Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Missouri
How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Missouri 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 Missouri: fee rules
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel refers fee complaints to the Fee Dispute Resolution Committees operated by The Missouri Bar. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The Missouri Bar's Client Security Fund, created in 1966 and maintained by Bar members' annual fees, can compensate clients harmed by a lawyer who has been disbarred, suspended, ruled mentally incapacitated, or has died. Fee disputes and malpractice are not covered. File within two years of discovering the loss using the Client Security Fund Claim Form on MissouriLawyersHelp.org (or request a printed copy from the fund coordinator). A committee recommends full or partial payment or denial, the Board of Governors has final discretion, and the committee aims to decide claims within a year. |
Missouri rules to know first
| Standard Chapter 13 lawyer fee | Eastern District of Missouri: under L.R. 2016-3(A)(1) (local rules dated December 1, 2025), attorneys for chapter 13 debtors who elect the "Flat Fee Option" may, without application to the court, be paid attorneys' fees, including expenses, not to exceed $5,800.00 for cases filed on or after December 1, 2024 (plus the filing fee if advanced). Under the alternative "Fee Application Option," in cases filed on or after December 1, 2025, counsel may be paid up to $3,600 (plus the filing fee if advanced) under a confirmed plan, subject to approval, modification or disgorgement, with fee applications required for other fees. The election is made through the CM/ECF Attorney Fee Election Form event. Western District of Missouri: under Local Rule 2016-2(B) (local rules adopted January 5, 2026), if the debtor's attorney's total fee for pre-confirmation services is a flat fee of $4,100 or less in a below median family income case or $4,600 or less in an above median income case, no separate application to approve the fee agreement is needed (the "No Look Fee"); the court presumes it is a reasonable fee for the services required under the Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (Local Form MOW 2016-1.4) to obtain confirmation. Adversary proceedings needed for confirmation may be compensated up to $1000 each without an itemized application; post-confirmation flat amounts are set separately in the rule. Western District Local Rules: https://www.mow.uscourts.gov/sites/mow/files/Local%20Rules%20Adopted%201-5-2026.pdf |
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| Means test median income | 1 person: $64,972; 2 people: $82,075; 3 people: $100,228; 4 people: $118,530; 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 | Until December 31, 2026: up to $15,000 in a dwelling house and the land used with it. For cases governed by the version effective January 1, 2027: up to $40,000. Multiple owners share one exemption per homestead. 2026 H.B. 1870 / S.B. 835 & 1111 amends these exemptions effective January 1, 2027 (Revisor's future version: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=513.475). No acreage limit is stated. |
| State or federal exemptions | Missouri filers must use Missouri (and federal non-bankruptcy) exemptions; no filer "is authorized to claim as exempt the property that is specified under Title 11, United States Code, Section 522(d)." Source: RSMo 513.427 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Missouri Bar offers LawyerSearch, a directory of lawyers who have chosen to be listed, searchable by area of practice or Missouri county, with optional language-assistance filters; it is not described as a referral service, and "Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement by The Missouri Bar of particular attorneys." In the St. Louis area, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis sponsors a Lawyer Referral and Information Service (bamsl.org). Missouri Bar phone: (573) 635-4128. BAMSL LRIS described at https://www.moept.uscourts.gov/lawyer-referral-and-information-service |
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| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Missouri lawyers go to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (OCDC) in writing, using the online form, a printed or fillable PDF form, or a letter, one complaint per attorney (OCDC cannot investigate law firms). Mail: OCDC, 3327 American Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65109; phone 573-635-7400. Include the lawyer's name and address, the legal matter, any court and case caption, a detailed statement of facts, and documents such as fee agreements and proof of payment. There is no cost. Staff Counsel reviews complaints in order and tries to respond in writing within about four weeks; if a file is opened, the lawyer is usually notified and may respond, and you may reply. OCDC cannot give legal advice or recover money for you. A list of public discipline imposed since January 1, 2006 is posted by the Missouri courts. Public discipline list: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=109856 ; disciplinary certificates: https://mochiefcounsel.org/obtaining-disciplinary-certificates/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Missouri's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people by region: Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Legal Services of Southern Missouri and Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation. |
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All legal help in Missouri · 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.