Legal Question in Credit and Debt Law in California

depends on how much money you have and how complicated your case. If you are rich, gazillions.

The filing fee is the same whether you have an attorney file it or you file it yourself. We don't get a volume discount. ;) How much the attorney would charge you depends on the hourly rate the attorney charges you and how complicated your answer needs to be. A good effiecient and reasonably priced attorney could do it for a few hundred dollars, but because that obligates the attorney to represent you in the case unless and until he or she withdraws, not many attorneys are willing to just file an answer for you. And besides, that by itself doesn't do you much good. All it does is prevent a default. The case still goes forward against you.

If I think you have a winning case, I charge $100 plus the filing fee which is usually about $200 but can be waived by the court if you're poor enough. If we win you get your $100 back. You won't find a better deal.

There are several answers to your question. The first, as pointed out by Mr. Stone, is the Court's filing fee. In Los Angeles the filing fee is between $205 (if the amount claimed is less than $10K) and $355 if the amount sought is over $25K.

As for the attorney time to prepare the answer, if it is an unverified complaint then between $150 to $300 to prepare the answer. Thereafter, depending on the facts, there may be more fees for other activities or, if you have good defenses, the fees can be paid by the collection agency. There are many variables that must be looked at to determine what the cost will be.

Good luck,