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How Much Does It Cost to File Bankruptcy? 3 Things to Know
Anyone filing bankruptcy under Chapter 7 bankruptcy will pay $335 which is charged as a filing fee. These individuals should also expect an additional charge between $15 and $20 as the fee to be paid to the Bankruptcy Trustee.
The bankruptcy court charges a filing fee. It is standard in all Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, regardless of the size of the case or whether the case is an individual, joint, or business case. The total filing fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is $335, which includes a $75 administrative fee and a $15 fee for the Chapter 7 Trustee.
Summary of the Chapter 7 filing fee breakdown (Source):
Cost to file bankruptcy consists of the filing fee, administrative fee, and trustee surcharge
You can apply to have the Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fee waived. The waiver of the bankruptcy fee is based on your income. Your household income must be less than 150 percent of the official poverty line at the time of filing.
If you do not meet the income requirements to waive the Chapter 7 filing fee, you may request an installment schedule. You must file a form requesting to pay the filing fee in installments. If the bankruptcy court approves the installment request, you may be able to pay the filing fee in four installments. The filing fee must be paid in full before you can receive your bankruptcy discharge.
On Average, most companies charge between $10 and $50 for the credit counseling course. You can shop around from the list of approved companies to find a company that has the lowest rate. All courses must contain the same basic information.
3. Credit Report Fees ($0-$20)
You must list all your creditors on your bankruptcy forms. It is generally a good idea to review your credit reports to make sure that all creditors and collection agencies are included in your bankruptcy forms.
Some bankruptcy attorneys may not charge you an additional amount for the credit reports.
5. Debtor Education Course ($10-$50)
After you file your Chapter 7 petition, you must complete a second bankruptcy course. The debtor education course must also be taken from an approved company. Most companies offer courses online, in-person, and by telephone. If you do not complete the debtor education course and file your certificate of completion before the deadline, the court can deny your bankruptcy discharge.
As with the credit counseling courses, the fees for the debtor education course vary from around $10 to $50. Many companies offer both courses at a discount if you use the same company to complete both courses.
You may also waive the fee for the debtor education course if your income is below a certain level. Check with the company about its procedure for requesting a fee waiver.
6. Miscellaneous Costs ($0 – $100)
There could be miscellaneous costs associated with filing Chapter 7.
These may include:
mailing documents
transportation (to and from the bankruptcy court hearing)
parking for hearings
→ Typical total for Chapter 7:
Roughly $810 to $3,500 depending on your situation.
How much does it cost to file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
In addition to the bankruptcy attorney fees, you may also be responsible for the Chapter 13 trustee fee that is paid within the Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan. The Chapter 13 trustee fee may be one of the least understood fees, but it’s extremely important as it can cost you thousands of dollars.
This can make Chapter 13 quite a bit more expensive, but it is included in the plan, so it may make it more affordable.
Please see the administrative expense breakdown here and here (for North Carolina and Alabama).
3. Filing Fees
$235 filing fee
$75 administrative fee
Summary of the Chapter 13 filing fee breakdown (Source):
The Chapter 13 filing fee is $310, consisting of a filing fee and administrative fee.
4. Other Costs (Similar to Chapter 7 Bankruptcy)
It’s important to keep in mind there may be other miscellaneous costs incurred during the process for both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Such expenses will likely be between $300 and $400. You can, however, lower your costs by finding a pro bono lawyer who will handle your case for free. In case a pro bono legal rep is not an alternative, you can consider creating a payment plan that will help you offset the bills without much of a hassle.
So, the total cost to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy should thus be anywhere between $2,810 and $6,310, not including the trustee fees. Note that the filing fees are the same in all states
You may be reading the cost to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy and wondering whether Chapter 13 is worth it. For this reason, we would recommend reading about the bankruptcy alternatives below.
Here’s Where Most People Get Stuck
Reading all of this, you might be thinking:
“Okay… but what would my cost actually be?”
