Legal costs and timelines, in plain numbers. Not a law firm.
Bankruptcy, in numbers
Bankruptcy, explained with real numbers.
Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-09-01.
Filing fees are fixed: $338 for Chapter 7, $313 for Chapter 13. Attorney fees are the real cost: $1,000 to $2,500 for Chapter 7 paid up front, $3,000 to $5,000 for Chapter 13, usually folded into the repayment plan.
The credit clock differs by chapter
Chapter 7 stays on your credit report 10 years; Chapter 13 falls off after seven years. That difference, plus whether you keep assets, is the heart of the chapter choice.
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Sources for every figure on this page
$338: U.S. courts via Upsolve 2026: Chapter 7 filing fee (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$313: U.S. courts via Upsolve 2026: Chapter 13 filing fee (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$1,000 to $2,500: Nolo 2026: typical Chapter 7 attorney fee, paid before filing (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$3,000 to $5,000: Nolo 2026: typical Chapter 13 attorney fee, usually paid through the plan (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
10 years: Experian 2026: Chapter 7 duration on a credit report (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
seven years: Experian 2026: Chapter 13 duration on a credit report (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
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