How To File Bankruptcy for Free in New York Without a Lawyer

How To File Bankruptcy for Free in New York

If you're struggling with debt and feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. Many New Yorkers — whether in the city, upstate, or anywhere in between — face financial stress after job loss, medical emergencies, or other life events. Bankruptcy exists to give you a financial fresh start after these kinds of hardships.

💡 Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New York can erase many types of debt, like credit card bills, medical expenses, and payday loans. Chapter 7 usually can’t wipe out alimony, child support, or older tax debt.

While the process might seem complicated at first, many people successfully file on their own. This guide will walk you through the steps of filing for free without a lawyer. You’ll learn what documents to gather, how to complete the forms, where to file them, and what to expect along the way. 

If you’d rather jump in and see if you qualify for Chapter 7, you can take Upsolve’s two-minute screener. It’ll tell you if you’re eligible to use our free filing tool, which helps you with your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case from start to finish.

Collect Your New York Bankruptcy Documents

Before you can file your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, you’ll need to gather some important documents. Getting these in order before you start filling out the bankruptcy forms can help speed up the process.

Some of these documents are essential — meaning the court or bankruptcy trustee will ask to see them. Others are just helpful to have on hand while filling out your forms.

It’s essential to have:

• Tax returns from the last two years

• Pay stubs (or other proof of income) for the past six months

• Bank statements that include your expected filing date

It’s helpful to gather the following information, too:

• Older bank statements: If you can, gather bank statements from the past six months to a year.

• Recent bills and collection letters: These might include notices from debt collectors, credit card companies, or medical providers. Try to collect anything you've received in the last 90 days. Some debts may not show up on your credit report yet, so having these notices can help make sure nothing gets missed.

• Loan documents: If you’ve taken out personal loans, payday loans, or auto loans, find your original loan agreement and any recent statements. These can help you list your balances and lenders correctly.

• Your credit report: This will help you list all your debts accurately. You can now get a free copy of your credit report every week from all three major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. 

✨ If you're using Upsolve’s free tool, we’ll pull your credit reports for you.

Take the Required Credit Counseling Course

Everyone who files for bankruptcy has to take a credit counseling course first. This course helps you explore your debt relief options so you can be sure bankruptcy is the right choice for you.

Here’s what you need to know about the course:

• It usually takes about 1–2 hours.

• You can complete it online, by phone, or in person.

• You need to take it from an approved provider.

• It costs $10–$50, but you can apply for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.

• You must complete the course within the six months (180 days) before you file your bankruptcy case. 

📃 Once you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion. Be sure to save that certificate. You’ll need to file it with the court along with your other bankruptcy forms.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Most of the forms you’ll need for Chapter 7 bankruptcy are federal forms, so they’re the same no matter where you live in New York. 

If you’re filing on your own, you can download all the required bankruptcy forms for free as fillable PDFs from the U.S. Courts website. You can either fill them out on a computer or print them and fill them out by hand with blue or black ink.

If you’re using Upsolve’s free filing tool, you’ll answer a few simple questions online, and we’ll generate the forms for you.

If you’re using a lawyer, they’ll usually ask you to fill out a questionnaire, and then they use your answers to prepare the official forms. 

Get Your Filing Fee

The court filing fee to start a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case is $338, but many filers qualify for a fee waiver.

You can check the New York Fee Waiver Eligibility table below to see if you're eligible. 

If you aren’t eligible for a waiver and can’t pay the fee in full, you can apply to pay in installments. You get to propose the payment amounts and schedule. Just keep in mind that you have to pay the full $338 within 120 days of filing.

An installment plan can be helpful if you're facing wage garnishment, foreclosure, or constant collection calls. In this case, you may be wanting to file your case quickly so you can get the protection of the automatic stay. This is a powerful legal protection that stops most collection actions right away.

Just be aware that if you’re approved for an installment plan, it’s important to stick to the payment schedule. If you don’t make your payments in full and on time, the court can dismiss your case. This means you don’t get debt relief, and you won’t get your money back either.

File Your Forms With the New York Bankruptcy Court

The process to prepare your forms to submit varies depending on how you plan to file.

🖨️ If you’re filing on your own and don’t want to e-file your forms, you can print them off and submit them to the court in person or via mail.

📂 If you qualify for our free filing tool, you’ll get a complete packet of your forms in one downloadable file. We’ll organize it for you, with clear dividers so you can easily find each page that needs your signature.

🤝 If you’re working with a lawyer, they’ll walk through each form with you, explain where to sign, and file everything for you through the court’s electronic system.

💡 Some New York districts allow pro se filers to file their paperwork online. Others require you to print and file your forms in person or by mail.

If you're filing on your own (also called pro se), you may be able to file your case online. This will depend on your court’s local rules. You can find out more information about your district’s rules in the sections below.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

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

💡 The trustee’s job is to make sure everything in your paperwork is accurate and complete.

