How much does it cost to file bankruptcy?

What are the court fees?

Court fees are the same for everyone who files the same kind of case, with or without a lawyer. They are normally paid to the clerk when the case is filed. Spouses who file a joint petition pay only one set of fees.4

What if you cannot pay the court fee at once?

You can ask to pay in installments. With the court's permission, an individual may pay in no more than four installments, with the last one due within 120 days of filing. For cause, the court may stretch the schedule so that the last installment is paid no later than 180 days after filing. The application is Form 103A.4 3 6

A full waiver exists only for an individual's Chapter 7 case. The court may waive the fee if your income is less than 150 percent of the official poverty line for a family of your size and you are unable to pay in installments. Both conditions have to be met. The application is Form 103B.1 6

The waiver covers the filing fee and the other fees payable to the clerk when a Chapter 7 case begins.1

Failure to pay the fees may result in dismissal of the case, so if an application is turned down, find out what you owe and by when.4

What do the required courses cost?

You pay for credit counseling before you file and for the debtor education course after you file. Both must come from an approved agency or provider.4 7 8

Agencies and providers set their own fees and must disclose them before the session starts. The U.S. Trustee Program presumes a fee of $50 or less to be reasonable (FAQ pages updated January 15, 2025).9 10

They must serve you without regard to your ability to pay, and a household income below 150% of the poverty level is presumed to qualify for a free or reduced-fee session.9 10

What about lawyer fees?

The lawyer's fee is the cost that is not fixed, and we do not quote a typical figure. Whatever you agree, your lawyer must disclose it in a statement filed with the court.11

If you are unable to afford an attorney, you may qualify for free legal services.12 13

A petition preparer may charge for typing your forms but may not collect money for the court's filing fees. You pay those to the court yourself.14

Which fees can come up later in a case?

Most cases never meet these, but they are in the court's fee schedule and worth knowing about.

• Amending your schedules or lists of creditors: $34 (effective December 1, 2023). It is not charged when you only change a creditor's address, and the judge may waive it for good cause.2
• Converting a Chapter 13 case to Chapter 7: $25, made up of a $10 conversion fee and a $15 trustee fee (effective December 1, 2023). There is no fee for converting from Chapter 7 to Chapter 13.2 3 4
• Reopening a closed case: $245 for a Chapter 7 case and $235 for a Chapter 13 case (effective December 1, 2023). The fee is not charged when you reopen the case because a creditor allegedly violated your discharge.2
• Filing a complaint to start an adversary proceeding: $350 (effective December 1, 2023). The fee is not charged when the debtor is the plaintiff.2

What if cost is the reason you have not filed?

Work through the help that exists before you rule filing out.

1. Compare your household income with the poverty guideline for your family size. Below 150 percent, a Chapter 7 fee waiver is possible if you also cannot pay in installments.1
2. Ask the counseling agency about a fee waiver or reduction before you book.9 10
3. Ask the clerk of your bankruptcy court or your state bar association about organizations that offer bankruptcy help at a reduced fee or pro bono.12 13