How To File Bankruptcy for Free in North Carolina
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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 North Carolinians file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in North Carolina.
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer.
Updated November 6, 2026
5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in North Carolina
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 North Carolina 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.
Upsolve’s free filing tool is not currently available in North Carolina, but Upsolve can connect you with a local attorney for a free consultation to discuss your options.
Step 1: See If You Qualify
Chapter 7 has income limits, but most people who need it meet them. If your income is below North Carolina’s median for a household your size, you'll likely qualify to file.
| 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).
📌 In North Carolina, each district keeps its own list of approved course providers. Look up your district by county, then pick a provider that’s accepted there:
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 districts also require their own local forms and offer different ways to file: by mail, in person, and in some cases online. You'll find your district's specifics, including any local forms and where to send everything, in the North Carolina 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.
| 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.
Filing fee payment rules vary by district. The North Carolina Bankruptcy Districts section below has more details.
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? →
North Carolina Bankruptcy Districts
North Carolina has three bankruptcy districts: Eastern, Middle, and Western. Each district has its own court and filing rules, and the county you live in determines which one handles your case. Find your county in the district sections below to see where and how to file.
You can also use the court locator tool, which lets you search by ZIP code.
Eastern District Local Forms/Requirements
In the Eastern District, you can submit your Chapter 7 forms in person or by mail at the Raleigh courthouse, or online using the court’s free Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool.
📍 Raleigh
Serves Beaufort, Bertie, Bladen, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Columbus, Craven, Cumberland, Currituck, Dare, Duplin, Edgecombe, Franklin, Gates, Granville, Greene, Halifax, Harnett, Hertford, Hyde, Johnston, Jones, Lenoir, Martin, Nash, New Hanover, Northampton, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Pitt, Robeson, Sampson, Tyrrell, Vance, Wake, Warren, Washington, Wayne, and Wilson counties
In-person address: Century Station Federal Building 300 Fayetteville St., 4th Floor Raleigh, NC 27601
Mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court - EDNC P.O. Box 791 Raleigh, NC 27602
For the most part, the Eastern District uses the standard federal forms, but there are a couple of local requirements to know about.
First, there are specific formatting instructions for your creditor matrix, which is a list of everyone you owe money to, along with their addresses. You’ll also need to submit a Certification of Mailing Matrix, which confirms that your list is true and accurate.
If you still have questions about filing in the Eastern District, the court has a helpful Pro Se Guide available on their website.
If you use eSR, the tool walks you through your bankruptcy forms online and gives you 45 days to finish. After you submit your package online, you’ll need to mail or hand-deliver original, signed copies of a few more items: the Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing, Statement About Your Social Security Numbers, and your filing fee (or an application for either the fee waiver or installment payments).
🚨 Important: Your bankruptcy isn’t considered filed until the court receives those items and sends you an email with your case number.
💰 You can pay your $338 filing fee to the Raleigh courthouse with a cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online with a bank account or debit card.
Middle District Local Forms/Requirements
The Middle District serves Alamance, Cabarrus, Caswell, Chatham, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Guilford, Hoke, Lee, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rowan, Scotland, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin counties.
You can file your Chapter 7 forms in person or by mail at either of its two courthouses.
📍 Greensboro
Filing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 101 S. Edgeworth St. Greensboro, NC 27401
📍 Winston-Salem
Filing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 601 W. 4th St., Suite 100 Winston-Salem, NC 27101
The Middle District has specific formatting requirements for your creditor mailing list. This is a list of everyone you owe money to, along with their addresses. You’ll also need to submit a Verification of List, which confirms that your list is true and accurate.
You can find those requirements, along with an example mailing list and other helpful tips for filing Chapter 7 without a lawyer, in the court's Pro Se Guide.
💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee in person or by mail with a cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If you’re submitting your forms in person, you can also pay in cash with exact change.
Western District Local Forms/Requirements
The Western District serves Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey counties.
You can file your Chapter 7 forms in person at the Charlotte or Asheville courthouse, by mail to Charlotte, or online using the court’s free Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool.
📍 Charlotte
Filing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 401 W. Trade St., Suite 2500 Charlotte, NC 28202
📍 Asheville
In-person address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 100 Otis Street, Room 112 Asheville, NC 28801
This district mostly uses the standard federal forms, but it has specific guidelines for creating your creditor mailing list, or matrix. This is a list of everyone you owe money to, along with their addresses.
You can find these instructions on the court’s Chapter 7 checklist, which also lists every form you need to file in the Western District.
💻 If you use eSR, the tool walks you through your bankruptcy forms online and gives you up to 45 days to finish. Submitting your package online isn't the same as filing your case, though. After you submit it, you'll still need to get a few more items to the court:
A completed and signed Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing
Your filing fee, or an application to waive it or pay in installments
The Declaration and your Social Security statement can be mailed or hand-delivered to either the Charlotte or Asheville courthouse. For the Declaration, a fee waiver, or an installment application, you can also use the court's Electronic Drop Box. 💰 You can pay your $338 filing fee with a cashier's check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online with a debit card, or with cash in the exact amount (if paying in person).
‼️ The Charlotte courthouse is the only location that accepts filing fee payments.
Free Legal Aid in North Carolina
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 North Carolina.
Legal Aid of North Carolina (866) 219-5262 319 Chapanoke Road Raleigh, NC 27603