You’ll usually get the name and contact information for your trustee within a few days of filing your case. You’ll meet your trustee at your 341 meeting, also called the meeting of creditors. We’ll talk about this meeting more later.

At least seven days before your 341 meeting, you need to send the trustee these documents:

• Your two most recent federal tax returns

• A bank statement that includes your bankruptcy filing date (this shows how much money was in your account when you filed)

Some trustees will send you a letter asking for extra documents, like recent pay stubs. If you get a request like this, read it carefully and follow the instructions. Each trustee has their own way of doing things. Some may want documents by mail, email, or both.

Take a Debtor Education Course

After you file your bankruptcy case, you’ll need to complete one more course: the debtor education course (also called the financial management course). 

This class covers basic money skills like budgeting, saving, and managing credit. The goal is to give you tools to help you make the most of your fresh start.

Here’s what you need to know about the course:

• It takes about 1–2 hours and can be completed online, by phone, or in person.

• It costs $10–$50, but you can apply for a fee waiver if you can’t afford the course fee.

• You need to take it with a court-approved provider for New York.

• You must finish it within 60 days of your 341 meeting.

• When you finish, you’ll receive a certificate of completion, which you must file with the court. If you don’t, the court may close your case without wiping out your debts.

💡 If you liked the provider from your first course, check if they offer the debtor education course too. Many do, and some offer a discount for bundling both courses.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

Everyone who files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New York must attend a short meeting called the 341 meeting of creditors.

💡 The 341 meeting is named after the section of the Bankruptcy Code, the federal bankruptcy law, that requires it. 

The court will send you an official notice that tells you the date and time of your meeting. It’s the same notice that has your trustee’s contact information.

💻 Most 341 meetings in New York are now held virtually by phone or video, but some may still be held in person, depending on your district.

The 341 meeting is usually quick and straightforward. You’ll answer a few questions from your bankruptcy trustee, who will:

• Confirm your identity by checking your ID and Social Security number

• Ask basic questions about the information in your bankruptcy forms

• Review your overall financial situation

This meeting isn’t in a courtroom, and a judge won’t be there. While it’s normal to feel a little nervous, these meetings are routine and last only 10–15 minutes.

Deal With Your Car

You’ll have different options for how to handle your car, depending on whether you own it, lease it, or have a car loan. If you don’t have a car, you can skip this step.

If you're still making car loan payments, you have two main options when you file bankruptcy: surrender the car (give it up) or keep the car and reaffirm the loan or redeem it.

• If your car loan payments are too high or you owe much more than the car is worth, you may decide to give the car back to the lender. This is also called surrendering the car. Doing so wipes out the remaining balance and lets you move forward without that debt.

• If your payments are up to date, the car is in good shape, and the loan balance is close to the car’s value, you may decide to keep it and keep paying the loan. In that case, your lender may ask you to sign a reaffirmation agreement, which keeps the loan out of bankruptcy and confirms you’ll continue making payments. 

🚗 If you own the car outright, you can usually keep it if it’s protected by a bankruptcy exemption. New York’s motor vehicle exemption protects up to $4,000 of equity in one car. (Equity is the car’s value minus what you still owe on it.) We’ll cover exemptions in more detail later.

If you have a car lease, you can read more about your options in our guide to leases.

New York Bankruptcy Means Test

Filing for Chapter 7 can give you a powerful fresh start, but not everyone qualifies. To be eligible, you’ll need to pass something called the means test. This test is designed to make sure Chapter 7 is used by people who truly can’t afford to pay back their debts.

The means test has two parts:

1. First, it looks at your income. If your average monthly income is below the median for a household of your size in New York, you pass the test. You can file Chapter 7.

2. If your income is above the median, the second part of the test looks at your living expenses and what's left over each month. This is your “disposable income.” You may still qualify for Chapter 7 if you don’t have much money left after covering basic needs.

If the test shows you can afford to repay some of your debt, you might not qualify for Chapter 7. But you still have options. Many people in this situation explore Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which works a bit differently and involves a payment plan.

Data on Median Income Levels for New York

Data on Poverty levels for New York

New York Districts & Filing Requirements

New York has four federal bankruptcy districts, and each one has its own set of local rules, forms, and instructions. 

🔎 Your district is based on the county you live in, so check your district before you start the filing process.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the four New York districts:

• Northern District of New York covers Albany, Utica, Syracuse, and the surrounding counties.

• Eastern District of New York includes Richmond (Staten Island), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties.

• Southern District of New York includes the Bronx, New York (Manhattan), Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Greene, Ulster, and Westchester counties.

• Western District of New York covers Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genesee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, Wyoming, and Yates counties.

Knowing your district will help you find the right local court forms, filing instructions, and contact information if you need help.

All bankruptcy courts in New York accept money orders or certified checks for the filing fee. You can get a money order for a small fee at your local U.S. Post Office. 

Some courts also offer other options:

• Eastern District accepts online payments through Pay.gov.

• Southern District accepts cash payments at the Manhattan courthouse.

• Western District accepts cash payments at the Buffalo courthouse.

