Filing for bankruptcy costs a minimum of $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13 in court fees alone, according to a U.S. Bankruptcy Court fee schedule. Most people also pay for two required courses and, if they hire one, an attorney. The attorney is usually the largest line item, so the realistic total for a filing is closer to a few thousand dollars than to a few hundred. This guide breaks the total into its parts, explains what can be reduced or spread out, and describes what costs continue after the case is filed.
TL;DR
- Court fees: $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. The Chapter 7 amount is a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee surcharge.
- Required courses: credit counseling before filing and a debtor education course afterward, typically in the range of about $10 to $50 each, depending on the provider.
- Attorney fees: the largest variable. Published estimates put Chapter 7 at roughly $1,250 to $2,500 and Chapter 13 at roughly $3,125 to $6,250, depending on location and complexity.
- Relief on the fee itself: the court may allow installments for either chapter and may waive the Chapter 7 fee for filers with very low income. A Chapter 13 fee cannot be waived.
Table of Contents
- The court filing fees, line by line
- Costs beyond the court fee
- A worked example
- How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are paid differently
- Chapter 13 monthly payments are a separate cost
- Ways to lower or spread the cost
- Costs that continue after the case
- Comparing bankruptcy with other paths
- Perspective
- Explore your options before you decide
- A budgeting checklist before you file
- FAQ
- Sources
The court filing fees, line by line
Every bankruptcy case begins with a fee paid to the federal bankruptcy court. These fees are set nationally, so they are the same in every state. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana lists the current fees as follows:
| Chapter | Total court fee | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 (liquidation) | $338 | $245 filing fee, $78 administrative fee, $15 trustee surcharge |
| Chapter 13 (repayment plan) | $313 | Filing and administrative fees combined |
Two details are worth knowing. First, the fee is per case, not per person. Massachusetts Legal Help states that a married couple filing together pays the same amount as one person filing alone. Second, fee schedules are adjusted from time to time, so confirm the figure on the website of your own bankruptcy court before you budget.
Chapter 11 and Chapter 12 carry different fees, but they are designed for businesses, large reorganizations and family farms. This article stays with consumer filings under Chapters 7 and 13.
Costs beyond the court fee
The court fee is only the entry price. Several other items typically appear before a case is complete.
Credit counseling before you file
Individuals must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider before filing. According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York, the course must be completed within the 180 days before the petition is filed. Nolo reports that approved providers commonly charge $15 to $30, and that fees may be waived or reduced for people who cannot afford them.
Debtor education after you file
A second course, on managing personal finances, comes after the petition is filed and is generally required to receive a discharge. The same Nolo fee guide puts this course at up to $50. Experian reports a slightly wider range of about $10 to $50 for each required course, depending on the provider and the filer's circumstances. Budget for the high end of both, which is roughly $100 for the two courses combined.
Attorney fees
Hiring a bankruptcy attorney is not legally required, but most filers do. Fees depend on the chapter, the complexity of your finances and where you live.
| Chapter | Typical attorney fee range | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Chapter 7 | About $1,500 to $2,500 | Nolo, 2026 estimate |
| Chapter 7 | About $1,250 to $2,200 | Experian, November 2024 |
| Chapter 13 | About $3,125 to $6,250 | Experian, November 2024 |
For perspective on how much these figures move over time, a 2020 reader survey found Chapter 7 attorney fees averaging $1,450, with typical fees between $1,000 and $1,750 at that time. The same source notes that financial complexity and location have the largest effect on what a Chapter 7 attorney charges. A filer with a wage income and a handful of credit cards generally presents a simpler case than one with a recent business, multiple properties or a pending lawsuit.
A worked example
Consider a single filer with credit card and medical debt who qualifies for Chapter 7 and hires an attorney at the middle of the published range. These numbers are an illustration built from the ranges above, not a quote and not a prediction for any individual case.
| Item | Illustrative amount |
|---|---|
| Court fee | $338 |
| Pre-filing credit counseling | $30 |
| Debtor education course | $50 |
| Attorney (midpoint of $1,500 to $2,500) | $2,000 |
| Total | $2,418 |
The same filer in a Chapter 13 case would pay a $313 court fee, the same two courses, and an attorney fee in the $3,125 to $6,250 range. The total can therefore be higher even though the court fee is lower. Experian explains that this is because Chapter 13 requires plan preparation and continuing legal work over three to five years.
