awarding Reasonable Compensation and Reimbursable Expenses to Attorneys of Debtors in Chapter 13 Cases (Order 2025-02, dated February 10, 2025; effective May 1, 2025) allows debtor's counsel, absent objection, to charge a presumptively reasonable "No-Look Fee" of up to $4,600 for cases filed on or after May 1, 2025 ($4,000 for cases filed January 1, 2023 through April 30, 2025). The No-Look Fee covers representation during the pre-confirmation and post-confirmation stages of the chapter 13 case (not adversary proceedings) and is full compensation for services and expenses except the statutory filing fee, credit report charges, and the credit counseling fee. Counsel may seek an enhancement by itemized application for extraordinary matters, and the court may reduce the fee. Northern District notice of the increase: https://www.msnb.uscourts.gov/news/increase-no-look-fee-chapter-13-cases-effective-may-1-2025 Source: U.S. Bankruptcy Court, N.D. and S.D. Miss., Amended Standing Order Regarding Use of "No-Look" Fee ... in Chapter 13 Cases (Order 2025-02, effective May 1, 2025)
Means test median income	1 person: $53,978; 2 people: $70,328; 3 people: $82,846; 4 people: $97,464; 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. Source: U.S. Trustee Program, Census Bureau Median Family Income By Family Size (Cases Filed On or After July 15, 2026)
Homestead exemption	Up to $75,000 in value (including improvements, after existing encumbrances), on no more than 160 acres of land. Read on FindLaw ("Current as of January 01, 2025"), a mirror permitted for Mississippi; verify against the official Mississippi Code. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 85-3-21
State or federal exemptions	Mississippi filers must use Mississippi exemptions: "residents of the State of Mississippi shall not be entitled to the federal exemptions" in 11 U.S.C. 522(d). Read on FindLaw ("Current as of January 01, 2025"), a mirror permitted for Mississippi; verify against the official Mississippi Code. Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 85-3-2

Full Mississippi guide

Find and check a lawyer

Lawyer referral service	The Mississippi Bar does not run a lawyer referral service; its Consumer Assistance Program "does not maintain referral lists of Mississippi attorneys" and cannot recommend a specific attorney. The Bar offers an online Find a Lawyer directory of Mississippi attorneys (msbar.reliaguide.com) and a How to Select a Lawyer guide; the Consumer Assistance Program, (601) 948-2344, can suggest websites for locating an attorney. Source: The Mississippi Bar, Client Assistance FAQ
Check that the lawyer is licensed	The Mississippi Bar's Office of General Counsel, at (601) 948-0568, can confirm a Mississippi lawyer's current status and whether the lawyer has received public discipline (public reprimand, suspension or disbarment). Other information cannot be released without the lawyer's signed release. Source: The Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Complaints & Discipline
Check discipline history or file a complaint	To file a grievance against a Mississippi lawyer, first contact the Mississippi Bar's Consumer Assistance Program at (601) 948-2344 (weekdays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) or PO Box 2168, Jackson, MS 39225-2168. If warranted, CAP sends a grievance form to complete and return to the Bar's Office of General Counsel. Grievances generally must be filed within three years after discovering the misconduct, except those involving dishonesty or mishandling of funds. The Committee on Professional Responsibility meets four times a year and notifies you in writing within a month of its decision; outcomes include informal admonition, private or public reprimand, or a formal complaint to the Supreme Court. Complainants cannot appeal or withdraw a grievance. Public discipline can be confirmed by calling the Office of General Counsel at (601) 948-0568. Source: The Mississippi Bar, Lawyer Complaints & Discipline

Free legal help

Free legal aid	Mississippi's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Mississippi Center for Legal Services (43 counties in South Mississippi) and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (39 counties in North Mississippi), both reachable at 1-800-498-1804; most programs require income below 125% of the federal poverty level. The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (601-960-9577) offers volunteer attorney referrals and clinics, and Mission First Legal Aid Office (601-608-0056) serves Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees Source: The Mississippi Bar, Client Assistance FAQ; Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees

Free legal aid

Mississippi's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Mississippi Center for Legal Services (43 counties in South Mississippi) and North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (39 counties in North Mississippi), both reachable at 1-800-498-1804; most programs require income below 125% of the federal poverty level. The Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project (601-960-9577) offers volunteer attorney referrals and clinics, and Mission First Legal Aid Office (601-608-0056) serves Hinds, Madison and Rankin counties.

LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees

Source: The Mississippi Bar, Client Assistance FAQ; Legal Services Corporation, Our Grantees

All legal help in Mississippi · 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.