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Glossary

No-look fee

A no-look fee is an attorney fee amount a bankruptcy court has set in advance as presumptively reasonable for representing a Chapter 13 debtor, so counsel can be paid without filing a detailed fee application. Each district sets its own amount and its own list of covered services by local rule or guideline. The presumption can be rebutted if someone objects.

Key points

  • A no-look fee is a district-set amount presumed reasonable for a Chapter 13 debtor's attorney, allowed without an itemized fee application.
  • The amount and the covered services are set district by district, by local bankruptcy rule, guideline, or an administrative manual.
  • It is a presumption, not a cap: counsel may apply for more with documentation, and a party in interest may object to the presumed amount.
  • It is not the same thing as the court filing fee you pay the clerk when the case is opened.
  • Some districts expressly warn that the no-look fee is not a flat fee and that a refund may be due in some circumstances.

If you are looking at a Chapter 13 fee agreement or a plan and see the phrase "no-look fee," it is describing how your lawyer gets paid and approved, not a charge the court is adding. Here is what the term means and where the number comes from.

What does "no-look fee" mean?

A no-look fee is an amount of attorney compensation that a bankruptcy court has decided in advance is presumptively reasonable in a Chapter 13 case. Because it is presumed reasonable, the debtor's attorney does not have to file a detailed application with time records to be paid it. Courts describe it in exactly those terms. The Northern District of Indiana provides that a set amount "is presumed to be a reasonable attorney's fee for counsel's services representing a debtor in a routine, consumer case under Chapter 13" (N.D. Ind. L.B.R. B-2016-1). The Eastern District of Wisconsin maintains "a schedule of fees presumed to be reasonable compensation to attorneys representing chapter 13 debtors" (E.D. Wis. LBR 2016-2). Other courts call the same thing a "presumptively reasonable fee" or a "flat fee." The name comes from the idea that the court does not look line-by-line at the bill.

Why does it matter in a Chapter 13 case?

It shapes what you pay your attorney and how that money moves. In many districts the fee is treated as an administrative expense and paid to counsel through the confirmed plan, out of your plan payments, rather than entirely up front. The Eastern District of Wisconsin provides that upon confirmation counsel is allowed the agreed amount as an administrative expense and "the trustee may pay counsel the balance of the allowed compensation in accordance with the confirmed plan" (E.D. Wis. LBR 2016-2). It also affects what services you are entitled to. Districts that use the mechanism generally publish a list of what is included. The District of Columbia rule specifies the services that must be covered at a minimum, including counseling the debtor about responsibilities such as plan payments and attendance at the meeting of creditors (D.C. LBR 2016-2). Anything outside that list may be billed separately.

How does it work in practice?

Your attorney discloses the compensation arrangement under 11 U.S.C. § 528 and the applicable disclosure rules, and a written contract explaining the services and fees is required. If the agreed fee is at or under the district's amount and nobody objects, the court can allow it without an itemized application. Where the amount lives varies: some courts put it in the local rule, some in a separate guideline, and Kentucky's Western District puts both the amount and the covered tasks in the Clerk's Office Administrative Manual (KYWB LBR 2012-1). Amounts also vary within a district. Several courts set a higher figure for above-median-income or business cases than for other cases. For work beyond the covered list, counsel typically files an application with supporting documentation, and some courts use a dedicated certificate form for fees beyond the no-look amount.

  • The figure is set by local rule, guideline, or administrative manual — never by the Bankruptcy Code.
  • It applies to Chapter 13 representation; districts commonly handle Chapter 7 attorney fees differently.
  • Above-median or business cases often carry a higher presumed amount than other cases.
  • Extra services are usually billed by application with documentation.

What do people get wrong about it?

The most common confusion is with the court's filing fee. Those are separate: the Chapter 13 filing fee is $235 (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B)), plus a $78 administrative fee (Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8), and both go to the clerk, not to your lawyer. The second mistake is treating the no-look fee as fixed and final. It is a presumption that can be rebutted if a party objects, and courts can review it — the Northern District of Indiana provides that if a case is dismissed or counsel's services end before discharge, the court may review the reasonableness of the fee on motion of a party in interest (N.D. Ind. L.B.R. B-2016-1). Massachusetts requires the fee agreement to state that the no-look fee is not a "flat fee" and that a refund may be due in some circumstances (D. Mass. LBR Appendix 1, Rule 13-7). Amounts differ by district; check your court's local rules.

Frequently asked questions

Is the no-look fee the amount I pay to file bankruptcy?
No. The no-look fee is attorney compensation. The court's own charges are separate: a $235 Chapter 13 filing fee (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B)) and a $78 administrative fee (Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8), both paid to the clerk. Your attorney's fee is a different amount, set by agreement within the limits your district treats as presumptively reasonable.
How much is the no-look fee where I live?
It depends entirely on your district, and we do not publish a verified figure for every one. Some courts state the amount in the local rule, others in a published guideline, and at least one keeps it in the Clerk's Office Administrative Manual (KYWB LBR 2012-1). Several districts also set different amounts for above-median-income or business cases. Check your court's local bankruptcy rules directly.
Can my attorney charge more than the no-look fee?
Yes, through a different process. Courts that use a presumed fee generally allow counsel to apply for additional compensation for services beyond the covered list, supported by documentation. The Northern District of Indiana permits an application for fees above the presumed amount for extraordinary, unusual, or unanticipated legal services, accompanied by supporting documentation demonstrating the reasonable value of those services (N.D. Ind. L.B.R. B-2016-1).
Does a no-look fee mean nobody reviews what my lawyer charges?
No. It means no itemized application is required in the ordinary case. A party in interest can still object to the compensation, which removes the presumption, and courts can review the fee later — including where a case is dismissed or counsel's representation ends before discharge (N.D. Ind. L.B.R. B-2016-1). Your written fee agreement and the required compensation disclosure remain part of the case record.

Sources

By Antonio G. Jimenez, Esq. · Florida Bar No. 21022

Sources verified July 28, 2026 · How we verify

Every figure on this page is drawn from a primary legal source and checked against our canonical legal database before publication. Bankruptcy.law is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.

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