Filing bankruptcy involves two main costs: court filing fees and document preparation fees. Here's what to expect — and what affects the total.
When you file for bankruptcy, you'll face two expenses:
Paid directly to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. These fees are set by federal law and change periodically. With the court's permission, they may be paid in installments (typically up to 4 payments).
Paid to us for typing, organizing, and preparing the forms based on the information you provide. We quote flat fees up-front — no hourly billing, no surprises.
Filing fee: Approximately $338 (subject to change — always verify with the court).
Document preparation fee: Varies by complexity. Call for a quote.
Chapter 7 is simpler and less expensive overall. Most unsecured debts are discharged.
Filing fee: Approximately $313 (subject to change — always verify with the court).
Document preparation fee: Higher than Chapter 7 due to added complexity.
Chapter 13 involves a repayment plan, more paperwork, and a longer process.
Important: Court filing fees are not paid to us and are not part of our document preparation fee. The court fee must be paid to the Clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court separately.
Chapter 13 cases are more complex and cost more than Chapter 7.
Higher-income filers may need more paperwork for the means test.
A wholly-owned business or complex assets adds paperwork.
More real estate = more forms and schedules.
Filing costs money. But so does carrying overwhelming debt. Compare:
If you owe $30,000 at 18%–30% interest, and you only make minimum payments, you could pay more than $50,000 over 10+ years — and still owe money at the end.
You pay a one-time filing fee and a document preparation fee. Unsecured debts are discharged. You start rebuilding within months.
The decision is yours.
For the court filing fee, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court accepts:
Not accepted: personal checks or credit cards.
Money orders and cashier's checks should be made payable to:
Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
Payment methods may change — always verify with the court directly before sending payment.
If you can't pay the full court filing fee up-front, you may request permission to pay in installments — typically up to 4 payments.
The final installment is generally due no later than 120 days after filing. For good cause, the court may extend that up to 180 days.
Approval is at the court's discretion. Talk to a licensed attorney about your options.
Call us. We'll tell you exactly what it costs.