How much does it cost to file bankruptcy in California?

Three cost layers: a court filing fee set by federal law (28 U.S.C. § 1930) (payable in installments, and waivable in Chapter 7 for filers well below the poverty guidelines) small fees for the required credit counseling courses, and attorney fees, commonly flat in Chapter 7 and largely paid through the plan in Chapter 13.

Court filing fees are set nationally by 28 U.S.C. § 1930 and the Judicial Conference schedule; Chapter 7 filers with income below 150 percent of the poverty guidelines may apply for a full waiver (section 1930(f)), and installment payment is available in both chapters. The two required courses, credit counseling before filing and financial management before discharge, carry modest fees. Attorney fees follow the chapter. Chapter 7 work is typically quoted flat and collected before filing, since amounts still owed at the petition would be swept into the discharge. Chapter 13 spreads the burden: California's bankruptcy courts use standard presumptive fee amounts, with most of the fee paid through the three-to-five-year plan rather than up front. Every fee arrangement must be disclosed to the court under 11 U.S.C. § 329, which lets the judge review and reduce unreasonable charges. When comparing quotes, ask precisely what the flat fee covers; amendments, reaffirmation agreements, and responses to trustee inquiries are common extras.

Authority: 11 U.S.C. § 329