How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Washington
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This guide shows you how to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy for free in Washington without hiring a lawyer. It walks you step by step through gathering documents, taking required courses, completing and filing your forms, and covering the court fee. You’ll also learn about Washington-specific requirements, exemptions, and options for keeping property like your car or home. If your case is simple, you may even be able to use Upsolve’s free filing tool to make the process easier.
Written by Attorney Eva Bacevice.
Updated September 16, 2025
How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Washington
If you're feeling stressed about money, you're not alone. There is a path forward. Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Washington can give you a clean slate by wiping out debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans.
The good news? You don’t need to hire a lawyer or spend thousands of dollars to get a fresh start. Many people in Washington file Chapter 7 bankruptcy on their own, and this guide walks you through how. You’ll learn how to gather your documents, take the required courses, fill out the forms, and file everything with the court. ✅ If your case is simple, you may be able to use Upsolve’s free filing tool. It walks you through the bankruptcy process step by step.
The following are the steps of the bankruptcy process in Washington.
- Collect Your Washington Bankruptcy Documents
- Take a Credit Counseling Course
- Complete the Bankruptcy Forms
- Get Your Filing Fee
- Print Your Bankruptcy Forms
- File Your Forms With the Washington Bankruptcy Court
- Mail Documents to Your Trustee
- Take a Debtor Education Course
- Attend Your 341 Meeting
- Deal With Your Car (if You Have One)
Collect Your Washington Bankruptcy Documents
To get started, gather some important financial documents. These will help you fill out your bankruptcy forms accurately and prepare for the steps ahead.
You must have:
Pay stubs from the past six months to show your income
Federal tax returns from the last two years
A bank statement that covers the day you file your case
🗂️ While you’re getting organized, it’s also helpful to have:
Bank statements from the past 6–12 months
Credit card and loan statements
Letters or notices from debt collectors
A recent credit report
📄 You can get free credit reports from all three major bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you’re using Upsolve’s free filing tool, it will pull your credit report for you automatically.
Take a Credit Counseling Course
Before you can file your Chapter 7 case, you need to complete a credit counseling course from an approved agency. This short course helps you review your financial situation and consider alternatives to bankruptcy. It’s required even if you’re sure you want to file.
🧠 Here’s what to know:
You must take the course within 180 days before you file your case.
It’s available online, by phone, or sometimes in person.
The course typically costs $10–$50, but fee waivers are available if you can’t afford it.
When you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion.
📌 You must include this certificate when you file your bankruptcy forms. If it’s missing, your case could be dismissed, and your debts won’t be cleared.
Complete the Bankruptcy Forms
Once you’ve gathered your documents and taken the credit counseling course, you’re ready to complete your bankruptcy forms. These are official federal forms available for free at USCourts.gov. They ask for detailed information about your income, debts, assets, and financial history.
✨ If you use Upsolve’s filing tool, we’ll generate all of your forms for you based on your answers to a simple online questionnaire.
👉 Some courts require local forms in addition to the federal ones. You’ll find details about Washington’s requirements in the Washington Districts & Filing Requirements section later in this guide.
If you choose to work with a bankruptcy lawyer, they’ll fill out and file the forms for you based on information you provide.
Get Your Filing Fee
There’s a $338 court filing fee to start a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, but many people qualify for a fee waiver.
🛠️ If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, we’ll help you prepare the fee waiver form.
If you don’t qualify for a waiver and need to file quickly, you can apply to pay the fee in up to four installments. This option can be helpful if you're facing urgent collection actions like wage garnishment. That’s because once you file, the automatic stay goes into effect and pauses most collections right away.
⚠️ If you choose the installment option, be sure to stick to your payment plan. Missing a payment can lead to your case being dismissed, and your debts won’t be erased.
Print Your Bankruptcy Forms
Unless you’re using an electronic filing option in your district, you’ll need to print a paper copy of your forms to file by mail or in person.
🖨️ Here are a few best practices to follow when printing your forms:
Use standard 8.5" x 11" white paper.
