Bankruptcy Cost in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
Short answer: the fixed court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Required courses often add about $10 to $50 per course. Attorney fees depend on the chapter, court, urgency, and complexity.
Chapter 7 attorney fees are case-specific and should be confirmed in a written fee agreement. Local court references for Chapter 13 attorney fees in DC, Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia currently run roughly $5,300 to $7,750, but that amount is not necessarily paid before filing.
What bankruptcy cost can look like
These examples are not fee quotes, client stories, or promises about results. They show why cost can change when the chapter, court, timing, or goal of the filing changes.
Job loss and medical debt in DC
A D.C. renter with medical bills, credit-card debt, and no major asset issue may be looking at a routine Chapter 7 if eligible.
- Filing fee
- $338, unless waived or paid in installments
- Courses
- Often about $20-$100 total
- Attorney fees
- Case-specific; confirmed in a written fee agreement
Takeaway: the filing fee is not the whole cost, but the case may still cost far less than staying in collections.
Behind on a Maryland mortgage
A Maryland homeowner with income again may need Chapter 13 because mortgage arrears usually need a feasible cure plan.
- Filing fee
- $313
- Upfront cash
- Often different from total attorney compensation
- Fee reference
- Maryland Chapter 13 references are $5,300 and $6,800
Takeaway: Chapter 13 may cost more overall, but paying some fees through the plan can make it workable when the goal is keeping a home.
Wage garnishment in Northern Virginia
A Northern Virginia worker already losing pay to garnishment has a timing problem as much as a price problem.
- Filing fee
- $338 for Chapter 7 or $313 for Chapter 13
- Before filing
- Credit counseling usually must be complete
- Timing review
- Prior filings, creditor type, and missing documents can matter
Takeaway: when collection is active, the cheapest path is not always the safest path.
Bankruptcy cost at a glance
The basic cost categories are the same in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The local differences are payment logistics, Chapter 13 attorney-fee review, trustee practice, and plan feasibility.
| Cost item | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 | Can it be waived, split, or paid later? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $338 | $313 | Chapter 7 filers may request a fee waiver if they qualify. Individual filers may request installment payments. |
| Credit counseling before filing | Often about $10-$50 | Often about $10-$50 | Approved agencies must disclose fee waiver or reduced-fee policies. |
| Debtor education after filing | Often about $10-$50 | Often about $10-$50 | Approved providers must disclose fee waiver or reduced-fee policies. |
| Attorney fees | Case-specific; the fee and payment terms should be confirmed in a written agreement | Local Chapter 13 attorney-fee references currently run about $5,300-$7,750 | Chapter 13 attorney fees are often handled differently because part of the fee may be paid through the plan, subject to the fee agreement, trustee review, local rules, and court approval. |
| Trustee / plan costs | Usually not a monthly plan | Part of the Chapter 13 plan administration | Depends on the confirmed plan and trustee administration. |
| Later court fees | Only if later filings are needed | Only if later filings are needed | Some later fees may apply for amendments, reopening, conversion, or certain motions. |
The filing fee is the easiest number to identify. The harder question is what it takes to get a useful result. A cheaper filing is not helpful if the case exposes property, fails the means test, does not stop the collection problem long enough, or cannot be completed.
Viewed economically, bankruptcy cost should also be compared with the debt problem it may solve. If a case costs a few thousand dollars but discharges or reorganizes far more in debt, stops garnishment, prevents a repossession, or gives a homeowner time to cure arrears, the value question is bigger than the filing fee.
Can I file if I cannot pay the full filing fee?
Possibly. There are two separate concepts: a waiver and installments. The court controls whether either request is approved.
Fee waiver request
A Chapter 7 filer may ask the court to waive the filing fee using Official Form 103B. The statute allows a Chapter 7 filing-fee waiver for an individual if the court finds that income is below 150 percent of the applicable poverty line and the person is unable to pay the fee in installments.
Paying over time
Individual debtors may ask to pay the filing fee in installments using Official Form 103A. The proposed schedule can include up to four installments, with full payment generally due no later than 120 days after filing unless the court extends the deadline.
Dismissal if unpaid
If the court denies a waiver, it may set a payment schedule. If the filing fee is not paid as ordered, the case may be dismissed and the debtor's rights in future bankruptcy cases may be affected.
Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 handle costs differently
The lower filing fee is not the full decision. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 solve different problems, and attorney-fee timing is often different in each chapter.
| Cost question | Chapter 7 | Chapter 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $338 | $313 |
| Usual cost pattern | Usually shorter and lower total cost. | Usually higher total cost because the case runs through a repayment plan. |
| Attorney-fee timing | Often requires more attorney-fee payment before filing because there is no long-term plan. | Some attorney fees may be paid through the Chapter 13 plan, subject to local rules and court approval. |
| When it may fit | Mostly unsecured debt, no major arrears problem, and protected property. | Foreclosure, vehicle arrears, priority debt, property equity, or income issues that need a plan. |
Why the attorney-fee number can change
A range gives you a starting point. The final quote can change if the case involves real estate, prior filings, urgent collection activity, tax debt, a business, or property that may not be fully protected.
