A typical Chapter 7 case runs $1,500 to $2,800 total. That breaks into a $338 federal court filing fee and attorney fees of $1,200 to $2,500 for a standard consumer case. Free or reduced-fee help is available for filers below certain income limits, which we cover below.
The court filing fee is fixed. The Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule sets the Chapter 7 filing fee at $338 as of 2026 (this includes the $245 base fee, a $78 administrative fee, and a $15 trustee surcharge). It is the same in every federal district. You can pay it at filing, in installments under 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a), or apply for a fee waiver if your household income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty line and you can't pay even in installments.
Attorney fees vary by region and complexity. In low-cost-of-living areas, $1,200 to $1,800 is typical for a straightforward consumer Chapter 7 with no business, no nonexempt assets, and no contested issues. In major metropolitan areas, expect $1,800 to $2,500 for the same case. Complex cases (recent transfers, nondischargeability disputes, small business interests, high-asset cases) can run $3,000 to $5,000 or more. Most attorneys offer free initial consultations and quote a flat fee at the end.
Attorney fees are paid before filing. Unlike Chapter 13, Chapter 7 attorneys cannot wait to be paid from the bankruptcy itself. The fees would be a discharged unsecured claim. So you pay the attorney before they file. Most accept installment plans during the pre-filing period (often $200 to $400 per month for 3 to 5 months) so the total isn't a single lump sum.
Credit counseling and debtor education courses. Two required courses, both online, both run about 90 minutes. Pre-filing credit counseling: $10 to $50 (waivable below 150 percent of poverty line). Post-filing financial management: $10 to $50. Approved providers are listed on the U.S. Trustee Program's website. Course fees often get waived together as part of the same hardship application.
Free Chapter 7 help. Upsolve is a nonprofit that helps simple Chapter 7 filers prepare their petitions for free. They typically accept filers with household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty line, no business ownership, and no real estate. Local legal aid offices handle bankruptcy at no cost for clients below 125 to 200 percent of the poverty line; eligibility and capacity vary by region. Some bar associations run reduced-fee panels for moderate-income filers.
The fee waiver in detail. The court can waive the $338 filing fee if your household income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty line for your household size and you cannot pay even in installments. You complete Form 103B (Application for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee) and a judge decides. Waivers are granted in roughly half of applications. If denied, you can pay in installments instead.
What attorneys actually include in the flat fee. A standard consumer Chapter 7 attorney fee typically covers the petition, schedules, statement of financial affairs, exemption analysis, the 341 meeting of creditors, basic creditor calls, and routine trustee questions. Add-ons that often cost extra: reaffirmation agreement preparation ($150 to $400), lien avoidance motions to clear judgment liens ($300 to $600), defending an adversary proceeding (varies widely).
Comparing the cost to alternatives. Settlement on $50,000 of credit card debt typically runs $30,000 to $48,000 over 2 to 5 years (fees, payments, and taxes combined). A DMP on the same debt totals about $51,000 to $58,000 over 4 to 5 years (full repayment at reduced interest plus modest agency fees). Chapter 7 at $1,500 to $2,800 in 3 to 6 months is by far the cheapest option for debtors who qualify, and the cost gap grows as the debt grows.
The honest summary. Chapter 7 is the cheapest legal way to resolve unsecured debt for people who qualify. Free help exists for low-income filers. For most middle-income filers, the $1,500 to $2,800 total is paid once and the case is done in 3 to 6 months.