Print single-sided in black ink.
Don’t staple or hole-punch the pages.
Sign every signature page.
✨ If you’re using Upsolve’s filing tool, you’ll get a ready-to-print packet with helpful dividers that flag every signature page.
📁 Many filers also make a full copy of their packet for their records. The court can stamp your copy with the official filing date.
File Your Forms With the Washington Bankruptcy Court
Once your forms are ready, it’s time to officially file your case. You can submit your paperwork in person, by mail, or online using one of Washington’s approved electronic filing systems for self-represented filers.
🏛️ Filing in person has several advantages:
The court clerk can quickly review your documents to make sure nothing is missing.
You’ll get immediate confirmation that your case has been filed.
You don’t have to worry about delays or lost paperwork.
📬 Filing by mail is another option, but it often takes longer. If mail is your only or best option, try to send your forms via certified mail so you can track them.
💻 Online filing is available in both districts, though the process and platforms vary. If you use this option, make sure to follow the instructions carefully. Your case won’t officially be filed until the court receives and processes all required documents.
Mail Documents to Your Trustee
After you file your bankruptcy case, the court will assign a Chapter 7 trustee to oversee it. You’ll receive their contact information in an official notice from the court shortly after you file.
Your trustee’s job is to review your paperwork and verify the information. They also check if any of your property could be sold to repay creditors, though this rarely happens.
✉️ Trustees typically ask for these documents:
Your two most recent federal tax returns
A bank statement that includes your official filing date
A copy of your photo ID (such as a driver’s license)
Proof of your Social Security number (like your Social Security card, W-2, or a recent pay stub)
A recent pay stub or other proof of income
📅 Send these at least two weeks before your trustee meeting (called the 341 meeting). If you're missing something, include a brief note explaining why.
📝 If you’re filing in the Western District of Washington (Seattle and Tacoma area), you’ll also need to complete a local form called the Debtors Required Documents for Trustee. This form tells the trustee which documents you’ve sent and whether anything is missing.
Take a Debtor Education Course
After you’ve filed your case, you’ll need to complete a second required course called debtor education. This course focuses on personal financial management to help you build better budgeting skills, use credit wisely, and make the most of your fresh start.
Here’s what you need to know:
You must complete the course within 60 days of your 341 meeting.
You must take the course from a court-approved provider.
Once you finish, file the certificate with the court. (You’ll file it the same way you filed your other paperwork.)
💡Completing this course is required to receive your debt discharge. The court won’t erase your debts unless it receives your certificate on time.
Attend Your 341 Meeting
About a month after you file your Chapter 7 case, you’ll attend a short meeting called the 341 meeting, also known as the meeting of creditors. Most of these meetings happen online through Zoom. It’s a required step in your case, but it’s not a court hearing, and you won’t see a judge.
⏱️ A bankruptcy trustee will run the meeting and ask you a few questions while you’re under oath. They’ll go over the information in your bankruptcy forms to confirm everything is accurate. Being honest and showing up prepared goes a long way. Most meetings are over in less than 10 minutes.
Even though creditors are allowed to attend, they almost never do. Most people find the 341 meeting less stressful than they expected. Once it’s over, you’ll be one big step closer to your debt being wiped out.
Deal With Your Car (if You Have One)
Many people worry they’ll lose their car if they file bankruptcy, but many filers are able to keep their vehicles. Whether you can keep yours depends on how much it’s worth, whether you still owe money on it, and how exemptions apply in your case.
Exemptions are bankruptcy laws that protect certain property — including your car — from being taken to pay debts. Washington’s vehicle exemption lets you protect up to $15,000 of equity in one car.
Equity is the value of your car minus what you still owe on it.
👉 We’ll go over how exemptions work in more detail in the Washington Bankruptcy Exemptions section later in this guide. For now, here are your general options:
If you own your car outright, you may be able to keep it if the equity falls within the $15,000 exemption limit.
