What Does Bankruptcy Cost in Minnesota? 2026 Fees Explained

If you're thinking about bankruptcy, money is already tight. So it can feel almost unfair that it costs money to tell a court you can't pay your bills. If that's where you are right now — doing math at the kitchen table, wondering whether you can even afford a fresh start — take a breath. The costs are more predictable than you might fear, and there is real help if you can't pay everything up front.

Here is an honest look at what bankruptcy costs in Minnesota in 2026: the court filing fees, the two required courses, and typical attorney fee ranges. Every number below either comes from an official government fee schedule or is clearly labeled as a typical range that varies from case to case. Nothing here is a quote or a promise. Your actual costs depend on your situation.

The short answer

• Chapter 7 court filing fee: $338 total
• Chapter 13 court filing fee: $313 total
• Credit counseling and debtor education courses: often about $10 to $50 each, and free if you qualify for a waiver
• Attorney fees: the biggest cost, and the one that varies the most — typical ranges are below

Now let's break each of those down.

Court filing fees in 2026

According to the U.S. Courts bankruptcy fee schedule, filing a Chapter 7 case costs $338. That total includes a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee, and a $15 trustee surcharge. Filing a Chapter 13 case costs $313 — a $235 filing fee plus the same $78 administrative fee.

These amounts are the same in every federal bankruptcy court, including the District of Minnesota, which handles every bankruptcy case filed in the state. Fees do change from time to time, so confirm the current amount on the court's website or with your attorney before you file.

Can't pay the filing fee all at once?

The court knows that people filing bankruptcy are short on cash. Two options can help:

• Installment payments. You can ask the court to let you pay the filing fee in up to four installments, with the final payment due within 120 days after you file. This option exists in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
• A full fee waiver (Chapter 7 only). A judge can waive the Chapter 7 filing fee completely if your income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines for your household size and you cannot pay in installments. You apply on an official court form, and the judge decides.

Chapter 13 has no fee waiver, which makes sense when you think about it. Chapter 13 is built around a monthly repayment plan, so the court expects you to have some ability to pay over time.

The two required courses

Federal law requires two short courses in almost every consumer bankruptcy:

• Credit counseling, taken before you file
• Debtor education, taken after you file and before your debts are discharged

Both courses must come from an agency approved by the U.S. Trustee Program, the Department of Justice office that oversees bankruptcy cases. The approved list is posted on the Justice Department's website, and most courses can be completed online or by phone in an hour or two.

The cost is modest. Many approved agencies charge roughly $10 to $50 per course, though some charge more for the debtor education course. And here is something many people don't know: approved agencies are required to waive their fee if you can't afford it, generally when your income is below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. If money is tight, ask the agency about a waiver before you start.

Attorney fees for Chapter 7 in Minnesota

Attorney fees are the largest cost in most bankruptcies, and there is no set price. Most Minnesota attorneys charge a flat fee for a Chapter 7 case and collect it in full before filing. Why before? Because Chapter 7 wipes out debts you owe on the day you file — including an unpaid bill to your own lawyer — so attorneys get paid first.

Consumer legal resources such as the nonprofit Upsolve and the legal publisher Nolo report that Chapter 7 attorney fees for Minnesota filers typically land somewhere between roughly $1,000 and $3,000. Treat that as a typical range, not a rule — your quote could fall outside it. Fees tend toward the higher end when a case is more complicated, such as when you:

• Own property that may not be fully protected
• Have business debts or irregular income
• Earn above Minnesota's median income, which means more detailed means-test paperwork
• Have filed bankruptcy before

When you compare quotes, ask exactly what is included. Does the fee cover the court filing fee? The meeting of creditors? Amendments if something changes? A low quote that leaves those out may not be low at all.

Chapter 13 attorney fees are often paid through your plan

Chapter 13 fees run higher because the case lasts three to five years and involves more work. Nolo reports that Chapter 13 attorney fees typically range from about $2,500 to $7,000 nationally, depending on location and complexity. Again, that is a typical range that varies — not a promise about what your case would cost.

Here is the part that surprises people: you usually do not need all of that money up front. In Chapter 13, most attorneys take a smaller payment before filing and collect the rest through your monthly plan payments over the life of the case. The bankruptcy court also reviews attorney compensation in Chapter 13 cases — in the District of Minnesota, fee applications must follow the court's local rules and guidance — which adds a layer of protection for you.

So if you have steady income but almost no savings, Chapter 13 can sometimes be easier to afford at the start than Chapter 7, even though it usually costs more in total.

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13? It changes the math

The chapter you file shapes your total cost, and you don't entirely get to choose. Chapter 7 eligibility depends partly on the means test, which compares your income to the median income for a Minnesota household of your size. For cases filed on or after July 15, 2026, the U.S. Trustee Program's median income table lists Minnesota's median as $77,696 for a one-person household and $149,882 for a household of four. Earning more than the median does not automatically rule out Chapter 7, but it does mean a more detailed calculation — exactly the kind of question an attorney can answer quickly.

Why the cheapest option isn't always the best deal

It's natural to shop on price when every dollar matters. But in bankruptcy, the cheapest route can quietly become the most expensive one. A few reasons:

• Exemptions are high stakes. Minnesota is one of the states where filers choose between the state exemption list and the federal one, and you must pick one list — you can't mix them. The right choice can protect your home equity, car, and retirement savings. The wrong choice can cost you property worth far more than anything you saved on fees.
• Timing and strategy matter. Recent purchases, repaid loans to family, an expected tax refund, or a pending lawsuit can all change what filing looks like. Good advice before you file can prevent expensive problems after.
• "Cheap" sometimes means "not included." Some low quotes leave out the filing fee, the courses, or work that often comes up later, like responding to the trustee's requests. Get the full picture in writing.
• Local experience counts. An attorney who regularly appears before Minnesota's trustees and judges knows what they expect, which can mean fewer delays and fewer surprises.

None of this means you need the most expensive lawyer in the Twin Cities. It means the right question isn't "who is cheapest?" but "what does this fee include, and does this attorney handle cases like mine?"

Practical next steps

• Gather your numbers. Recent pay stubs, a list of your debts, your last two tax returns, and a rough monthly budget. Real numbers get you real answers.
• Talk to an attorney before you panic about cost. Many Minnesota bankruptcy attorneys offer a free or low-cost first consultation. Use it to learn which chapter fits and what your case would likely cost.
• Ask direct fee questions. Is it a flat fee? What does it include? Do you offer a payment plan? In Chapter 13, how much is needed before filing?
• If your income is very low, ask about the Chapter 7 filing fee waiver, course fee waivers, and whether a Minnesota legal aid organization might be able to help.

Bankruptcy has real costs, but so does staying buried — the interest, the late fees, the garnishments, the sleepless nights. For many Minnesotans, a few thousand dollars spent on a well-handled case buys something hard to put a price on: a genuine fresh start.

MinnesotaBankruptcyLawyer.com is a Minnesota-based matching service, not a law firm or lawyer referral service. This article is general information, not legal advice. Attorneys who receive inquiries through this site are independent and solely responsible for the services they provide. Consult a licensed Minnesota attorney about your specific situation.