How To File Bankruptcy for Free in New Jersey
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If you're dealing with debt that feels impossible to get out from under, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the fresh start you need. It can erase eligible debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans — and many New Jerseyans file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in New Jersey.
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer.
Updated July 13, 2026
5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in New Jersey
If you're feeling overwhelmed by bills, collection calls, or the stress of making ends meet, you're not alone. Many people turn to bankruptcy when they've tried everything else and still can't get ahead.
Filing Chapter 7 in New Jersey involves a few steps — gathering your financial documents, completing two short courses, filing your paperwork, and attending a brief meeting with a trustee — and many people do it successfully without a lawyer. This guide walks you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: See If You Qualify
Chapter 7 has income limits, but most people who need it meet them. You'll answer a few questions about your household size and income. If you use Upsolve's free tool, it just takes two minutes to see if you qualify.
If your income is below New Jersey’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| Loading... | ||
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Before you file, you'll need to pull together a few key documents. One of those is a certificate from a short credit counseling course, which you'll complete online. It takes 1–2 hours and costs $10–$50 (fee waivers available).
See the full document checklist →
Step 3: Complete Your Forms and File
The forms you'll fill out are federal, so they're the same across the country. You can find them as free fillable PDFs at uscourts.gov.
If you use Upsolve, your forms are generated for you based on your answers and organized so they’re ready to print and sign.
How filing works with Upsolve →
New Jersey has one federal bankruptcy district that’s divided into three vicinages (divisions). You can file your forms in person or by mail to the courthouse that serves your county, or online. We’ll cover more details in the New Jersey Bankruptcy Districts section below.
Filing Fee Information & Fee Waiver Eligibility
There’s a $338 filing fee for Chapter 7. If you can’t afford it, you can ask the court to waive the fee when you file your paperwork.
People whose income falls below 150% of the federal poverty level may be eligible. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant the fee waiver.
| Household Size | State Poverty Level | Fee Waiver Limit (150% PL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330.00 | $1,995.00 |
| 2 | $1,803.33 | $2,705.00 |
| 3 | $2,276.67 | $3,415.00 |
| 4 | $2,750.00 | $4,125.00 |
| 5 | $3,223.33 | $4,835.00 |
| 6 | $3,696.67 | $5,545.00 |
| 7 | $4,170.00 | $6,255.00 |
| 8 | $4,643.33 | $6,965.00 |
| 9 | $5,116.67 | $7,675.00 |
| 10 | $5,590.00 | $8,385.00 |
If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver, you’ll need to pay the full filing fee or an installment payment (if approved) when you file your forms.
Step 4: Attend Your 341 Meeting
About a month after you file, you'll have a short meeting with your bankruptcy trustee on Zoom. It typically takes about five minutes. The trustee will verify your identity and ask a few basic questions about your paperwork.
Upsolve can help you prep for your 341 meeting →
Step 5: Get Your Discharge
After your 341 meeting, you'll need to take one more short course — a debtor education course on budgeting and managing credit. Once that's done and any follow-up is resolved, the court erases your eligible debts. That's your fresh start, usually within 3–4 months of filing.
What debts does Chapter 7 discharge? →
New Jersey Bankruptcy Districts
New Jersey has one federal bankruptcy district, divided into three vicinages:
Camden
Newark
Trenton
You can file your forms in person, by mail, or online through the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system.
If you choose to file in person or by mail, you need to do so at the courthouse that serves your county.
👉 Look for your county in the table below or use the court’s official county list to see which vicinage handles your case.
| Vicinage | County | Courthouse Location |
|---|---|---|
| Camden | Atlantic, part of Burlington (the townships of Cinnaminson, Delran, Edgewater Park, Evesham [Marlton], Maple Shade, Moorestown, Mt. Laurel, Palmyra, Riverside, and Riverton), Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem | US Post Office & Courthouse 401 Market Street Camden, NJ 08101 |
| Newark | Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union | Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building 50 Walnut Street Newark, NJ 07102 |
| Trenton | Part of Burlington (excluded are the townships of Cinnaminson, Delran, Edgewater Park, Evesham [Marlton], Maple Shade, Moorestown, Mt. Laurel, Palmyra, Riverside, and Riverton), Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Warren | Clarkson S. Fisher U.S. Courthouse 402 East State Street Trenton, NJ 08608 |
Reminder about paper filings: If you file your bankruptcy forms in person or by mail in New Jersey, the court requires you to submit two complete sets of your paperwork — the original and one copy.
New Jersey uses the standard federal forms, but there's one local requirement to know about: the creditor matrix. This is a list of your creditors and their mailing addresses, formatted to the court's specifications.
Additional requirement for eSR filers: After you submit your paperwork online, you'll get an email confirmation with instructions for a few follow-up items due within 10 days:
Your credit counseling certificate
A copy of your photo ID
Your filing fee payment, a fee waiver application, or an installment plan application
You can mail, overnight, or hand-deliver these to the courthouse in your confirmation email. Your case is officially filed on the date the clerk receives them.
Pay Your Filing Fee
💰 You have several ways to pay the $338 filing fee in New Jersey:
In person at the courthouse with a cashier’s check or money order made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
By mail with a cashier’s check or money order included in the same envelope as your paperwork
Online through the court’s Pay.gov system using a debit card or PayPal
🚫 The court doesn’t accept cash, personal checks, or credit cards.
Free Legal Aid in New Jersey
If your case is more complex — or you'd just feel better having an attorney review it — free and low-cost legal help is available across New Jersey.
Legal Services of New Jersey has locations statewide.
If you live in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, or Union counties, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice may be able to connect you with free legal help.
Central Jersey Legal Services, Inc. (732) 249-7600 317 George Street New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Essex-Newark Legal Services Project, Inc. (973) 624-4500 5 Commerce Street, 2nd Floor Newark, NJ 07102
Legal Services of Northwest Jersey (908) 231-0840 90 East Main Street Somerville, NJ 08876
Northeast New Jersey Legal Services Corporation (201) 792-6363 574 Summit Avenue, 2nd Floor Jersey City, NJ 07306
South Jersey Legal Services (856) 964-2010 745 Market Street Camden, NJ 08102