If your car is financed, meaning you have a loan, you have a few options:
If you’re current on your payments and want to keep the car, you can reaffirm the loan. This means you agree to keep making payments after bankruptcy.
If you’re behind on payments and can’t catch up, you might choose to surrender the car. This means giving it back and wiping out the loan.
You might also be able to redeem the car by paying its current value in one lump sum.
🚗 If you’re leasing a car, you can either keep the lease or return the car. Read Upsolve’s Guide to Car Leases in Bankruptcy to learn more.
Washington Bankruptcy Means Test
To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Washington, you’ll need to pass the bankruptcy means test. Eligibility is based on your income.
The means test has two parts, though many people only need to do the first part.
First, you compare your income to Washington’s median income. If your average monthly income (based on the past six months) is below the median for your household size in Washington, you qualify to file Chapter 7.
If your income is higher than the median, you’ll need to do the second part of the test, which considers your allowable expenses. This can get legally complex, so it’s best to consult an attorney if you reach this part. Many offer a free consultation to go over your options.
Data on Median Income Levels for Washington
Washington Median Income Standards for Means Test for Cases Filed In 2025 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
| 1 | $7,123.50 | $85,482.00 |
| 2 | $8,566.42 | $102,797.00 |
| 3 | $10,405.75 | $124,869.00 |
| 4 | $12,111.75 | $145,341.00 |
| 5 | $13,036.75 | $156,441.00 |
| 6 | $13,961.75 | $167,541.00 |
| 7 | $14,886.75 | $178,641.00 |
| 8 | $15,811.75 | $189,741.00 |
| 9 | $16,736.75 | $200,841.00 |
| 10 | $17,661.75 | $211,941.00 |
Data on Poverty Levels for Washington
Washington Fee Waiver Eligibility for Cases Filed In 2025Eligible for fee waiver when under 150% the poverty level. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Household Size | State Poverty Level | Fee Waiver Limit (150% PL) |
| 1 | $1,255.00 | $1,882.50 |
| 2 | $1,703.33 | $2,555.00 |
| 3 | $2,151.67 | $3,227.50 |
| 4 | $2,600.00 | $3,900.00 |
| 5 | $3,048.33 | $4,572.50 |
| 6 | $3,496.67 | $5,245.00 |
| 7 | $3,945.00 | $5,917.50 |
| 8 | $4,393.33 | $6,590.00 |
| 9 | $4,841.67 | $7,262.50 |
| 10 | $5,290.00 | $7,935.00 |
Washington Districts & Filing Requirements
Washington is divided into two bankruptcy districts: Eastern and Western. The rules for filing are similar across both, but each has its own requirements around how to submit your forms and pay court fees.
⬇️ Use the table below to find which district your county is in:
| Your Bankruptcy District | County You Live In |
|---|---|
| Eastern District of Washington | Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, Yakima |
| Western District of Washington | Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Island, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, San Juan, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Thurston, Wahkiakum, Whatcom |
Eastern District of Washington Filing Requirements
If you live in the Eastern District of Washington, you can file your bankruptcy documents in person, by mail, or online using the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system.
📬 Mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court P.O. Box 2164 Spokane, WA 99210‑2164
🏛️ In-person filing locations: You can deliver your paperwork to either of the court’s two offices:
Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse 920 West Riverside Avenue, Suite 304 Spokane, WA 99201
William O. Douglas U.S. Courthouse 25 South 3rd Street, Room 201 Yakima, WA 98901
💻 Online filing option: Electronic Self‑Representation (eSR) is a free online tool that helps individuals file Chapter 7 bankruptcy without a lawyer. It walks you through each step and gives you up to 45 days to complete and submit your petition.
📧 Important: After submitting your electronic packet, the court will email you a confirmation with instructions for sending in the final required documents. Your case won’t officially begin until the court receives and processes these items.
Additional Requirements and Filing Fee Information for the Eastern District
Most of the forms you’ll need to file in the Eastern District of Washington are standard federal bankruptcy forms, but the court does have a few local requirements to keep in mind.
