How Much Does It Cost to File for Bankruptcy?

Filing for bankruptcy usually costs somewhere between about $400 and $3,500 or more, depending on the chapter you file and whether you hire an attorney.

The court filing fee is fixed: $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. The biggest variable is attorney fees, which typically run about $1,000 to $2,500 for Chapter 7 and $2,500 to $5,000 for Chapter 13. If your income is low enough, you may be able to file Chapter 7 with the court fee waived entirely.

Here is exactly what you pay, where the money goes and how to keep the cost down.

Key Takeaways

• Court filing fees are the same nationwide. Chapter 7 costs $338 and Chapter 13 costs $313, both set by the federal courts.

• Attorney fees are the largest cost. Plan for roughly $1,000 to $2,500 in a typical Chapter 7 case and $2,500 to $5,000 in Chapter 13.

• Required courses add a little. Credit counseling and debtor education usually run about $0 to $100 combined and can be waived if you cannot afford them.

• Low-income filers can pay less or nothing. Chapter 7 filers under 150% of the federal poverty level can apply to waive the court fee, and others can pay it in up to four installments.

• Chapter 13 spreads the cost out. You generally cannot waive the Chapter 13 fee, but you can roll most attorney fees into your three- to five-year repayment plan.

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

How Much Does It Cost to File Bankruptcy?

The total cost of filing for bankruptcy comes down to three things: the court filing fee, the required education courses and attorney fees if you hire a lawyer.

Court fees are fixed by federal law, but attorney fees vary widely by chapter, location and how complex your case is. Knowing the types of bankruptcy you might file is the starting point, because the chapter drives most of the cost.

Here is what the main costs look like for the two most common consumer chapters:

Court Filing Fees by Chapter

The bankruptcy court charges the same filing fee no matter where you live, because the amounts are set by federal law. As of 2026, the fees are:

• Chapter 7: $338, which includes a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee surcharge.

• Chapter 13: $313, which includes a $235 filing fee and a $78 administrative fee.

• Chapter 11: $1,738, reflecting how much more complex business reorganization is.

• Chapter 12: $278 for family farmers and fishermen.

These fees change from time to time, so confirm the current amount on the U.S. Courts fee schedule before you file.

Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Costs

Every filer has to complete two short courses: a credit counseling session within 180 days before filing and a debtor education course after filing but before your debts are discharged. Most credit counseling providers charge about $15 to $30, and the debtor education course typically runs up to $50.

By law, approved agencies must provide counseling regardless of your ability to pay, so if you can't afford the fee, you can ask the provider to reduce or waive it.

MoneyLion offers a service to help you find personal loan offers. Based on the information you provide, you can get matched with offers for up to $100,000 from our top providers. You can compare rates, terms, and fees from different lenders and choose the best offer for you.

Attorney Fees: The Biggest Variable

Attorney fees are usually the largest part of the cost, and they work differently in each chapter.

For Chapter 7, fees typically run about $1,000 to $2,500 for a straightforward consumer case, though complex cases cost more. Your lawyer will generally require the full fee before filing, because the Chapter 7 discharge would otherwise wipe out the unpaid attorney fee.

To understand what you are paying for, our guide on what is a chapter 7 bankruptcy walks through the process step by step.

For Chapter 13, fees are higher, commonly $2,500 to $5,000, with an average around $3,000, because these cases stretch over three to five years and involve more work. The longer timeline is part of the cost equation, and our guide on how long does it take to file bankruptcy breaks down each stage. The trade-off is that you usually pay only a portion upfront and roll the rest into your repayment plan.

Our breakdown of what is a chapter 13 bankruptcy covers how that plan works.

Many districts use a "no-look" fee, a flat amount the court presumes reasonable for a routine Chapter 13 case, which keeps fees within a predictable range. A lawyer can request more, but only by justifying the extra work to the court. Chapter 11 sits in a different tier altogether, often starting around $15,000 in attorney fees because of its complexity, which is one reason it is rarely used by individuals.

See our comparison of chapter 7 vs chapter 11 vs chapter 13 for how the chapters stack up.

How To File for Less: Waivers and Installments

If money is tight, you have a few ways to lower or delay the cost:

1. Apply for a Chapter 7 fee waiver. If your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and you cannot pay even in installments, the court may waive the $338 fee entirely.

2. Pay the court fee in installments. If you do not qualify for a waiver, you can usually split the fee into as many as four payments within 120 days of filing.

3. Roll Chapter 13 fees into your plan. Chapter 13 filers cannot waive the court fee, but they can pay it and most attorney fees through the repayment plan rather than all at once.

4. Ask about reduced course fees. Both required courses can often be reduced or waived for filers who cannot afford them.

