Yes, you can file bankruptcy without an attorney. It's called filing "pro se." There's no law requiring legal representation for bankruptcy. But whether you should is a different question, and the answer depends on what chapter you're filing and how complex your situation is.
Chapter 7 pro se filing: This is more feasible than Chapter 13. A straightforward Chapter 7 (wage earner, no significant assets, no business, no recent property transfers) involves filling out about 20 to 30 pages of official forms covering your income, expenses, property, debts, and financial history. The forms are available free from uscourts.gov.
Upsolve is a nonprofit that offers a free online tool to prepare Chapter 7 documents for people who qualify based on income. They walk you through each form, generate your petition, and give you instructions for filing. If you qualify, this is probably the best free option available.
Chapter 13 pro se filing: This is much harder and generally not recommended. Chapter 13 requires a proposed repayment plan that must conform to complex legal requirements (the "Best Interests of Creditors" test, the "Best Efforts" test, and the "Disposable Income" test). The plan must be approved by the trustee and the court. Most pro se Chapter 13 cases fail because the plan doesn't meet these requirements, resulting in dismissal and wasted filing fees.
Risks of filing without an attorney:
Choosing the wrong chapter. If you file Chapter 7 when you should have filed Chapter 13, you could lose property that could have been protected. Missing exemptions. Every state has specific exemption laws that protect certain property. Missing an available exemption could mean losing an asset you didn't need to lose. Procedural mistakes. Missing a deadline, failing to list a creditor, or incorrectly completing the Means Test can result in your case being dismissed or your discharge denied. Fraud allegations. Incorrectly reporting your income, assets, or recent transfers (even accidentally) can raise red flags that an attorney would have helped you avoid.
The cost comparison: A Chapter 7 attorney costs $1,000 to $2,500. Filing pro se costs about $360 to $440 (filing fee plus counseling). You're saving roughly $1,000 to $2,000. If that savings allows you to actually file when you otherwise couldn't afford to, pro se filing makes sense. If you can scrape together the attorney fee, the peace of mind and professional guidance is usually worth it.
Middle ground: Some attorneys offer "unbundled" services where they review your completed forms for a flat fee ($200 to $500) without handling the full case. This gives you a safety check without the full cost of representation.