How Much Does It Cost to File Bankruptcy?

Filing for bankruptcy involves two separate costs: the court filing fee set by Congress, and the cost of preparing your petition documents. Together, these are far less than attorney fees — which average $1,500–$3,500 or more for Chapter 7 and $3,000–$6,000 for Chapter 13.

Court Filing Fees

The U.S. bankruptcy courts charge a mandatory filing fee for each case:

• Chapter 7: $338
• Chapter 13: $313

These fees are set by federal law and are the same across all U.S. bankruptcy courts. Easy-Case does not collect the court filing fee — you pay it directly to the bankruptcy court when you file your petition.

Easy-Case Petition Preparation Fee

Easy-Case charges a flat $49 for either chapter to guide you through the interview, organize your documents, and generate a complete, court-ready petition packet. That's the same price regardless of whether you're filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

The $49 covers:

• Step-by-step guided interview
• Automatic form population from your answers
• Verification and completeness checks
• PDF petition packet ready to file

Fee Waivers: Filing for Free

If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty line and you're filing Chapter 7, you may qualify for a court filing fee waiver. The waiver must be requested on Official Form 103B at the time of filing. The court reviews your application and can approve, deny, or offer an installment payment plan.

Easy-Case screens you for fee waiver eligibility during the interview and includes the waiver application in your petition packet if you appear to qualify.

Installment Payments for the Court Fee

If you can't pay the full court fee at once but don't qualify for a waiver, you can apply to pay in up to 4 installments over 120 days. The first installment is due at filing.

What's Not Included

• Credit counseling course: ~$10–$50 through an approved provider (some offer fee waivers for low-income filers)
• Debtor education course: ~$10–$50 (required after filing, before discharge)
• Certified mail or filing copies: A few dollars if required by your district

Comparing to Attorney-Led Filing

| | Attorney-Led | Easy-Case (Pro Se) | |---|---|---| | Chapter 7 attorney fee | $1,500–$3,500 | — | | Chapter 13 attorney fee | $3,000–$6,000 | — | | Easy-Case prep fee | — | $49 | | Court filing fee | $338 / $313 | $338 / $313 |

Most pro se filers save over $1,000 compared to hiring an attorney. Learn more about filing without a lawyer.

See how long the process takes or learn what to expect after you file.