How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Alaska

Collect Your Alaska Bankruptcy Documents

To get started, you’ll need to gather some important financial documents. These help the court and the bankruptcy trustee who’s overseeing your case confirm your income, eligibility, and financial information.

You’ll need:

• Pay stubs from the past six months

• Tax returns from the last two years

• A bank statement that includes the date you file your case

While you’re collecting paperwork, it can also help to gather other documents. You don’t have to submit these to the court, but they can help you as you fill out your forms:

• Credit card bills and loan statements

• Letters or notices from debt collectors

• Bank statements from the last 6–12 months

• A recent credit report

🧾 You can get a free credit report every week from each of the three credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. 

 🛠️ If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, it’ll pull your credit report for you automatically.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Completing your Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms might feel like a big task, but many people do it successfully on their own. Most filers with simple cases find they don’t need to be a lawyer. Just take it one step at a time.

The forms you’ll fill out are federal, so they’re the same across the country. You can download them all for free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov. Some courts also require local forms. We’ll go over what’s required in Alaska in the Alaska District & Filing Requirements section below.

🛠️ If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, you’ll complete an online questionnaire, and we’ll generate your forms based on your answers. It’s designed to be easy to use, even if legal paperwork isn’t your thing.

If you work with a lawyer instead, they’ll usually collect your information through a questionnaire or meeting, and then prepare and file the forms for you.

Take a Credit Counseling Course

Before you file your bankruptcy case, you have to take a credit counseling course. In this short class, you'll learn how bankruptcy works and what alternatives might be available.

🔑 Here are some other key things to know about this class:

• It takes 1–2 hours to complete.

• You can take it online, by phone, or sometimes in person.

• It costs between $10–$50, but many filers qualify for a fee waiver and take it for free.

• You must use a court-approved provider.

• You must take the course no more than 180 days before you file.

⚠️ When you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion, which you need to file with your bankruptcy paperwork. If you don’t, the court may dismiss your case.

Get Your Filing Fee

It costs $338 to file a Chapter 7 case, but many people file for free by using a fee waiver.

If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, you can ask the court to waive the fee.If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, we’ll help you complete the waiver form, but you’ll need to submit it to the court yourself.

📅 If you don’t qualify for a waiver but can’t afford to pay the full fee, you can ask the court for a payment plan. This allows you to pay the fee in up to four installments. Some people choose this option if they need to file quickly to trigger the automatic stay. That’s the legal protection that stops wage garnishment, car repossession, and other debt collection efforts. It starts as soon as you file.

⚠️ If you choose to do this, be aware the court may dismiss your case if you miss a payment.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

If you’re filing for bankruptcy on your own in Alaska, you can print your forms and submit them in person or by mail. If you prefer, you can skip the printing and file electronically using the Alaska bankruptcy court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system, which we cover more in the next section.

If you choose to print your forms, here are some tips:

• Use black ink.

• Print single-sided.

• Use standard 8.5” x 11” white paper.

• Don’t staple or hole-punch anything.

You’ll also need to sign every page that asks for a signature. It’s easy to miss a spot, so some filers use a checklist to stay organized. 

✨ If you’re using Upsolve’s filing tool, you’ll get a ready-to-print packet with everything you need. It includes dividers that clearly show you where to sign, so nothing gets overlooked.

If you hire a lawyer, they’ll submit all forms electronically for you.

File Your Forms With the Alaska Bankruptcy Court

There are three ways you can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Alaska:

• Use the court’s online filing system (eSR). You’ll fill out your forms through the portal. After that, the court will email you a confirmation with links to two forms that you’ll need to print, sign, and mail: 

  • Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing and the Statement About Your Social Security Numbers 

  • If you file using the eSR, you’ll also need to send your filing fee or submit a request for a fee waiver or payment plan. Your case won’t be officially entered until the court receives all of these documents.

• Print your forms and file them in person. Bring your signed forms and either the filing fee or a waiver request to the bankruptcy court in Anchorage. This is the only bankruptcy courthouse in Alaska.