How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are paid differently
The two chapters also differ in timing, which matters if cash is tight.
Chapter 7. Nolo notes that Chapter 7 legal fees are generally paid in full before filing. This is partly because many unsecured debts are discharged when the case ends, so attorneys typically collect before the petition is filed.
Chapter 13. The same source reports that many Chapter 13 attorneys charge as little as $100 to start and fold the remainder into the repayment plan. That makes the upfront burden smaller, but the full fee is still paid, spread across the plan's duration.
Chapter 13 monthly payments are a separate cost
A common question is how much a person pays monthly in bankruptcy. Chapter 7 has no repayment plan, so there is no monthly payment to creditors. Chapter 13 does. The monthly amount is not a fixed figure: it is built from your income, your expenses, the debts that must be repaid and the length of the plan, which runs three to five years. That is why no honest article can give a single number.
What you can plan for is how the payments are collected. New Mexico Legal Aid notes that Chapter 13 payments are often deducted from wages, which can reduce take-home pay. When you compare options, treat plan payments as a recurring monthly obligation, separate from the one-time filing costs above.
Ways to lower or spread the cost
Several mechanisms exist inside the court system itself. None is guaranteed, and each depends on your circumstances and the judge's decision.
Pay the court fee in installments
Filers who cannot pay the court fee all at once may ask to pay in installments in either chapter by submitting Official Form 103A, as the Western District of Louisiana court explains. Once a schedule is approved, follow it exactly. The Southern District of California warns that missing installments can lead to the case being dismissed without a discharge.
Request a Chapter 7 fee waiver
Individuals with very low income may ask the court to waive the Chapter 7 filing fee using Official Form 103B, filed with the petition. According to the federal Guide to Judiciary Policy, a waiver may be granted only when income is below 150% of the applicable HHS poverty guideline for the household size and the debtor cannot pay the fee in installments. The waiver covers only the Chapter 7 court fee. It does not cover attorney fees or course fees. Massachusetts Legal Help also states that a Chapter 13 fee cannot be waived, although installments may be permitted.
Ask about course fee reductions
Approved counseling and education providers may reduce or waive charges for people who cannot pay, per the Nolo fee guide. Ask before you enroll, and keep the completion certificate, since the court requires it.
Consider filing without an attorney
Self-representation, called filing pro se, is permitted. The tradeoff is responsibility. A bankruptcy court guide for unrepresented filers states that the debtor is responsible for all proceedings and that the clerk cannot give legal advice or help prepare forms. An Arizona court notice lists what self-represented filers must still supply: the petition, schedules, statement of financial affairs, creditor mailing list and credit counseling certificate.
Some courts offer electronic tools for this. The Eastern District of Louisiana's electronic self-representation system is free to use, though filers still pay the court filing fee. Because errors can affect whether debts are discharged, anyone with assets, a recent transfer of property, or a complicated income picture should consider a consultation with a licensed bankruptcy attorney or a legal aid organization in their state.
Costs that continue after the case
The sticker price is not the whole financial picture. New Mexico Legal Aid states that bankruptcy can make it harder to obtain credit, may lower credit scores for as long as 10 years, and can lead to higher interest rates on new credit. It also notes that Chapter 7 liquidation can result in the sale of non-exempt property, with state law determining which property is protected.
These are not reasons to avoid the process if it is the right fit, but they belong in the budget. Higher borrowing costs after a filing are real dollars over time, and they should be weighed alongside the filing costs when you compare paths.
Comparing bankruptcy with other paths
Because the total can reach several thousand dollars, many people compare bankruptcy with other ways to address debt before deciding. The main categories are:
- Debt consolidation with a personal loan. A single loan pays off multiple balances, leaving one payment. The terms depend on your credit and the lender.
- Debt resolution programs. These negotiate with creditors on your behalf, typically for a fee, and outcomes vary by creditor and case.