| Filing location | Local Chapter 13 attorney-fee reference | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | $6,750 / $7,750 | D.C. Local Bankruptcy Rule 2016-2 uses $6,750 as the general presumptively reasonable amount and $7,750 where a business report is required or the debtor holds a controlling interest in an operating corporation or LLC. The rule also permits the attorney to receive the filing fee and up to $150 in other estimated expenses in addition to that compensation. |
| District of Maryland | $5,300 / $6,800 | Maryland Appendix F flat-fee amounts were adjusted for cases filed on or after April 1, 2025. Under the $5,300 option, counsel may seek additional fees for unexpected extraordinary work or work performed more than 90 days after confirmation. Under the $6,800 option, counsel may seek more only for unexpected extraordinary work and otherwise waives additional fees in the main case. |
| Eastern District of Virginia | $6,817 | EDVA publishes a Chapter 13 debtor's attorney no-look fee amount effective January 1, 2026. |
The table is not a Roman Law Firm fee quote, minimum fee, maximum fee, or required charge. It shows published local numbers courts use when reviewing some Chapter 13 attorney compensation.
An attorney can quote a fee only after reviewing the chapter, urgency, debt type, income, property, court location, prior filings, and any foreclosure, repossession, garnishment, tax, domestic support, litigation, or unusual creditor issues.
What changes by location?
The court filing fees do not change by state. The local process does.
D.C. bankruptcy cost notes
D.C. lists Chapter 7 at $338 and Chapter 13 at $313. Effective April 1, 2025, Local Bankruptcy Rule 2016-2 amounts increased to $6,750 and $7,750 for cases filed after that date. Those rule amounts affect fee review, but they do not require a minimum or maximum fee in every case.
DC bankruptcy
Maryland bankruptcy cost notes
Maryland lists Chapter 7 at $338 and Chapter 13 at $313. Payment logistics differ between Baltimore, Greenbelt, online payment, attorney CM/ECF filing, and Chapter 13 trustee payments. Maryland's Appendix F no-look amounts are $5,300 and $6,800 for cases filed on or after April 1, 2025.
Maryland bankruptcy
Virginia bankruptcy cost notes
For many Northern Virginia filings, the relevant bankruptcy court is the Eastern District of Virginia. EDVA lists Chapter 7 at $338 and Chapter 13 at $313 and publishes a Chapter 13 debtor's attorney no-look fee amount of $6,817 effective January 1, 2026.
Virginia bankruptcyRequired courses, later fees, and filing without a lawyer
The court filing fee and attorney fee are only part of the cost picture.
Credit counseling and debtor education
Individual bankruptcy filers generally must complete credit counseling before filing and debtor education after filing and before discharge. Course fees vary by provider, but many course costs fall around $10 to $50 per course. Approved agencies and providers must disclose fee waiver or reduced-fee policies.
Extra fees may apply later
Examples include amending schedules or creditor lists, currently $34; converting Chapter 13 to Chapter 7, currently $25; reopening a Chapter 13 case, currently $235; and certain automatic-stay, abandonment, withdrawal-of-reference, or sale motions, currently $199.
Cheaper on paper, higher risk
If you file without a lawyer, the baseline cash cost may be only the filing fee and required courses. But the same legal requirements still apply, and errors can affect property, discharge, dismissal, future filing rights, or whether the collection problem is actually solved.
When cost and timing collide
Cost questions often come up when a paycheck is being garnished, a foreclosure sale is scheduled, a vehicle is at risk of repossession, a debt lawsuit is moving toward judgment, or a bank account is frozen or threatened.
Filing can pause many collections
Bankruptcy can create an automatic stay that pauses many collection actions, but timing and eligibility matter. Prior bankruptcy filings can limit the stay.
Initial documents may start the case
In a true emergency, a case may sometimes be started with the initial required documents, with full schedules and statements filed shortly after. That is not a reason to file carelessly; it is a reason to get legal review quickly.
Match the cost question to the problem
If the immediate issue is paycheck garnishment, review the wage garnishment bankruptcy resources. If the pressure is a scheduled foreclosure sale, review cost with Chapter 13 feasibility and filing timing.
The cheaper filing fee is not the whole decision
Chapter 13 has a lower court filing fee than Chapter 7 by $25. That does not make Chapter 13 the cheaper case.
When debt is mostly unsecured
Start with Chapter 7 if your debt is mostly unsecured and you need a discharge without a repayment plan.
Review Chapter 7When arrears or property are at stake
Start with Chapter 13 if you need to stop foreclosure, keep property, catch up on arrears, or reorganize debt over time.
Review Chapter 13Check income and exemptions
Use the means test if income eligibility is the first question, and the exemptions page if property protection is the first question.
Review means testBankruptcy cost FAQs
How much does it cost to file bankruptcy?
The court filing fee is $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. Required courses often add about $10 to $50 per course. Attorney fees depend on the chapter, court, urgency, assets, income, and work required. Some Chapter 13 attorney fees may be paid through the plan.
How much does Chapter 7 bankruptcy cost with a lawyer?