Northern District of New York Filing Requirements

The Northern District covers 32 counties in upstate New York and is divided into three divisions based in Albany, Utica, and Syracuse. 

👉 The county you live in determines which division handles your case.

You can file your bankruptcy petition in person at the courthouse in Albany, Utica, or Syracuse, or you can send it via mail. 

💰 You pay the filing fee via money order or certified check. The Northern District doesn’t currently allow online bankruptcy filings or fee payments.

The Northern district provides a pro se packet for individuals filing without a lawyer that includes basic guidance, federal forms, and local forms.

Eastern District of New York Filing Requirements

The Eastern District of New York includes Richmond (Staten Island), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk counties.

You can file your bankruptcy petition in person at the courthouse, via mail, or online using the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system. This free tool is designed specifically for people filing without a lawyer.

📃 If you choose to file in person, the court requires you to bring two full copies of your completed bankruptcy forms when you file your case. 

💰 You pay the filing fee via money order or certified check in person or via mail. You can also pay online using a debit card or checking account at Pay.gov. The court doesn’t accept personal checks, third-party checks, credit cards, or cash.

Eastern District: Local Rules

If you're missing any required documents at the time you submit your bankruptcy forms, you’ll also need to include a signed affidavit when you file the remaining forms. 

If you need to amend your exemptions after your case is filed (for example, by updating Schedule C), local rules require that you:

• Send a copy of the amended form to your case trustee, the United States Trustee, and all of your creditors.

• File proof with the court that you did this within seven days.

Your update won’t take effect until that proof is filed, so it’s a good idea to get this done as soon as you send out your notices.

Southern District of New York Filing Requirements

The Southern District handles bankruptcy cases for people who live in Manhattan (New York County), the Bronx, Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Sullivan counties. It also shares responsibility for Greene and Ulster counties. 

📍The court has locations in Manhattan, White Plains, and Poughkeepsie. You can file your bankruptcy petition in person at one of those courts, or you can send it via mail.

💰 You can pay the filing fee via money order or certified check made out to: Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court – SDNY. The Manhattan courthouse also accepts cash payments. Personal checks, credit cards, and third-party checks aren’t accepted at any location.

Western District of New York Filing Requirements

The Western District of New York has two court locations, Buffalo and Rochester, and serves 22 counties.

Even if you file your case in one of these cities, your 341 meeting (also called the meeting of creditors) may be scheduled at another location within the district.

📄 If you’re filing without a lawyer, the court requires:

• Your original signed bankruptcy petition

• Three full copies of all your completed bankruptcy forms

You can file your forms in person at the Buffalo or Rochester courthouse or by mail. 

💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee with a money order or certified check made out to: Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The Buffalo office also accepts exact cash payments. The Rochester office doesn’t accept cash under any circumstances. Personal checks, third-party checks, and credit cards aren't accepted at either location.

Western District: Local Rules

Sometimes mistakes happen or new information comes up after you file. If you need to update your bankruptcy forms to correct an address or add a creditor, you’ll need to include the court’s official Amendment Cover Sheet with your updated documents. This helps the court track and process your changes correctly.

You’ll also need to:

• Send a copy of the updated form(s) to your case trustee, the U.S. Trustee, and any creditors affected by the changes.

• File a Certificate of Service with the court to show you notified everyone involved.

Your changes won’t be official until the court receives both your amended forms and proof of service. 

New York Bankruptcy Exemptions

When you file bankruptcy, exemptions help protect the things you need to live and work, like your clothes, furniture, and sometimes your car or home. 

If you’ve lived in New York for at least two years before filing, you get to choose between using New York’s set of exemptions or the federal exemptions. You can’t mix and match exemptions from the two sets.

Both are designed to protect your essential property, but the details vary. Most people choose the set that covers more of what they own. Here’s a quick look at some of the most common exemptions and how the federal amounts compare to New York state exemption amounts.

New York Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

Filing bankruptcy can feel overwhelming, and for some people, working with a lawyer brings peace of mind. 

💰 Most New York bankruptcy attorneys charge a flat fee, not an hourly rate, because Chapter 7 cases tend to follow a standard process. You can expect to pay between $965 and $1,550, depending on how complex your case is. This is a bit higher than the national average.

Most bankruptcy attorneys offer a free consultation, so you can get legal advice and see if their approach feels like a good fit.

That said, hiring a lawyer isn’t affordable for many people. If that’s the case for you, you can see if you’re eligible to file for free using Upsolve’s free filing tool.

New York Legal Aid Organizations

If you’d like help from a lawyer but can’t afford to hire one, you may be able to get free legal assistance through a legal aid organization. Many of these groups help low-income New Yorkers with civil legal issues, including Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to get help directly through your district bankruptcy court, or you can contact a nonprofit legal aid organization that serves your area. It’s worth exploring this option if your case feels complicated or if you’d feel more confident undergoing the bankruptcy process with legal support.

New York Court Locations

New York Judges

New York Trustees