By Robert A. Stiberman, Esq., Member of The Florida Bar since 1998, representing Florida bankruptcy clients since 2009. Last reviewed: June 2026.
In Florida, the court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Once you add attorney fees and the two required courses, most people’s total cost runs roughly $2,200 to $3,000 for Chapter 7 and $3,000 to $5,000 or more for Chapter 13, depending on the attorney and how complex the case is. If money is tight, you may be able to pay the court fee in installments, in Chapter 7 have it waived entirely if your income is low enough, or get help from a free legal-aid clinic. Here’s the full breakdown.
Cost at a Glance
| Item | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $338 | $313 |
| Typical attorney fees | $1,800–$2,500 | Higher; set by court guidelines and varies by district |
| Required courses (two) | ~$15–$50 each (waivable if low income) | ~$15–$50 each (waivable if low income) |
| Typical all-in total | ~$2,200–$3,000 | ~$3,000–$5,000+ |
| Pay the filing fee over time? | Installments or fee waiver | Installments only (no waiver) |
Court filing fees verified for 2026; attorney fees vary by case.
Chapter 7 Costs
Chapter 7 is the most common consumer filing. The court filing fee is $338, made up of a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee, and a $15 trustee surcharge.
That fee covers the court, not your lawyer. Our Chapter 7 attorney fee is typically $1,800 to $2,500, quoted as a flat fee so you know the full cost up front. The exact number depends on the details of your case, more creditors, assets, or complications generally mean more work.
To put that in context: national surveys put typical Chapter 7 attorney fees somewhere between $1,000 and $3,500, with straightforward, steady-income cases commonly landing around $1,500 to $2,200, and higher-cost metropolitan areas like South Florida trending toward the upper end of the range. Our pricing is set to sit squarely within that market while reflecting the experience of a firm that has filed more than 2,500 Florida bankruptcies.
Here’s the full list of Chapter 7 forms and the documents you’ll need.
Chapter 13 Costs
Chapter 13 reorganizes your debt into a 3-to-5-year repayment plan, so it involves more work over a longer period. The court filing fee is $313 ($235 filing + $78 administrative).
Attorney fees for Chapter 13 are higher and are governed by the bankruptcy court’s “presumptively reasonable” fee guidelines, which vary by district. An attorney who wants to charge above the guideline amount must get court approval. A useful feature of Chapter 13: much of the attorney fee can often be paid through your plan over time rather than all upfront.
The Two Required Courses
Everyone who files must complete two courses: a credit counseling course before filing and a debtor education (financial management) course after filing. Each typically costs about $15 to $50, and approved providers will reduce or waive the fee if your income is low. Use only a court-approved agency.
How to Pay the Filing Fee: Installments or a Waiver
You have options if you can’t pay the court fee all at once:
- Pay in installments. File Form 103A (“Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments”) with your petition. The court generally allows up to four payments over 120 days, with the first due at filing. Miss a deadline and the case can be dismissed, and all installments must be paid before you receive your discharge.
- Ask for a waiver (Chapter 7 only). If your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level, you can ask the court to waive the Chapter 7 filing fee entirely using Form 103B. Note: fee waivers are not available in Chapter 13, only installments.
Can’t Afford an Attorney? Pro Bono, Clinics, and Low-Bono Help
If hiring a lawyer is genuinely out of reach, Florida’s bankruptcy courts and bar associations run free and reduced-cost programs. We would rather point you to legitimate help than see you go unrepresented or fall for a scam:
- Southern District (Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and nearby counties): the court’s pro bono program and legal assistance resources include a monthly virtual pro se clinic and a help desk at certain hearings. Dade Legal Aid / “Put Something Back” places eligible clients with volunteer attorneys, and the University of Miami School of Law runs the Eleanor R. Cristol and Judge A. Jay Cristol Bankruptcy Pro Bono Assistance Clinic.
- Middle District (Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers): the court’s legal assistance program and pro se / pro bono clinics offer free consultations with volunteer counsel, including walk-in and virtual options in Tampa and Orlando.
- Northern District (Tallahassee, Pensacola, Gainesville): the Northern District Bankruptcy Bar Association Pro Bono Initiative provides free and reduced-rate assistance.
- Law school clinics and “low-bono.” Several Florida law school clinics handle bankruptcy matters for qualifying low-income filers, and “low-bono” / modest-means programs offer reduced flat fees for people who don’t qualify for free aid but still can’t pay standard rates. The Florida Bar lawyer referral service can point you to participating attorneys.
Eligibility for free help usually depends on income (often tied to the federal poverty guidelines). If you don’t qualify but still can’t pay all at once, ask us, we offer flexible payment plans designed for exactly this situation.
What Can Increase Your Cost
Your case may cost more if it involves:
- A lot of assets, or non-exempt property to protect
- Multiple income sources or self-employment
- Many creditors or a creditor lawsuit already filed
- A prior bankruptcy within the look-back period
- A business filing alongside your personal case
- Non-dischargeable debts like recent taxes, domestic support, or student loans that need special handling
We tell you what your case will cost before we begin, so there are no surprises and you can plan how to pay.
Is a Lawyer Worth the Cost?
It usually is. Filing on your own to save money often costs more in the end if something is done incorrectly, a missed exemption can mean losing property worth far more than the fee, and a defective filing can be dismissed. An experienced attorney makes sure your paperwork is right, protects the maximum property the law allows in Chapter 7, keeps your Chapter 13 payment as low as the rules permit, and deals with creditors and the trustee for you. We also offer flexible payment arrangements to make the cost manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to file Chapter 7 in Florida? The court filing fee is $338. With attorney fees (our Chapter 7 fee is typically $1,800 to $2,500) and the two required courses, most Chapter 7 cases total roughly $2,200 to $3,000.
How much does Chapter 13 cost? The court filing fee is $313. All-in costs typically run $3,000 to $5,000 or more, though much of the Chapter 13 attorney fee can often be paid through your plan over time.
Can I file bankruptcy for free? In Chapter 7, if your income is below 150% of the federal poverty level you can ask the court to waive the filing fee (Form 103B). The two courses can also be reduced or waived for low income, and free pro bono clinics and legal-aid programs operate in all three Florida districts.
Can I pay the filing fee in installments? Yes, file Form 103A with your petition. The court generally allows up to four payments over 120 days.
How much do the required courses cost? The credit counseling and debtor education courses generally cost about $15 to $50 each, with discounts or waivers available for low-income filers.
Talk to a Florida Bankruptcy Attorney
We’ll give you a clear, honest, flat-fee estimate for your specific situation and work to keep your costs as low as possible, including flexible payment plans. Call 954-922-2283 or request a free, confidential consultation. Firmwide, we’ve filed more than 2,500 Florida bankruptcies since 2009. Learn more about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Costs depend on the facts of your case; we’ll quote your specific situation at your consultation.