Court-approved attorney hourly rates: United States Bankruptcy Court, S.D. Ohio
12 approved rates from 7 fee rulings since October 20, 2024. Latest ruling Aug 6, 2026. Data as of October 20, 2026.
| Role | Median | Middle half | Range | Rates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney | $313 | $175 to $400 | 8 |
The court approved a lower rate than requested for 1 of 12 timekeepers (8%).
Cite these rates
$313/hr
In Bankr. S.D. Ohio fee rulings since October 20, 2024, the median court-approved attorney rate was $313 an hour (8 rates).
Copy these rulings as citations
Recent Bankr. S.D. Ohio rulings with the rates they approved, formatted for a fee petition. Check each ruling before citing it.
United Telemanagement Corporation, No. 3:24-bk-31365 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Aug. 6, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $275 for an attorney); Timothy Naff and April Naff, No. 3:24-bk-31827 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio June 11, 2026) (approving hourly rates of $125 for a paralegal with 20 years' experience); Gregory Paul Palkowski and Deborah Lee Palkowski, No. 3:23-bk-31324 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Nov. 16, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $400 for an attorney); Renee Elaine Allen, No. 3:23-bk-31259 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Oct. 14, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $350 for an attorney; $125 for a paralegal); Christopher Williams, No. 3:25-bk-30103 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Oct. 14, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $325 for an attorney; $163 for a paralegal); Protais Masumbuko and Jeannette Uwimana, No. 3:24-bk-31510 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Sept. 17, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $200 to $300 for attorneys; $135 for a paralegal); Donna J. Staker, No. 3:24-bk-30527 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio Mar. 10, 2025) (approving hourly rates of $175 to $380 for attorneys).
Rulings
Rates turn on experience, practice area, and the work done. Use these as a starting point and cite the rulings, not this page, in a fee petition.
-
United Telemanagement Corporation
Aug 6, 2026 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $275 $275 The court's words
It further provides that Ms. Hill’s rate will be $275.00 an hour, “subject to the Court’s approval.”
-
Jun 11, 2026 · Bankruptcy · Fee cut details
Role Experience Requested Approved Paralegal 20 years $145 $125 The court's words
ED: Paralegal Erin Duwel is a paralegal who has worked almost exclusively on consumer bankruptcy matters for over 20 years.
-
Gregory Paul Palkowski and Deborah Lee Palkowski
Nov 16, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Paralegal $150 other $75 The court's words
They both charge $400 an hour, which is at the top end of the scale for chapter 13 consumer attorneys in Dayton; however, in this case the effective rate for the fees actually sought in both Applications is much lower, only $182.41 an hour.
some of the time entries should have been billed, if at all, at the hypothetical paralegal or administrative assistant rates of $150 or $75, respectively
some of the time entries should have been billed, if at all, at the hypothetical paralegal or administrative assistant rates of $150 or $75, respectively
-
Oct 30, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 Paralegal $180 The court's words
Patricia J. Friesinger, Shareholder, and Amanda M. Farris, Paralegal, billed time at the respective rates of $380 and $175 in 2024, but increased their respective rates to $400 and $180 at the beginning of 2025.
Patricia J. Friesinger, Shareholder, and Amanda M. Farris, Paralegal, billed time at the respective rates of $380 and $175 in 2024, but increased their respective rates to $400 and $180 at the beginning of 2025.
-
Oct 14, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $350 $350 Paralegal $125 $125 The court's words
Only 0.2 hours were charged by the Attorney, Clay Woods, at a rate of $350 per hour
the remaining 1.2 hours were charged by Paralegal, Jamie Bailey, at a rate of $125 per hour, with 0.1 hours written off
-
Oct 14, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $325 $325 Paralegal $163 $163 The court's words
namely, Attorney Adam Stout and Paralegals Max Unverferth and Bryar Holloway, whose hourly rates were $325, $162.50, and $162.50, respectively.
namely, Attorney Adam Stout and Paralegals Max Unverferth and Bryar Holloway, whose hourly rates were $325, $162.50, and $162.50, respectively.
-
Protais Masumbuko and Jeannette Uwimana
Sep 17, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $300 $300 Attorney $200 $200 Paralegal $135 $135 The court's words
Attorney G. Timothy Dearfield, who has an hourly rate of $300, worked 12.9 hours.
Attorney Matthew R. Dearfield, who has an hourly rate of $200, worked 19.15 hours on this case
Paralegal Elizabeth Thompson, who has an hourly rate of $135, worked 3.7 hours, but 1.9 of those hours were written off
-
Ryan Dennis Mooers and Elisabeth Laura Mooers
Jul 21, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 other $150 The court's words
It appears, however, that both attorneys' hourly rates must be $400 according to item C in the Application.
Mr. Novick charged 2.2 hours at the hourly "Admin" rate of $150 and Ms. Chinault charged 1.6 hours at the same lowered rate.
-
Mar 10, 2025 · Bankruptcy
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $380 $380 Attorney $175 $175 The court's words
The Debtor does not dispute that the services were actually rendered or the hourly rates charged by the legal professionals.
The Debtor does not dispute that the services were actually rendered or the hourly rates charged by the legal professionals.
-
Jun 20, 2024 · Bankruptcy · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $375 $375 The court's words
Preparation and review of skeletal petition (Entries 5 and 6) for 1.8 hours at $375;
-
Jan 2, 2024 · Bankruptcy · Older than two years, not in medians
Role Experience Requested Approved Attorney $400 $400 Paralegal $150 The court's words
The court has no issue with the $400 hourly rate charged by Wayne Novick or Elizabeth Chinault, experienced attorneys admitted to practice in 1981 and 2003, respectively.
The court’s calculation also included a hypothetical hourly rate of $150 for tasks that could be handled at the paralegal and administrative level.
FAQ
What hourly rate does the Bankr. S.D. Ohio approve for attorneys?
A median of $313 an hour across 8 approved rates in fee rulings since October 20, 2024.
How often does the Bankr. S.D. Ohio cut a requested hourly rate?
For 1 of 12 timekeepers (8%) in recent fee rulings.
How do I prove a reasonable hourly rate in the Bankr. S.D. Ohio?
With evidence beyond your own declaration, usually recent awards in the same district for lawyers of similar experience. The rulings on this page can be cited directly; use the citation block to copy them.
The data is free to use under CC BY 4.0. Please credit "LegalTime Fee Cut Tracker" with a link to this page. Spot an error? Email team@legaltime.ai with the case name and we will correct it. Summaries of public court opinions. Not legal advice.