Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Utah
How bankruptcy lawyers are paid, the Utah 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 Utah: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Utah Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c) (Supreme Court Rules of Professional Practice, Rule 3-1.5), a contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal; litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery; and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. It must clearly notify the client of expenses owed whether or not the client prevails, and at the end the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was determined. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Utah State Bar's Fee Dispute Resolution Program handles fee disputes between clients and attorneys practicing in Utah, by mediation or binding arbitration. Participation is voluntary; the bar cannot force either side into binding arbitration, and both attorney and client must sign the petition. Binding arbitration has a $10.00 filing fee, and the decision is final except on narrow grounds. Disputes under $10,000 are heard by one lawyer, though for amounts between $7,500 and $10,000 the petitioner may choose a three-member panel. Mail the notarized Fee Dispute Petition Form and Agreement Form, marked "personal and confidential," to Utah State Bar Fee Dispute, 645 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111; questions: feearbitration@utahbar.org. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Utah State Bar's Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection reimburses losses caused by the dishonest conduct of lawyers and licensed paralegal practitioners licensed in Utah, arising from a lawyer-client, LPP-client or fiduciary relationship. Assigned claims, third-party claims and certain Ponzi or pyramid-scheme investment losses are excluded. File within one year after the date of the final order of discipline, the lawyer's death, or the order of disability; procedures and the claim form are in Rule 4-911. |
Utah rules to know first
| Standard Chapter 13 lawyer fee | District of Utah (the state's only bankruptcy district): under Local Rule 2083-2 and General Order 24-002 (Presumptive Attorney Fee Awards in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Cases), the court's Policy and Procedures page lists chapter 13 presumptive fees for debtors' counsel in cases filed on or after January 1, 2025: $2,800 if the case is dismissed before a plan is confirmed; $4,500 for a below-median-income debtor whose confirmed plan pays less than $200/month; $4,750 for a below-median-income debtor whose confirmed plan pays at least $200/month; and $5,100 for an above-median-income debtor with a confirmed plan or a chapter 13 business case. (For cases filed before January 1, 2025: $2,500, $3,500, $3,750 and $4,000 respectively.) Fees beyond the presumptive fee require a fee application with notice and an opportunity to object. General Order 24-002: https://www.utb.uscourts.gov/sites/utb/files/general-orders/General%20Order%2024-002.pdf |
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| Means test median income | Median family income for Utah: 1 person $87,898; 2 people $95,757; 3 people $112,751; 4 people $131,741; add $11,100 for each additional person beyond 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026. Used in the Chapter 7 means test (Official Forms 122A-1 and 122C-1). The table's first column is labeled "1 EARNER." The same figures were posted for cases filed April 1 through July 14, 2026. The U.S. Trustee Program updates the table periodically. |
| Homestead exemption | For calendar year 2026, the Office of the State Auditor lists the inflation-adjusted homestead amounts as $53,700 for a primary personal residence and $6,400 for property that is not (in whole or part) the primary personal residence. For jointly owned property, the household maximum is $107,500 for a primary personal residence and $12,800 otherwise. A primary personal residence is a dwelling or mobile home plus up to one acre of surrounding land reasonably necessary for its use. The homestead is not protected against property tax liens, purchase-money debts, child-support judicial liens, or consensual liens (such as a mortgage). Sale proceeds, up to the exemption amount, stay exempt for one year. |
| State or federal exemptions | Utah has opted out of the federal bankruptcy exemptions. A person may not use the federal exemptions in 11 U.S.C. § 522(d) in a bankruptcy case unless the person is a nonresident of Utah and has been for the 180 days immediately before filing; Utah residents use Utah's exemptions. Source: Utah Code § 78B-5-513 |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Utah State Bar's Get Legal Help page points the public to LicensedLawyer, to learn about licensed Utah lawyers in good standing, and to the Utah State Bar's Modest Means Lawyer Referral Program for reduced-rate help (income qualification required). Source: Utah State Bar, Get Legal Help |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | Utah's Office of Professional Conduct points the public to the Utah State Bar's Licensed Lawyer website (licensedlawyer.org) to look up Utah lawyers; its online complaint form also includes a Search Attorney Database tool. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The Utah Office of Professional Conduct (OPC), charged by the Utah Supreme Court with investigating possible grounds for discipline of lawyers and licensed paralegal practitioners, is no longer part of the Utah State Bar. File a complaint with the OPC's online form, or print the fillable form and mail it. An OPC attorney reviews it and investigates if it suggests rule violations; typical timelines for cases not dismissed are about 150 days for initial investigation, 120 days for follow-up, and 90 days for the screening panel. The information you provide is shared with the lawyer; anonymous complaints and complaints against a whole firm are not accepted, and a filed complaint cannot be withdrawn. The process does not provide reimbursement. Public discipline can be searched in the OPC's Attorney Public Discipline list. Public discipline: https://www.opcutah.org/lawyer-public-discipline/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | The Utah State Courts' Self-Help Center provides free legal help to people without a lawyer: staff attorneys answer questions about the law, court process and options, help with court forms, and give information about legal aid, pro bono and low-cost services and lawyer referral (they cannot give legal advice or represent you). Contact it by email at selfhelp@utcourts.gov or the toll-free help line 888-683-0009 (Monday-Friday, 11:00 am-5:00 pm). Utah Legal Services provides civil legal aid without cost to people who cannot afford a lawyer (apply online), and LSC lists it as its Utah grantee. Utah Legal Services: https://www.utahlegalservices.org/; LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Utah · 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.