How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Mississippi

Collect Your Mississippi Bankruptcy Documents

Getting your documents together before you start filling out your forms can save you time and stress. Chapter 7 bankruptcy involves a lot of paperwork, and having the right information in front of you makes everything easier.

Start by gathering the documents that are required for your case:

• Tax returns from the past two years

• Paycheck stubs or other proof of income for the past 60 days

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

🗂️ It also helps to collect a few other documents. These aren’t required, but they can make it much easier to accurately report your income, expenses, and debts:

• Credit card and loan statements

• Bank statements from the past 6–12 months

• Letters or notices from debt collectors

• A recent credit report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion 

📄 You can get a free credit report each week at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you’re using Upsolve’s free tool, we’ll pull your credit report for you automatically.

Take a Credit Counseling Course

Before you can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider.

The course is short and covers the basics of personal finances and debt relief options.

Here are some important details:

• You can take the course online or by phone.

• Most cost $10–$50, but many providers offer a fee waiver.

• You must take the course within 180 days before filing your bankruptcy case. 

📄 After you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion. You’ll need to file this certificate with your other bankruptcy forms. If you don’t, your case could be dismissed.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

After you’ve taken your credit counseling course and gathered your documents, it’s time to fill out your bankruptcy forms. Most of these are federal forms, which are the same in every state and available for free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov. Some courts also require local forms. We’ll cover those in the Mississippi Districts & Filing Requirements section below.

🛠️ If you’re using Upsolve’s free filing tool, you won’t need to worry about downloading or organizing the forms yourself. Just answer a few simple questions, and we’ll generate the correct forms for your case.

If you’re working with a lawyer, they’ll ask you to complete an intake packet and will prepare and file the forms for you.

Get Your Filing Fee

The filing fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is $338, but many people qualify for a fee waiver. This means you won’t have to pay the court fee at all. 

👉 If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, we’ll prepare the fee waiver form for you to submit with your other forms when you file.

📅 If you don’t qualify for a waiver, you can apply to pay the fee in installments. This allows you to file your case right away and still get the protection of the automatic stay, which stops wage garnishments, foreclosures, and repossessions. 

⚠️ If you choose a payment plan, it’s important to make each payment on time. If you miss one, your case may be dismissed.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

If you’re filing bankruptcy on your own, you’ll need to print your bankruptcy forms.

Use white, letter-size paper (8.5” x 11”), and print everything single-sided in black ink. Avoid stapling or hole-punching the pages, since the court needs to scan each one into their system.

🖊️ Take a moment to go through each form and sign everywhere a signature is required. These spots can be easy to miss, so double-check as you go. Use blue or black ink when signing.

✨ If you’re using Upsolve’s filing tool, you’ll get a ready-to-print packet with all your completed forms. It includes clear dividers that show you exactly where to sign, so nothing gets ove

File Your Forms With the Mississippi Bankruptcy Court

Once your forms are printed and signed, you're ready to officially file your case. In Mississippi, people filing without a lawyer can either bring their forms to the courthouse in person or send them by mail. Only lawyers can use the court’s electronic filing system.

If time is tight — like if you're trying to stop a wage garnishment or car repossession — filing in person is the fastest way to get your case started. When you hand your forms to the clerk, they can also let you know if anything’s missing or needs a signature.

📄 Some filers bring an extra copy of their forms with them. The clerk can stamp it with the filing date and case number so you have proof that your case was filed. It’s a small step that can give you peace of mind.

📬 Mailing your forms is another option if getting to the courthouse is tough. It’s best to send your forms via certified mail so you know when they were delivered.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After you file your case, the court will assign a bankruptcy trustee to manage it. The trustee is a third party who reviews your paperwork and makes sure everything is accurate. They’ll also collect some documents from you and lead your 341 meeting, where they’ll ask a few simple questions about your case.

📌 You’ll get a notice from the court with your trustee’s name, contact information, and the date and time of your 341 meeting a few days after you file.

📬 Before the meeting, you’ll need to send your trustee some documents to help confirm the details in your forms. Unless your trustee gives you a different deadline, send these at least 14 days before the 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 (such as your Social Security card, W-2, or a pay stub with your full SSN)

• Your most recent pay stub or other proof of income

📄 After you send these, Mississippi law requires you to file a certificate of service with the court. This lets the court know what you sent and when. If you’re not sure what a certificate of service looks like, this example form from one Mississippi court can help you get started.

Your trustee may send a letter with more detailed instructions. Following their directions carefully can help prevent delays in your case.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Before your bankruptcy can be completed, there’s one more required step: a course called debtor education. It covers helpful strategies for budgeting, saving, and managing money after bankruptcy. You might also hear it called the financial management course.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

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

• It must be taken through a court-approved provider.

• A certificate of completion must be filed with the court (either by you or the provider).

🌟 This course is required to receive a discharge, which is what clears your debts for good. If you don’t complete it and file your certificate, the court won’t erase your debts.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll meet with your bankruptcy trustee in a short video call. This is called the 341 meeting or meeting of creditors. It’s a routine part of every bankruptcy case and usually takes less than 10 minutes.

💻 Most 341 meetings happen via Zoom, not in person. You’ll get a notice from the court with the date, time, and login details.

During the meeting, the trustee will ask you a few simple questions under oath to confirm that your paperwork is complete and correct. 

📄 Have the following ready, just in case:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms

• The documents you already sent to your trustee (like your tax return and pay stub)

• Your case notice from the court

Many people feel nervous going into this meeting, but most are surprised by how quick and straightforward it is. Just be honest and answer the trustee’s questions as best as you can.

Deal With Your Car

Many people worry they’ll lose their vehicle when filing for bankruptcy, but that’s often not the case. You have several options depending on your situation.

🚗 If you own your car outright: You may be able to keep it if its value falls within Mississippi’s general property exemption (usually $10,000). Exemptions protect essential property so you don’t have to start over with nothing. 

🏦 If you’re still paying off a car loan: Your options depend on how much equity you have in your car, whether you’re current on payments, and how much you owe. 

Equity is the car’s current value minus what you still owe. If your equity is protected by the exemption, you can usually keep your car by reaffirming the loan or redeeming it.

• Reaffirming the loan means you agree to keep making payments, and the lender agrees not to repossess the car. Filers often choose this option if they’re current on their payments and want to keep the car.

• Redeeming the car means you pay the lender a lump sum equal to the car’s current value, even if you owe more. This can be a good option if you owe more than the car is worth and you’re able to come up with a lump-sum payment.

If neither of those works for you or you simply don’t want to keep the car or car loan, you can also choose to surrender the vehicle. When you do this, you give the car back and the remaining loan balance is wiped out in your bankruptcy.

📑 If you lease your car, you can either keep it (if you’re current) or return the car and cancel the lease.