What About Filing Without a Lawyer?

You can file bankruptcy on your own, known as filing "pro se," which removes the largest cost.

With a fee waiver and reduced course fees, a simple Chapter 7 case can cost little or nothing. Free legal aid organizations and pro bono attorneys may also help if you qualify.

The trade-off is risk: mistakes on your paperwork or exemptions can cost you property or your discharge, so self-filing tends to make the most sense only for straightforward, low-asset Chapter 7 cases.

Reviewing what happens when you file for bankruptcy can help you gauge whether you are comfortable going it alone.

The Long-Term Costs To Keep in Mind

The price of filing is not just the upfront fees. Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for seven to 10 years and can lower your score by a meaningful amount, which may mean higher interest rates and insurance premiums for a while.

Our guide on how does bankruptcy affect your credit explains the score impact, and our steps to recover from bankruptcy show how to rebuild. Filing also triggers an automatic stay that immediately stops most collection actions, which is part of the value you get for the cost.

It's also worth weighing the cost against what bankruptcy actually clears. If much of your debt is non-dischargeable, the price may not be worth it, so it helps to understand does bankruptcy clear all debt and whether you should i file for bankruptcy in the first place.

If the cost outweighs the benefit, comparing bankruptcy alternatives like a debt management plan or consolidation may point to a cheaper path.

Want to keep tabs on your finances? MoneyLion offers tools that can help you monitor your credit and understand your financial habits. Explore MoneyLion's credit resources to learn more.

Bottom Line

How much it costs to file bankruptcy depends mostly on the chapter and whether you hire an attorney.

The court fee is fixed at $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13, the required courses add up to about $100, and attorney fees make up the rest, typically $1,000 to $2,500 for Chapter 7 and $2,500 to $5,000 for Chapter 13. Low-income filers can often waive the Chapter 7 court fee or pay in installments, and Chapter 13 filers can spread most of the cost across their repayment plan.

Before you file, compare the full cost against the relief you would actually get, and consider a free consultation with a nonprofit credit counselor or bankruptcy attorney.

Key Terms

• Filing fee: The fee paid to the bankruptcy court to open a case, currently $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13.

• Fee waiver: A court approval that eliminates the Chapter 7 filing fee for filers under 150% of the federal poverty level who cannot pay in installments.

• Installment payments: An option to split the court filing fee into up to four payments within 120 days.

• No-look fee: A flat attorney fee a court presumes reasonable for a routine Chapter 13 case, which a lawyer can exceed only with justification.

• Credit counseling course: A required pre-filing session, usually $15 to $30, that can be reduced or waived for those who cannot afford it.

• Debtor education course: A required post-filing course, costing up to $50, that you must finish before your debts are discharged.

• Pro se filing: Filing your own case without an attorney, which removes the largest cost but adds risk.

Sources

• U.S. Courts — Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule

• Legal Information Institute — Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1006 (Filing Fee)

• U.S. Courts — Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — Bankruptcy resources

• 28 U.S.C. § 1930 — Bankruptcy fees

Summary generated by AI, verified by MoneyLion editors

FAQ

Here are quick answers to common questions about the cost of filing for bankruptcy.

How much does it cost to file bankruptcy?

The court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13, plus up to about $100 for the two required courses. Adding attorney fees, most people spend roughly $1,000 to $2,500 for Chapter 7 and $2,500 to $5,000 for Chapter 13. With a fee waiver and self-filing, a simple Chapter 7 case can cost little or nothing.

Is it cheaper to file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?

Chapter 13 has a slightly lower court filing fee, but it usually costs more overall because attorney fees are higher and the case lasts three to five years. Chapter 7 is generally the cheaper and faster option for filers who qualify and have mostly unsecured debt.

Can I file bankruptcy if I cannot afford the fee?

Yes. Chapter 7 filers with income below 150% of the federal poverty level can apply to have the filing fee waived. If you do not qualify for a waiver, you can usually pay the fee in up to four installments. Chapter 13 filers cannot waive the fee but can pay it through their repayment plan.

Do I have to hire a lawyer to file bankruptcy?

No. You can file on your own, which removes the biggest cost, and free legal aid or pro bono help may be available. Self-filing works best for simple Chapter 7 cases, since errors can cost you property or your discharge. Chapter 13 is complex enough that most people use an attorney.

Why are Chapter 13 attorney fees higher than Chapter 7?

Chapter 13 cases take three to five years and involve drafting and managing a repayment plan, attending more hearings and handling possible plan changes, so they require far more work. Many courts set a "no-look" fee they presume reasonable for routine cases, and you can usually pay most of it through your plan rather than upfront.