How To File Bankruptcy for Free in New York

5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in New York

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 New York 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 New York’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. 

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 →

New York has four federal bankruptcy districts, and the county you live in decides which one handles your case. Each district sets its own local rules, forms, and instructions in addition to the federal forms. To find the one that serves your county, check the New York Bankruptcy Districts section below.

Every district lets you file in person or by mail, and some also let you file online.

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.

People whose income falls below 150% of the federal poverty level may be eligible. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant the fee waiver.  

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.

We’ll cover how to pay the filing fee where you live in the New York Bankruptcy Districts section later.

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? →

New York Bankruptcy Districts

Your county decides both the district and the division that will handle your case. Find your county in the table below to see where you'll file. 

*Filers in Columbia, Greene, and Ulster counties can file in either the Northern District or the Southern District of New York.

Local Forms/Requirements for the Northern District

In the Northern District, you can file your bankruptcy forms at the courthouse that serves your division, either in person or by mail.

For the most part, the Northern District uses the standard federal forms, but there's one local form to know about: the Payment Advice Form. It's a cover sheet for the pay stubs you file, and if you don't have pay stubs, you use it to explain why. 

The Northern District also has specific formatting requirements for your creditor matrix — the list of everyone you owe money to and their mailing addresses, which the court uses to notify your creditors. You'll also need to file a matrix certification, a short signed form confirming your list of creditors is true and correct.

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

💰 The $338 filing fee can be paid by money order or cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. 

Local Forms/Requirements for the Eastern District

In the Eastern District, you can file your bankruptcy forms in person or by mail at the courthouse that serves your division, or online. 

For the most part, the Eastern District uses the standard federal forms, but there's one local form to be aware of: the Payment Advices Cover Sheet. It's submitted with your pay stubs or, if you don't have pay stubs, you use it to explain why. 

The Eastern District also has specific formatting requirements for your creditor matrix — the list of everyone you owe money to and their mailing addresses, which the court uses to notify your creditors. You'll also need to file a Verification of Creditor Matrix to confirm your list of creditors is true and correct. You can find the court's formatting rules, a sample matrix, and the verification form on the Eastern District's creditor matrix page.

If you file online using the court’s free Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool, you’ll need to submit a few more items to complete the submission of your bankruptcy packet:

• eSR Declaration Form

• Your Statement About Your Social Security Numbers

• A copy of your government-issued photo identification (like a driver's license or passport) in PDF format

You can mail or hand deliver them to the courthouse that serves your division, or you can upload them using the Pro Se Electronic Document Upload Program. Keep in mind that your case isn't officially filed, and the automatic stay doesn't start, until the court receives these documents. 

💰 The $338 filing fee can be paid in person or via mail by money order or cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online with a debit card, PayPal, or bank account.

Local Forms/Requirements for the Southern District

In the Southern District, you can file your bankruptcy forms in person or by mail at the courthouse that serves your division.

Along with your petition, you'll file a list of creditors. This is the name and complete mailing address of everyone you owe money to, and it has to cover every creditor from your schedules. The court uses this list to send your creditors notice of your case. 

Once your case is open, you can also submit documents online through the court's Pro Se Upload Tool instead of mailing them or bringing them in. You'll need your case number, and everything has to be uploaded as a PDF. If you're facing a deadline, upload at least 48 hours ahead so the court has time to review.

You can find the full filing requirements on the Southern District's Chapter 7 checklist for individual filers.

💰 You can pay the filing fee in person or by mail with a money order or cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court – SDNY. The Manhattan courthouse also accepts cash payments, but only in the exact amount.  

Local Forms/Requirements for the Western District

In the Western District, you can file your bankruptcy forms in person or by mail to the courthouse that serves your division.

For the most part, the Western District uses the standard federal forms, but a few local rules are worth knowing about. When you file your petition, you'll bring or mail an original plus three copies of your petition, schedules, and statements. 

If you ever need to change something after you file, the court won't process the change unless you attach an Amendment Cover Sheet to the front of it, so hold onto that form if you think you might amend later.

Like the other districts, the Western District needs a creditor matrix, which is the list of everyone you owe money to along with their mailing addresses. The court uses it to send your creditors notice of your case.

If you request a fee waiver, the Western District asks for one extra local form on top of the federal application: a Supplement to Official Form 103B. You'll file it along with the standard fee waiver application.

💰 The $338 filing fee can be paid by money order or cashier's check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The Buffalo office also accepts cash in the exact amount.

Free Legal Aid in New York

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 New York.

Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Inc. (315) 793-7077 120 Bleecker Street Utica, NY 13501

Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York, Inc. (518) 462-6765 95 Central Avenue Albany, NY 12206

Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc. (585) 325-2520 361 South Main Street Geneva, NY 14456

Legal Services NYC (646) 442-3600 40 Worth Street, Suite 606 New York, NY 10013

Legal Services of Long Island, Inc. (631) 232-2400 1757 Veterans Highway, Suite 50 Islandia, NY 11749

Legal Services of the Hudson Valley (914) 949-1305 90 Maple Avenue White Plains, NY 10601

Neighborhood Legal Services, Inc. (716) 847-0650 237 Main Street, 4th Floor Buffalo, NY 14203

Common Questions About Filing Bankruptcy in New York