One of the biggest is how you format your creditor matrix. That’s a simple list of the names and mailing addresses of everyone you owe money to. The Eastern District requires this list to follow a specific format so it can be easily scanned into the court’s system.
📄 You can find detailed formatting instructions and any additional local forms you may need on the Eastern District’s Local Forms page.
💰 In the Eastern District, there are a couple of options for paying the $338 filing fee:
Online via Pay.gov using a debit card, PayPal, or bank account.
By mail with a money order or cashier’s check made payable to Clerk, United States Court. Be sure to include your case number on the payment. 📬 Mail to: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Washington P.O. Box 2164 Spokane, WA 99210‑2164
🚫 The court doesn’t accept cash, personal checks, or credit cards.
📝 If you can’t afford the full filing fee up front, you can apply to pay in up to four installments. The first payment of $75 is due when you file your petition.
Western District of Washington Filing Requirements
If you live in the Western District of Washington, you can file your bankruptcy documents in person, by mail, or online using the court’s Electronic Filing option.
🏛️📬 In person or by mail (Seattle): United States Bankruptcy Court 700 Stewart Street, Suite 6301 Seattle, WA 98101
🏛️📬 In person or by mail (Tacoma): United States Bankruptcy Court 1717 Pacific Avenue, Suite 2100 Tacoma, WA 98402
💻 Online filing option: Electronic Filing is available to submit documents electronically through the court’s online submission tool. You’re allowed up to five submissions per day, with up to five documents per submission. 📥 Submissions are typically processed within 24 hours or the next business day. Just note that new cases may take additional time to receive a case number.
Additional Requirements and Filing Fee Information for the Western District
Most of the forms you’ll need are standard federal bankruptcy forms. The Western District offers a helpful Chapter 7 Forms Packet that includes all the required national forms, along with reminders about local filing requirements.
📄 You’ll also need to submit a creditor mailing list with the names and addresses of everyone you owe money to. The list has to follow the court’s formatting rules.
💰 In the Western District, there are a couple of options for paying the $338 filing fee:
Online via Pay.gov using a debit card, PayPal, or bank account.
By mail or in person at the Seattle or Tacoma courthouse with a money order or cashier’s check made payable to Clerk, United States Court.
🚫 The court doesn’t accept cash, personal checks, or credit cards.
📝 If you can’t afford the full fee up front, you can apply to pay in up to four installments. The first payment of $100 is due when you file your petition.
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Washington Bankruptcy Exemptions
Bankruptcy exemptions let you protect property like your home, car, and personal belongings from being used to pay creditors. In Washington, you can choose to use either the state exemptions or the federal bankruptcy exemptions, but you can’t mix and match.
Most filers find that Washington’s state exemptions offer stronger protection, especially for homes, vehicles, and personal property.
Here’s a snapshot of how the key exemptions compare:
🏠 Homestead exemption: Washington’s exemption adjusts based on local median home values in your county. It’s generally far more generous than the federal homestead exemption, which caps at $31,575.
🚗 Motor vehicle exemption: Washington filers can protect up to $15,000 in car equity. The federal exemption only covers up to $5,025.
🎯 Wildcard exemption: Washington lets you exempt up to $10,000 of personal property, with limits on cash, bank accounts, and student loans. The federal wildcard combines $1,675 plus up to $15,800 of any unused portion of the homestead exemption.
Washington Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost
Bankruptcy attorneys usually charge a flat fee for Chapter 7 cases. In Washington, that fee typically ranges from $1,000 to $2,000, depending on how complex your case is.
This is often the biggest expense when filing, but a lawyer can be worth the cost, especially if you own a home or have valuable assets.
💬 Most bankruptcy lawyers offer a free consultation so you can ask questions and get a sense of what working with them would be like. Keep in mind that most require full payment before they’ll file your case.
Washington Legal Aid Organizations
Legal aid organizations in Washington offer free or low-cost help with bankruptcy cases to people who qualify based on income. These groups can be a great option if you’re filing Chapter 7 on your own but want a bit of extra support.
