How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Louisiana

5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in Louisiana

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 Louisiana 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. 

Start here →

If your income is below Louisiana’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.

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. Some courts also require local forms, which we cover in the Louisiana Bankruptcy Districts section later.

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 →

Louisiana has three bankruptcy districts: Eastern, Middle, and Western. Filing methods vary by district. In every district, you can file in person, and some also allow online filing or filing by mail. You can find your parish in the Louisiana 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.

You may be eligible for a fee waiver if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level and you can't afford to pay the fee in installments. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant it.

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.

💰  In every district, you can pay the filing fee in person using a money order or certified check made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If you're filing in person, you can also pay with exact cash. 

❌ Personal checks and credit cards aren’t accepted at any court location.

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? →

Louisiana Bankruptcy Districts

Louisiana has three bankruptcy districts: Eastern, Middle, and Western. Each district has its own court and filing rules. The courthouse that handles your case depends on the parish you live in, so you can find your parish in the district sections below to see where to file.

If you’re not sure which district you’re in, the court locator tool can help you find it.

Eastern District Local Forms/Requirements

The Eastern District of Louisiana has one courthouse, in New Orleans. If you’re filing without a lawyer, you can submit your bankruptcy forms in person, by mail, or online. The court has helpful information for people filing without a lawyer on its website.

📍 New Orleans

• Serves Assumption, Jefferson, Lafourche, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, and Washington parishes

• In-person and mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 500 Poydras Street, Suite B-601 New Orleans, LA 70130

If you want to file your case online, you can use the Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system. This free tool walks you through the forms step by step and lets you submit your petition online.

After you submit your eSR packet, you'll need to print and deliver a few items to the court to finish your filing:

• Declaration form: a short document you sign to confirm that everything in your bankruptcy forms is true.

• Statement of Social Security Number: a separate form where you list your full Social Security number. The court needs this to match your case with your identity. 

• Creditor mailing list (mailing matrix): a list of all the people and companies you owe money to, along with their mailing addresses. This helps the court send them official notices about your case.

🕒 These documents must be delivered to the courthouse within 10 days of submitting your forms online for your case to be officially filed.

Middle District Local Forms/Requirements

The Middle District of Louisiana has one courthouse, in Baton Rouge. If you live in this district and are filing without a lawyer, you can submit your bankruptcy forms in person or online. Unlike most courts, this court doesn't accept filings by mail.

📍 Baton Rouge

• Serves Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes

• In-person address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 707 Florida Street, Room 119 Baton Rouge, LA 70801

This district uses the regular federal bankruptcy forms, but many filers check the court’s Local Forms page to make sure they have everything they need.

The court offers a tool called Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) for people filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy without a lawyer. It guides you through the forms step by step and helps you prepare your bankruptcy petition online.

Though you can submit your main forms online through eSR, you still have to submit the following forms in person:

• Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing (Local Form 2): a short form to confirm that you used the eSR tool to prepare your forms and that you’re filing without a lawyer.

• Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing (Self-Represented Individual): a short form to confirm that you reviewed your bankruptcy forms and that everything is true and correct to the best of your knowledge.

• Statement of Social Security Number: lists your full SSN so the court can verify your identity.

• Creditor mailing list: a list of all the people and companies you owe money to, along with their mailing addresses. This helps the court send them official notices about your case.

🕒 To officially file your case, you must submit these documents to the courthouse within 10 days of submitting your forms online.

Western District Local Forms/Requirements

The Western District is the largest in Louisiana and has five divisions. If you're filing without a lawyer in this district, you can file your forms in person or by mail.

🔽 Find your parish below to see your division and where to file.

📍 Alexandria Division

• Serves Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon, and Winn parishes

• In-person and mailing address: Hemenway Building 300 Jackson Street, Suite 116 Alexandria, LA 71301

📍 Lafayette Division

• Serves Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion parishes

• In-person and mailing address: John M. Shaw U.S. Courthouse 800 Lafayette Street, Suite 1200 Lafayette, LA 70501

📍 Lake Charles Division

• Serves Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes

• No staffed bankruptcy clerk’s office; file at the Lafayette courthouse

📍 Monroe Division

• Serves Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll parishes

• No staffed bankruptcy clerk’s office; file at the Shreveport courthouse

📍 Shreveport Division

• Serves Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Red River, Sabine, and Webster parishes

• In-person and mailing address: Tom Stagg U.S. Courthouse 300 Fannin Street, Suite 2201 Shreveport, LA 71101

This district uses the standard federal bankruptcy forms, but many filers check the court's Local Forms page to make sure no additional forms are needed depending on their situation. Be sure to follow the court's specific formatting rules for the creditor mailing list and include the required Verification of Creditor Matrix form. 

Free Legal Aid in Louisiana

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 Louisiana.

Acadiana Legal Service Corporation (866) 275-2572 1020 Surrey Street Lafayette, LA 70501

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (504) 529-1000 1340 Poydras Street, Suite 600 New Orleans, LA 70112

Common Questions About Filing Bankruptcy in Louisiana