  • Filing in person can be helpful because the clerk can flag any missing signatures or forms. But since there’s only one courthouse, many people choose to file by mail or use the eSR system instead.

• Print your forms and file them by mail. Send your signed forms along with your filing fee or waiver request to the Anchorage Bankruptcy Court. If you don’t want to file online and can’t make it to Anchorage in person, this can be a good option. Be aware, it usually takes longer than the other two filing options.

Once the court receives your paperwork, it’ll open your case and assign a bankruptcy trustee. That’s the person who’ll review your forms and oversee your case.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

Before your 341 meeting (more on that soon), you’ll need to mail a few documents to your court-appointed bankruptcy trustee. These documents help them confirm everything in your forms is accurate.

The U.S. Trustee’s website suggests sending:

• Your two most recent federal tax returns

• A bank statement for any accounts you had open when you filed

• A clear copy of your photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport)

• Proof of your Social Security number (like a copy of your Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub)

• Proof of your current income, like a recent pay stub

📅 The trustee’s office recommends sending these at least 14 days before your 341 meeting. If you don’t have one of the items, include a short note explaining why it’s unavailable.

📄 You’ll get the trustee’s name and contact info in an official notice from the court after you file. Each trustee works a little differently. Be sure to read your court notices carefully and provide the specific information they ask for.

Take the Second Required Course (Financial Management/Debtor Education Course)

After you file your case, there’s one more course to complete. It’s called the financial management or debtor education course. This course focuses on skills like budgeting, saving, and financial goal-setting. It’s meant to help you make the most of your fresh start.

This course is required if you want to receive a discharge, which is the legal order that erases your qualifying debts.

Here are some important details about this course:

• You must take the course within 60 days after your 341 meeting.

• You’ll need to choose a provider that’s approved by the court.

• When you finish, you’ll get a certificate that you must file with the court.

• Like the first course, this course takes about an hour and can be done online, by phone, or sometimes in person.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll attend a short meeting called the 341 meeting, also known as the meeting of creditors. Everyone who files for Chapter 7 has to go. It’s usually just you and your trustee. Though your creditors are allowed to attend, they rarely do.

Most 341 meetings happen online through Zoom, but you can ask for one in person or by phone if that works better for you. Your court notice will include the date, time, and instructions. These meetings are usually quick and often last just 10 minutes.

The trustee will ask you to confirm your identity and answer a few questions under oath. They might ask about your income, expenses, or anything that needs more detail on your forms. Many filers get nervous about this meeting, but most people find that if they answer honestly, the meeting runs smoothly, and it’s over quickly.

🎥 If you want to see what the meeting is like, watch this short mock 341 meeting.

Deal With Your Car

If you’re worried about losing your car, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common concerns in bankruptcy. The good news is that many people who file Chapter 7 get to keep their car. 

Whether you can keep yours depends on:

• Whether you own it outright, have a car loan, or lease your car

• How much equity you have in the car (that’s the car’s value minus what you still owe)

• Whether the equity is protected by a bankruptcy exemption

🚗 In general, filers can keep their car if the car’s equity (your car’s value minus what you still owe on it) is less than the bankruptcy exemption you claim for it. We’ll go over exemption rules later.

If you’re financing your car, you have three main options:

• Reaffirm the loan: If you’re up to date on your car payments and want to keep your car, you can sign a reaffirmation agreement with your lender after you file. This means you agree to keep paying your car loan after bankruptcy and get to keep your car.

• Redeem the car: If you owe more than your car is worth, you have the option to redeem the car. This means you pay its current market value in one lump sum, and the rest of the loan is wiped out. You’ll need to have enough money on hand to make that one-time payment, which is tough for many people.

• Surrender the car: If you’re behind on your car payments, your car is worth more than you owe, or you simply don’t want to keep the car, you can surrender the car and wipe out the car loan. When you surrender the vehicle, you can give the car back to the lender and the car loan debt is erased through bankruptcy. 

📝If you’re leasing your car, you can learn about your options in our guide: How Bankruptcy Affects a Car Lease.

If you choose to give up your car during the bankruptcy process, remember you can buy a car later, and you may even be able to get better terms on a loan.