How Much Does It Cost to File Bankruptcy in 2026? Court Fees, Attorney Fees and Courses

• Tahir Abbas
• October 29, 2026

Last updated: October 2026

Informational only, not legal advice. Court fees and local rules change, and a licensed bankruptcy attorney must advise on your specific case. This guide explains what the federal courts and the U.S. Trustee Program publish about the cost of filing.

Key takeaways

• Chapter 7 court cost: $245 filing fee + $78 administrative fee + $15 trustee surcharge = $338.
• Chapter 13 court cost: $235 filing fee + $78 administrative fee = $313.
• Individuals can ask to pay court fees in up to four installments; low-income Chapter 7 filers can ask for a full waiver.
• You must take credit counseling before filing and a debtor education course after filing. Providers must disclose fees up front and cannot turn you away for inability to pay.
• Attorney fees are not set by the federal courts. Some districts publish presumptive Chapter 13 fees, which differ widely by court.

What are the court fees to file bankruptcy in 2026?

Every bankruptcy case has a statutory filing fee set by Congress, plus an administrative fee set by the Judicial Conference and, in Chapter 7, a trustee surcharge. The statutory fees are in 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a): $245 for Chapter 7, $235 for Chapter 13, $200 for Chapter 12 and $1,167 for Chapter 11. The administrative fee is listed in the Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule: $78 for a petition under Chapter 7, 12 or 13, and $571 for Chapter 9, 11 or 15. That schedule shows an effective date of December 1, 2023.

The Chapter 7 trustee surcharge is $15, per the Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Basics page on uscourts.gov.

A note on conflicting numbers. The Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 “Bankruptcy Basics” pages on uscourts.gov still describe a $75 administrative fee, which produces totals of $335 and $310. The current fee schedule says $78, so this guide uses $78. Many articles online repeat the older $75 figure. Confirm the exact amount with your court clerk before you file.

Court fees by chapter (as of October 2026)

Sources: 28 U.S.C. § 1930 and the Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule. Totals are our addition of those figures.

In a joint case, spouses pay one filing fee, one administrative fee and one trustee surcharge, not two.

Can I pay the bankruptcy filing fee in installments or get it waived?

Installments. Under § 1930(a), an individual who files a voluntary case may pay the filing fee in installments. According to uscourts.gov, you need the court’s permission, installments are limited to four, and the last one is due within 120 days of filing. The court can extend an installment for cause, but the final payment must be made within 180 days. The administrative fee and trustee surcharge can also be paid this way. Missing payments can lead to dismissal of the case.

Waiver (Chapter 7 only). Under § 1930(f), a court may waive the Chapter 7 filing fee for an individual whose income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline for their family size and who cannot pay the fee in installments. It is a court decision, not automatic. Your attorney or the clerk’s office can tell you how to request it in your district.

What do the required courses cost?

Individual filers must complete two separate courses. Both are overseen by the U.S. Trustee Program (justice.gov/ust).

• Credit counseling: must be completed before you file, with very limited exceptions. uscourts.gov says it must come from an approved agency within the 180 days before filing. If you skip it, the case can be dismissed.
• Debtor education: a separate course taken after you file. With limited exceptions, you need it to receive a discharge. The U.S. Trustee Program says it must last at least two hours.

On price, the U.S. Trustee Program’s FAQs for credit counseling and debtor education say:

• The provider must disclose all fees clearly before the session.
• A fee of $50 or less is presumed reasonable; a higher fee needs U.S. Trustee Program approval.
• Services are available free or at a reduced rate based on ability to pay. A client with household income below 150% of the poverty level is presumptively eligible for a waiver or reduction.
• Providers must serve you regardless of your ability to pay.

Only agencies on the government’s approved lists count. Use the U.S. Trustee Program’s approved credit counseling agency list, which you can filter by state and judicial district and which shows whether each agency offers internet, telephone or in-person sessions. A course from a provider not on the list will not satisfy the requirement. Bankruptcy cases in Alabama and North Carolina are handled by Bankruptcy Administrators rather than the U.S. Trustee Program, so check with the court there.

How much do bankruptcy attorneys charge?

There is no national attorney fee for bankruptcy. We did not find a Chapter 7 attorney fee range on uscourts.gov or justice.gov/ust, so we are not going to quote one. Fees depend on the district, the attorney’s experience, the complexity of the case and whether it is Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. Ask for a written fee agreement and ask exactly what is included, for example the credit report, the filing fee, and representation at the creditors’ meeting.

What is public is how some courts set presumptive Chapter 13 attorney fees. These are examples, and each court has its own rules:

The gap between the lowest and highest figures here is $5,100 − $2,800 = $2,300 within one district alone, and the three courts use different structures, so do not read these as typical prices for your area. They show why a lawyer in your district is the only reliable source for a quote.

Worked example: total cost of an individual Chapter 7 case

Suppose a single filer in a district where the clerk charges the standard federal amounts uses an approved credit counseling agency and debtor education provider that each charge the $50 level the U.S. Trustee Program presumes reasonable. This is an estimate using published figures; actual provider fees vary and can be lower or waived.

Check: $245 + $78 + $15 = $338; $338 + $50 + $50 = $438. If the court approved four equal installments of the $338, each payment would be $338 ÷ 4 = $84.50. Any attorney fee is added on top of this and is set by your agreement with the attorney.

What other court fees can come up?

From the fee schedule (effective December 1, 2023):

• Amending your creditor list or schedules to add creditors: $34 (the judge can waive it for good cause).
• Reopening a closed case: $245 for Chapter 7, $235 for Chapter 13, $200 for Chapter 12 and $1,167 for Chapter 11.

Leaving a creditor off your list at filing can mean paying the amendment fee later, which is one reason accurate paperwork matters.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy?

As of October 2026, the court charges $338 for a Chapter 7 case: a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee surcharge. Credit counseling, debtor education and any attorney fees are separate.

How much does it cost to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

The court charges $313 for a Chapter 13 case: a $235 filing fee plus a $78 administrative fee. Attorney fees are separate, and some courts publish presumptive Chapter 13 attorney fees, which differ by district.

Can I file bankruptcy if I cannot afford the fee?

Possibly. Individuals can ask the court’s permission to pay the court fees in up to four installments within 120 days (180 days if extended for cause). In Chapter 7, a court may waive the fee if your income is below 150% of the poverty guideline and you cannot pay in installments.

Are the credit counseling and debtor education courses free?

Not always, but they are available free or at a reduced rate based on ability to pay. A fee of $50 or less is presumed reasonable, and a household income below 150% of the poverty level makes you presumptively eligible for a waiver or reduction. Use only providers on the U.S. Trustee Program’s approved lists.

Do I have to hire a lawyer to file bankruptcy?

Individuals can file a case themselves, but bankruptcy law is technical and mistakes can cost you the case. A licensed attorney should advise on your situation, and this guide cannot tell you what is right for your case.

Why do some websites list $335 or $310?

Those totals use an older $75 administrative fee that still appears on some uscourts.gov explainer pages. The current Miscellaneous Fee Schedule lists $78, which gives $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13.

How Softotech supports attorneys

Softotech Solutions does not give legal advice and does not replace a lawyer. If you are an attorney or small firm, our bankruptcy paralegal services provide attorney-supervised petition preparation support, so your team can review and file. If you run your own business and want to price your own work, our free calculators are there too. Fees and rules change, so always confirm current amounts with your court clerk or attorney.