How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Washington D.C.

Collect Your D.C. Bankruptcy Documents

Before you can file your Chapter 7 case, you’ll need to fill out detailed forms about your income, expenses, debts, and assets. Having the right documents on hand from the start can help you stay organized and complete your forms accurately. 

✅ Start by gathering these documents:

• Pay stubs from the past six months 

• Federal income tax returns from the past two years

• A bank statement that covers your filing date 

The court or trustee will ask to see this information.

It’s also helpful to collect other documents, such as:

• Credit card and loan statements

• Letters or bills from debt collectors

• Bank statements from the past 6–12 months

• Recent credit report

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

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

Take a Credit Counseling Course

To get started with your bankruptcy case, you’ll need to take a credit counseling course. The course gives you helpful info about your options for dealing with debt, including bankruptcy.

📚 Here’s how it works:

• You must take the course within 180 days before you file.

• It usually costs between $10 and $50, but you can ask for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.

• Most people take it online or by phone. It usually takes about an hour.

• You must use an approved provider.

⚠️ When you finish, you’ll get a certificate. Be sure to include this when you file with your bankruptcy forms.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Every Chapter 7 bankruptcy case requires a set of federal forms. These forms are the same in every state and ask about your income, debts, property, and recent financial history. 

You can download them for free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov. Some D.C. filers may also need to submit local forms. 

➡️ You can find details about local requirements in the Washington, D.C., District & Filing Requirements section.

💻 If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, we’ll fill out all the required forms for you based on your answers to a simple online questionnaire.

Get Your Filing Fee

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs $338, but many filers qualify for a fee waiver based on their income.

✨ If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, we’ll help prepare the fee waiver form for you. You’ll still need to print and submit it yourself.

📆 If you don’t qualify for a waiver, you can ask to pay the fee in installments. If approved, you’ll make monthly payments until the full amount is paid off.

🛑 Some people choose the installment option to file quickly and trigger the automatic stay. This legal protection can stop things like wage garnishments or repossession. If you choose this route, be sure to stay on top of your payments so your case doesn’t get delayed or dismissed.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

After your forms are completed and you’ve got a filing fee plan, you’re ready to print your forms to file with the court. 

🖨️ Here are some printing best practices:

• Use black ink on white paper.

• Print single-sided only.

• Use standard letter-size paper (8.5" x 11").

• Don’t staple, hole-punch, or bind the pages.

🖊️ Be sure to sign every page that asks for a signature.

✨ If you’re using Upsolve’s filing tool, you’ll get a downloadable packet with all your forms. It flags every spot you need to sign so nothing gets overlooked.

✅ You can use this official checklist to make sure you have everything you need.

File Your Forms With the D.C. Bankruptcy Court

Once everything’s printed and signed, you're ready to file with the D.C. Bankruptcy Court. If you’re filing without a lawyer, you’ll need to file your forms either in person or by mail. Electronic filing isn’t currently an option in D.C.

🏛️ Many people choose to file in person because it’s the fastest and most reliable option. When you file at the courthouse, the clerk can do a quick check to make sure nothing is missing. You’ll also get your bankruptcy case number right away.

If you aren’t able to file in person, it’s okay to send your forms via mail. If possible, send via certified mail or with a tracking number so you know when your forms are received.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After you file your case, the court will assign a bankruptcy trustee to oversee it. 

💡 The trustee isn’t a judge. They’re a neutral person who reviews your paperwork, checks for accuracy, and leads your 341 meeting. This is a short appointment where the trustee asks a few questions about your forms and finances.

📌 A few days after you file, you’ll get an official notice with your trustee’s name, contact information, and the date and time of your 341 meeting.

🗂️ To help your trustee prepare, you’ll usually need to send these documents at least 14 days before your meeting:

• A copy of your most recent federal tax return (or a note explaining why you don’t have one)

• A bank statement for each account you had on the day you filed

• A clear copy of your government-issued photo ID

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

• Your most recent pay stub or other proof of income

Your trustee may also ask for additional documents. Staying on top of these requests will keep your case moving in the right direction.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Before you can get your debts discharged, there’s one last required class: the debtor education course. This class covers personal finance basics to help you manage money and feel more confident about your finances after bankruptcy. 

You must complete this course to get a discharge, which is the court order that officially wipes out your qualifying debts. 

🧠 Here’s what to know about the course:

• You have 60 days after your 341 meeting to complete it (though some people take it before to get it out of the way early).

• You must use a court-approved provider for Washington, D.C.

• The course costs $10–$50 and takes about an hour. Many providers offer fee waivers.

• After finishing, you'll get a certificate of completion that must be filed with the court.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll attend a short video meeting with your bankruptcy trustee. This is called the 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors. It’s a required step in every Chapter 7 case and usually lasts less than 10 minutes.

💻 Most 341 meetings happen virtually on Zoom. Your court notice will include the date, time, and Zoom login information.

During the meeting, the trustee will place you under oath and ask a few simple questions about your bankruptcy forms, finances, and identity. Creditors can attend, but they almost never do.

📄 It’s helpful to have these nearby during the meeting:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms

• The documents you sent your trustee (like your tax return or recent pay stub)

• The official case notice from the court

• A government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number

🎉 It’s completely normal to feel a little nervous beforehand, but most people are surprised by how simple and quick the meeting is.

If everything stays on track, your debts are usually discharged about 2–3 months after the meeting.

Deal With Your Car

Though it’s one of the biggest worries, many people are able to keep their car through the bankruptcy process. What happens depends on whether you own your car outright, have a loan, or are leasing it.

🚗 If you own your car, you can usually keep it if its value is less than the allowed exemption. Exemptions are legal protections that let you keep certain property in bankruptcy. Washington, D.C., filers can choose between state or federal exemptions. Both offer protection for a car, and many people who own a modest vehicle can keep it.

👉 You’ll learn more about exemptions later in the Washington, D.C., Bankruptcy Exemptions section.

💵 If you have a car loan, you have a few options. 

• If you’re up to date on the loan and want to keep the car, you can sign a reaffirmation agreement. This means you agree to continue paying the loan as usual. The lender and the court must approve the agreement.

• If you owe more than the car is worth, you can also opt to redeem the car by paying the car’s market value in one lump sum. Many filers find this difficult since it requires a lump-sum payment. Also, the lender must agree to the redemption.

• If you don’t want to keep the car or can’t afford the loan, you can surrender the car. This allows you to return the car and wipe out the remaining loan balance through bankruptcy.

📄 If you lease your car, you can return the car or keep the lease and continue making payments. Learn more in our car lease bankruptcy guide.