There is no single attorney fee for every Chapter 7 case. The fee depends on the court, urgency, assets, income, creditor issues, and work required. The lawyer should confirm the fee and payment terms in a written agreement before filing.
How much does Chapter 13 bankruptcy cost with a lawyer?
The Chapter 13 filing fee is $313. Attorney fees are usually higher than Chapter 7 because the case lasts three to five years and requires a plan. In DC, Maryland, and the Eastern District of Virginia, local Chapter 13 attorney-fee references currently run roughly $5,300 to $7,750, depending on district and case type.
How much money do I need up front for Chapter 13?
It depends on the lawyer, district, case urgency, filing fee, course cost, and first plan-payment timing. Many Chapter 13 cases allow some attorney fees to be paid through the Chapter 13 plan, so the upfront cash required may be much lower than the total attorney fee disclosed in the case.
Can the bankruptcy filing fee be waived?
The Chapter 7 filing fee may be waived if the court grants a fee-waiver application. The debtor uses Official Form 103B and must show they cannot afford to pay the fee in full or in installments. Chapter 13 does not use the same filing-fee waiver path.
Can I pay the bankruptcy filing fee in installments?
Individual debtors may ask to pay the filing fee in installments using Official Form 103A. The proposed schedule can include up to four installments, and the fee generally must be paid within 120 days unless the court later extends the deadline.
Why does Chapter 13 cost more if the court filing fee is lower?
Chapter 13 usually lasts three to five years and requires a repayment plan. The plan may include arrears, priority debts, trustee administration, attorney fees, and required payments to creditors, so the total cost is different from the initial court filing fee.
Can attorney fees be paid through Chapter 13?
In many Chapter 13 cases, some attorney fees may be paid through the Chapter 13 plan, subject to the fee agreement, trustee review, local rules, and court approval. This is one reason Chapter 13 cost needs a case-specific review.
Why do court fee references for Chapter 13 look so high?
Local Chapter 13 attorney-fee references are not filing fees, and they are not necessarily the amount paid before filing. They are numbers courts use when reviewing attorney compensation in some Chapter 13 cases.
Is bankruptcy cheaper in DC, Maryland, or Virginia?
The basic Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 court filing fees are the same. Local differences involve payment logistics, Chapter 13 attorney-fee review, trustee practice, and the financial realities of the plan.
Should I choose Chapter 7 because it is cheaper?
Not necessarily. Chapter 7 may be cheaper and faster, but it is not always available or safe. If you have mortgage arrears, vehicle arrears, high income, or non-exempt property, Chapter 13 may be more protective even if it costs more overall.
Can I file bankruptcy with no lawyer?
Yes, individuals can file without a lawyer. But the same court fees and course requirements still apply, and errors can affect property, discharge, dismissal, and future filing rights. Pro se filing is especially risky in Chapter 13.
What if I need to file quickly to stop garnishment or foreclosure?
Talk to a bankruptcy attorney immediately. Filing can trigger the automatic stay in many cases, but credit counseling, prior filings, petition requirements, and local court timing all matter. A rushed filing should still be accurate enough to avoid dismissal or loss of protection.
Connect eligibility, assets, and collections
These topics usually overlap. Chapter choice, plan affordability, property protection, and active collections all need to be checked together.
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13
Compare the main consumer bankruptcy chapters before choosing a filing path.
Compare chaptersBankruptcy cost
Review filing fees, course costs, attorney-fee factors, and local Chapter 13 fee-review references.
Chapter 13 payment calculator
Estimate a Chapter 13 plan payment using arrears, priority debts, unsecured-debt targets, and trustee administration.
Estimate paymentStop foreclosure
Review bankruptcy timing, Chapter 13 feasibility, and DC/MD/VA foreclosure process issues.
Review foreclosure optionsBankruptcy and security clearance
Plan bankruptcy documents, disclosure consistency, and debt-resolution records for clearance-sensitive work.
Review clearance planningChapter 7 means test
Screen income and household size before deciding whether Chapter 7 is realistic.
Review means testBankruptcy exemptions
Check what property may be protected in DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
Compare exemptionsWage garnishment
Estimate paycheck exposure and review how filing may affect collections.
Review wage rulesTalk to a bankruptcy attorney about cost
If you are comparing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, the filing fee is only the starting point. Roman Law Firm reviews bankruptcy cost in context: income, assets, exemptions, debt type, court location, urgency, upfront cash available, and whether Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 is realistic.
Where these numbers come from
The court filing fees, fee-waiver rules, installment rules, course requirements, and local Chapter 13 fee references come from court and U.S. Trustee materials. An individual attorney-fee quote depends on the case and the written fee agreement.
Federal fees and official forms: U.S. Courts Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Official Form 103A, Official Form 103B, 28 U.S.C. 1930(f), and U.S. Trustee Program course guidance.
Local Chapter 13 fee references: D.C. Local Bankruptcy Rule 2016-2, District of Maryland Appendix F, and the Eastern District of Virginia fee schedule and Chapter 13 no-look fee statement.
Attorney fees: A quote depends on the chapter, urgency, assets, income, court location, and work required. The fee and payment terms should be confirmed in a written agreement.