The court filing fee is $338, the two required courses run roughly $20–$100 total, and an attorney commonly charges somewhere in the range of $1,000–$2,500 for a straightforward consumer case. So a represented filing is typically in the low four figures, and a self-filed one is a few hundred dollars.
And it can be free. That part is on Form B103A and it is left out of most coverage.
The line items
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $338 | Verify the current figure — it changes by judicial order |
| Credit counseling course (before filing) | ~$10–$50 | Must be a DOJ-approved provider; often waivable |
| Debtor education course (after filing) | ~$10–$50 | Also from an approved provider |
| Attorney fees | commonly $1,000–$2,500 | Varies widely by district and case complexity |
| Credit reports | free | annualcreditreport.com |
Chapter 13’s court fee is lower ($313, verify), and its attorney fees are substantially higher because the case runs for years — often paid through the plan rather than up front.
The fee waiver almost nobody mentions
Form B103A waives the filing fee entirely. To qualify, generally: household income below a threshold tied to the federal poverty guidelines for your household size, and an inability to pay even in installments.
This is the direct answer to a question a lot of people are searching — how to file bankruptcy with no money — and it is a routine application, not an exotic one. Form B103B is the fallback: paying the fee in installments, typically up to four payments.
The two courses can also usually be provided at reduced cost or free by approved providers on a sliding scale. Ask the provider directly; it is not always advertised.
The trap: Chapter 7 attorney fees are paid before filing
This is the structural problem in consumer bankruptcy and it deserves stating plainly.
An attorney generally cannot be paid from the estate after a Chapter 7 filing, so the fee is collected up front. Which means the people least able to assemble $1,500 in cash are the ones who need the discharge most — and the common consequence is that they end up in Chapter 13, where fees are paid over the life of the plan, even when Chapter 7 was the better chapter for them.
Three real ways around it:
- Legal aid. Many organizations handle consumer bankruptcy for qualifying incomes at no charge. This is the first call, not the last.
- Law school clinics. Free, supervised, and often very good on straightforward cases.
- Filing pro se with a limited-scope review. Prepare the packet yourself and pay an attorney a flat fee to review the schedules — particularly the exemptions. See filing without an attorney.
What drives attorney fees up
Being able to predict the quote:
- Real estate, especially with equity or a mortgage in arrears
- Self-employment or a business interest — more schedules, more scrutiny
- Income near the means test threshold, requiring the full calculation
- Recent transfers, large recent debt, or prior filings
- Anticipated creditor objections
A no-asset, below-median, W-2 case with credit card and medical debt is the cheapest version and the most common.
What about bankruptcy petition preparers?
They can type your forms and are legally barred from giving legal advice — including which exemptions to claim, which is the part where the money is. Their fees are capped and must be disclosed. Know precisely what you are buying: typing, not judgment.
Is it worth it?
The comparison worth running, since the alternative is usually a paid debt relief program:
A settlement company typically charges 15–25% of enrolled debt. On $20,000 that is $3,000–$5,000, paid over two to four years, during which you are delinquent, exposed to lawsuits, and accumulating a taxable forgiven amount.
Chapter 7 costs the filing fee plus attorney fees — commonly under $2,000 all in — finishes in three to four months, stops lawsuits immediately, and the discharged debt is not taxable income.
That is not an argument that everyone should file. It is an argument that the cost comparison usually runs the opposite way from how it is presented in advertising. See what you get for it and check first whether you qualify at all.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file bankruptcy for free? Effectively yes, for low incomes: the filing fee can be waived on Form B103A, the required courses are often free or reduced on a sliding scale, and legal aid or a law school clinic may represent you at no cost.
How much is the Chapter 7 filing fee? $338, subject to change — confirm the current amount on the court’s fee schedule. Waiver and installment applications are both available.
Do I have to pay attorney fees before filing? For Chapter 7, generally yes, because the fee cannot be paid from the estate afterward. Chapter 13 fees are commonly paid through the plan, which is one reason people without cash end up there.
Why is Chapter 13 more expensive? The case lasts three to five years with ongoing trustee administration, plan modifications and hearings, so attorney fees are considerably higher — usually paid through the plan rather than up front.
What happens if I cannot afford the whole fee at once? File Form B103B to pay in installments, or B103A to request a waiver if your income qualifies. Do not delay filing over the fee if a garnishment or foreclosure is imminent — the applications exist for this.
Are the credit counseling courses a scam? The requirement is real and the providers must be DOJ-approved. Courses sold outside that list do not satisfy the requirement, which is the actual scam risk here.
This article lists typical Chapter 7 costs. Court fees change and attorney fees vary widely by district and case complexity — verify the current fee schedule and get quotes locally. Not legal advice.
Sources
This is information, not advice. PayoffPath explains how debt, credit and bankruptcy work. It does not give individual financial, legal or tax advice, and reading it does not create any professional relationship. What is right for you depends on your income, your state and the terms of your accounts. Figures that change over time are linked to their source.