“Would I qualify?”
“Would my payment be high or manageable?”
That’s the hard part.
Because bankruptcy isn’t one-size-fits-all.
→ Your cost depends on your income, debt, location, and goals.
Cost to File Bankruptcy In Your State
As stated above, the cost to file bankruptcy is fixed, but the attorney fee costs are variable. As such, see the ranges of all-in costs for bankruptcy in your state below.
Do I have enough debt to justify the cost to file bankruptcy?
A common question is whether you may have enough debt to file bankruptcy. Unlike what most people would think, there is no minimum debt threshold that one has to achieve to qualify for a bankruptcy filing. You should consider your financial condition so that you can determine whether you should file for bankruptcy.
There is no minimum debt amount that warrants a bankruptcy filing. Although, it is important to keep in mind the amount of debt you hold is a critical determinant in the decision to file for bankruptcy. The decision to file or not to file for bankruptcy should depend on factors such as:
The creditors’ desire to continue doing business with you.
Your ability to clear your debt during bankruptcy.
The ability to repay debt outside bankruptcy.
Your financial situation and other underlying facts may influence the decision.
There is a Chapter 13 debt limit that anyone should consider, especially when planning to file for Bankruptcy under Chapter 13. As of April 1, 2025, an individual is not allowed to have unsecured debt of more than $465,275 for liquidated, non-contingent unsecured debts. Also, secured debts must not exceed $1,395,875 for liquidated, non-contingent secured debts when filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
What are alternatives to filing for bankruptcy?
One does not necessarily have to file for bankruptcy. Some of the alternatives include debt management, debt settlement, and looking for additional sources of income while at the same time reducing your consumption.
Debt Management
Debt management involves individuals piling debt to come up with a plan through which they can negotiate a discounted amount that they owe to creditors. Consumers can also negotiate lower monthly settlements. Non-profit companies commonly use this kind of debt management. Individuals who want to use this approach should consider securing the services of a credit counselor to create a suitable debt management plan There are a few tips that one can follow when going through a debt management program. Also, this process is mainly handled by a debt management firm.
The debt management firm creates an account for the applicant to compile their payments into a single monthly payment. Then, this payment is distributed to the creditors.
Notify the creditors that the debt management firm will be their primary contact.
Negotiate interest rates and other charges with creditors, so that it fits your current monthly payment plan depending on what you can afford.
The debt management firm should confirm whether the employee is pleased with the negotiated payment plan.
Every payment to creditors should be carefully managed until the debt is cleared.
Debt Settlement
Debt settlement involves the use of a third party to negotiate a lower debt amount if the current debt level is too big for you to pay. It aims to lower debt to more manageable levels. Especially when the debt grows to an amount that you cannot afford. Debt settlement companies handle the process through the following steps. There are many pros and cons to debt settlement, so tread lightly.
They create an escrow bank account for the applicant, so the different payments can be consolidated and handled through the account.
Creditors should be notified that the debt settlement firm will be the main point of contact moving forward.
The debt settlement firm negotiates with the creditors to achieve the lowest rate possible.
For example, the firm consults the debtor to secure permission on whether to accept the agreed-upon settlement plan.
The company manages the debt until it is completely cleared.
Please note that there have been some individuals who have had negative experiences with debt relief companies. Some consider these companies a scam, that they may lie to you and they don’t have your best interests in mind.
Estimate Your All-In Cost of Filing Bankruptcy
Before you decide to file for bankruptcy, it is vital to conduct a comprehensive review of your financial situation. You can take a bankruptcy options filing quiz that can help you understand your options. It is also helpful to evaluate your other available options. It will allow you to have a clear view of how things look, as well as the potential alternatives. Each situation has different factors that individuals or companies should consider before deciding whether or not to file for bankruptcy.
We built a comprehensive Chapter 7 calculator to see whether you qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. We also constructed a Chapter 13 calculator to estimate your plan payment
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