Simpson Law Group in Baltimore: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Filing Without the Premium Price Tag

Simpson Law Group is a three-person bankruptcy practice based in the Inner Harbor area of Baltimore that handles Chapter 7 liquidation and Chapter 13 wage-earner repayment filings for individual filers. The firm bills Chapter 7 cases at a flat fee of $1,200 to $1,500 depending on complexity; Chapter 13 cases run $3,000 to $4,500 flat, with the Chapter 13 trustee payment plan allowing the second half of the fee to roll into the repayment schedule over 3 to 5 years. This pricing sits roughly $300 to $600 below larger downtown firms and matches the range at neighborhood practices in Fells Point and Canton, making it a middle-market choice for Baltimore residents who need structured fee transparency but do not require the white-shoe overhead of Legg Mason or Harbor Point law offices.

What Simpson Law Group Actually Handles

The firm does not litigate bankruptcy appeals, handle business Chapter 11 restructurings, or take adversary litigation (the lawsuits filed within bankruptcy cases). It focuses narrowly on individual consumer bankruptcy: personal debt elimination through Chapter 7, and three-to-five-year repayment plans for filers who earn too much to qualify for Chapter 7 or wish to keep collateral like a car or house. The firm also prepares the mandatory credit counseling course referrals and the pre-filing financial management course documentation, which the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland requires before discharge. Most clients come through referrals from credit counselors at the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition office on Mt. Royal Avenue or from previous clients; the firm does not maintain a high online advertising presence.

Flat Fees and the Repayment-Plan Payment Structure

Simpson Law Group quotes $1,200 to $1,500 for Chapter 7 filings. The variation depends on whether you have significant assets (retirement accounts, vehicles, real estate equity) that require detailed schedules, or are a straightforward case with mostly credit card and medical debt. The full amount is due before the filing is submitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, located at 101 West Lombard Street downtown. Chapter 13 cases start at $3,000 to $4,500, payable as half due at the consultation (nonrefundable) and the remainder incorporated into your trustee repayment plan, meaning you pay the second half over 36 to 60 months alongside your creditor payments. This payment architecture removes the barrier of a five-figure upfront cost for filers already squeezed by debt. Confirmation hearing attendance by the attorney is included in the flat fee; follow-up creditor motions and plan modifications (if you lose income or encounter a major expense during the case) typically add $300 to $600 per motion.

How Simpson Law Group Compares to Other Baltimore Bankruptcy Options

The Law Office of Brett Weiss, also on the Inner Harbor, charges $1,400 for Chapter 7 and $3,500 for Chapter 13 with a similar payment-plan option, pricing it nearly equal to Simpson. Weiss has a larger online marketing footprint and takes overflow from law school clinics, meaning wait times for a first consultation are often three to four weeks. Deutsch Law Group, in the Harbor East office corridor, runs $1,800 to $2,200 for Chapter 7 and $4,500 to $6,000 for Chapter 13, pricing itself for clients with complex asset situations or prior bankruptcy attempts. If you want the lowest barrier to entry, the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition offers free pre-bankruptcy counseling and refers clients to Legal Aid Bureau bankruptcy attorneys for those earning under 200% of the federal poverty line; legal aid cases are handled pro bono but carry wait lists of six to eight weeks. Choose Simpson if you earn middle-income wages, need a flat fee you can negotiate into a payment plan, and can schedule a consultation within two weeks. Choose Weiss if you are willing to wait longer for a slightly lower Chapter 13 fee. Choose Deutsch if your income is above 250% of the federal poverty line and you own multiple assets or face creditor litigation that requires settlement negotiation.

Who Simpson Law Group Suits and Who It Does Not

The practice serves Baltimore residents with household incomes between $45,000 and $85,000 who owe $20,000 to $150,000 in consumer debt and need to understand which chapter (7 or 13) applies to them. It suits filers who are organized, can gather documents (pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, utility bills) within two weeks, and prefer a single attorney over a document mill. It does not serve filers with pending lawsuits, tax debt disputes, or a second bankruptcy filing within eight years without special circumstances. It does not take clients who cannot commit to the mandatory financial management course or who need extensive creditor communication before the filing date; such cases require a larger firm with a paralegal staff.

What the First Consultation Involves

You schedule a 90-minute consultation, either at the firm's office near Harborplace or by phone. Bring pay stubs from the last two months, a recent tax return, a list of all debts with creditor names and outstanding balances, and current mortgage or lease papers if you are not renting. The attorney will explain the Chapter 7 means test (the calculation that determines if your income disqualifies you for Chapter 7) and walk through the statement of financial affairs form, which is the backbone of your filing. At the end of the consultation, you will know which chapter you qualify for and what the total fee will be. If you choose to proceed, you pay the retainer on the spot (or, for Chapter 13, commit to the payment plan). The firm then prepares your petition, schedules, and disclosure of assets, and submits the filing approximately 10 business days later.

Hours, Location, and Parking

Simpson Law Group operates Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 300 East Lombard Street, a block from the Inner Harbor promenade and four blocks east of the Charles Center parking garage. Street parking on Lombard is metered until 6 p.m. (check verification; metered hours can change seasonally) and typically fills by 10:30 a.m. on weekdays, so arrive early or use the Charles Center garage ($15 flat rate for two hours, $25 all day). Most consultations run 90 minutes; the office accepts walk-in questions on bankruptcy basics but schedules full consultations by phone the week prior.

Simpson Law Group handles the technical and financial complexity of bankruptcy filing at a price point that matches the neighborhood, and its refusal to lock clients into five-figure upfront costs makes it a logical choice for Baltimore filers who cannot delay and do not have liquid savings to cover a large retainer.