- Repayment strategies you run yourself. The snowball method pays the smallest balance first, the avalanche method targets the highest interest rate first, and a balanced approach blends the two.
- Lowering specific payments. For federal and private student loans, there are repayment options covered in our guide to lowering student loan payments.
No option fits everyone, and none can be promised to work. The useful comparison is total cost, time to completion, effect on credit and the risk each carries given your income and the types of debt you hold.
Perspective
Our view is that cost questions come first for a reason: people searching for bankruptcy prices are usually under pressure from collection notices, and the figure they find shapes what they do next. A $338 court fee sounds manageable. An attorney fee of $2,000 or more, added to course fees and followed by years of rebuilt credit, is a different decision.
That is why we build tools that let you see the numbers side by side without signing up or handing over personal details. Our payoff calculators compare snowball, avalanche and balanced strategies, so you can see how long repayment would take on your own balances. Our collector and scam verification resources and validation letter automation help you confirm that a debt is accurate and that the party contacting you is legitimate before you commit to any path.
We do not push anyone toward a paid program. Our aim is to give you clear information so that, whichever option you choose, you choose it with the full cost in view and with a licensed professional where your situation calls for one.
Shawn
Explore your options before you decide
If you are weighing bankruptcy against other approaches, it helps to see what the alternatives look like for your balances. Our debt options overview explains the main routes, and our page on personal loan and debt resolution options covers consolidation and negotiated programs. Our free tools and guides are available without registration.
These pages are educational and cannot promise any particular outcome. They are meant to give you a clearer starting point for conversations with creditors, counselors or an attorney.
A budgeting checklist before you file
Use this list to estimate your own total.
- Confirm the court fee on your local bankruptcy court's website. Use $338 for Chapter 7 or $313 for Chapter 13 as a starting point.
- Price two approved counseling providers and two debtor education providers, and ask about fee reductions.
- Get attorney quotes in writing. Ask what is included, what is extra, and whether fees are due before filing or can be added to a plan.
- Ask about installments. If the court fee is the obstacle, ask about Form 103A. If income is very low, ask whether Form 103B applies to a Chapter 7 case.
- Add post-filing costs. Include higher interest rates on future credit and, in Chapter 13, the monthly plan payment over three to five years.
- Compare totals against the other options you are considering, using the same time horizon for each.
FAQ
How much does it cost to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
The court fee is $338. Add roughly $10 to $50 for each of the two required courses, and, if you hire an attorney, published estimates of about $1,250 to $2,500. Costs vary with your location and the complexity of your finances.
Can I file bankruptcy for free?
Only in limited cases. A court may waive the Chapter 7 filing fee if your income is below 150% of the HHS poverty guideline for your household size and you cannot pay in installments. The waiver does not cover attorney or course fees, though providers may reduce those, and legal aid organizations may offer help.
Is Chapter 13 cheaper than Chapter 7?
The court fee is slightly lower at $313, but total cost is often higher. Attorney fees are generally greater because the case involves a plan and several years of continuing work, and you also make monthly plan payments for three to five years.
Can I pay the bankruptcy filing fee in installments?
Yes, in both chapters, if the court approves your request on Official Form 103A. Follow the approved schedule closely, because a missed payment can lead the court to dismiss your case without a discharge.
Does filing as a couple cost more?
No. According to Massachusetts Legal Help, a married couple pays the same court fee as a single filer. Attorney fees for a joint case may differ, so ask for a quote that covers both spouses.
Sources
- Filing Fees for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Louisiana
- What is involved in filing for bankruptcy? Massachusetts Legal Help
- Bankruptcy Filing Fees 2026: Costs, Waivers, and Payments
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Cost: Lawyer and Court Fees
- How Much Does It Cost to File Bankruptcy?
- Filing for Bankruptcy (Individuals), U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York
- Bankruptcy Case Policies, Guide to Judiciary Policy
- Filing Fees, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of California
- Bankruptcy Help in New Mexico, New Mexico Legal Aid
- Pro se guide, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Kentucky
- Notice to Debtors Not Represented by an Attorney, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Arizona
- Electronic Self-Representation (eSR), U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Louisiana