Filing bankruptcy in Minnesota typically costs about $1,400 to $2,900 for Chapter 7 and $3,500 to $4,500 or more for Chapter 13. The cost to file bankruptcy in Minnesota comes down to three things: a fixed court filing fee, two mandatory financial education courses, and attorney fees. Attorney fees are by far the largest piece and the one with the most room to move.
Court Filing Fee
The filing fee is set by federal law and is the same in every Minnesota bankruptcy court. You pay it to the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Minnesota when your petition is filed.1United States Bankruptcy Court. Filing Fees: Petitions
- Chapter 7: $338
- Chapter 13: $313
These amounts don’t vary by county, by attorney, or by the size of your debts. If paying the Chapter 7 fee upfront is a problem, you have options, covered further down.
Attorney Fees
Legal representation is the single biggest expense in a Minnesota bankruptcy, and the fee structure differs sharply between the two chapters.
Chapter 7
Most Minnesota attorneys charge a flat fee for Chapter 7, generally $1,000 to $2,500. Straightforward cases with few assets fall at the lower end. Business debts, property disputes, or potential preference payments push the fee higher.
Nearly all attorneys require the full fee before they file. The reason is practical: once your case is filed, the automatic stay stops creditors from collecting, and an unpaid legal fee could theoretically be swept into the discharge.
Chapter 13
Chapter 13 involves more sustained legal work because the attorney guides you through a three-to-five-year repayment plan. The District of Minnesota uses a “no-look” fee, a standard amount the court treats as presumptively reasonable without requiring detailed billing. Typical no-look fees in Minnesota run roughly $3,000 to $4,000 for a straightforward case. Complex situations can go higher with court approval.
The useful part of Chapter 13 billing is that you don’t need to pay the full attorney fee upfront. Your lawyer usually collects a portion before filing and folds the rest into your monthly plan payments. That spreads the cost over years and makes representation workable even when cash is thin at the start.
Required Credit Counseling and Debtor Education
Federal law requires two separate courses, and you can’t get a discharge without completing both.2U.S. Courts. Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses The first is a credit counseling session you take within 180 days before filing.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 109 – Who May Be a Debtor The second is a debtor education course on personal financial management, taken after filing but before discharge.
Both courses must come from agencies approved by the U.S. Trustee Program. Fees up to $50 per course are considered presumptively reasonable, and most providers charge in that range.4U.S. Trustee Program. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Debtor Education Budget roughly $20 to $100 total. If your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, you’re presumptively entitled to a fee waiver or reduction from the provider.5U.S. Department of Justice – U.S. Trustee Program. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – Credit Counseling
The Chapter 13 Trustee’s Cut
If you file Chapter 13, a standing trustee manages your plan and distributes your monthly payments to creditors. The trustee takes a percentage of each payment as compensation. The statutory maximum is 10%, and the actual rate varies by district, set by the U.S. Trustee Program rather than the court.
You won’t write a separate check for this. It’s built into your plan. If your monthly payment is $500 and the trustee takes 6%, the trustee keeps $30 and distributes $470 to creditors. Over a five-year plan it adds up, so factor it in when you compare the true cost of Chapter 13 against Chapter 7.
Smaller Costs People Miss
A few costs tend to catch filers off guard. None are large on their own, but they’re worth knowing about before you start.
If you need to amend your petition after filing, say to add a creditor you forgot, the court charges $34 per amendment. The fee is waived if you’re only updating a creditor’s address.6United States Courts. Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule
If a creditor challenges your discharge or you need to dispute a particular debt in court, that’s an adversary proceeding, and the filing fee is $350. Reopening a closed case costs $245 for Chapter 7 or $235 for Chapter 13.6United States Courts. Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule Most cases don’t involve either, but they do happen.
If you own real estate and your equity sits anywhere near your Minnesota exemption limit, an appraisal protects you from disputes with the trustee. A standard single-family appraisal in Minnesota runs roughly $525 to $800.
Credit reports and tax transcripts, which you’ll need for your petition, are free. One report from each of the three bureaus is available annually through AnnualCreditReport.com,7AnnualCreditReport.com. Getting Your Credit Reports and the IRS provides tax transcripts at no cost through its online portal or by calling 800-908-9946.8Internal Revenue Service. Get Your Tax Records and Transcripts
If You Can’t Afford the Filing Fee
Two options exist for the Chapter 7 filing fee, and both apply only to Chapter 7. Chapter 13 filers don’t have access to waivers, though the fee is often rolled into the plan.
Full Waiver
The court can waive the entire $338 Chapter 7 fee if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and you can’t pay even in installments.9United States Trustee Program. Notice to Chapter 7 Trustees Re Bankruptcy Filing Fee Waivers For 2026, the 150% thresholds for the 48 contiguous states are:10U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE. 2026 Poverty Guidelines: 48 Contiguous States
- 1 person: $23,940
- 2 people: $32,460
- 3 people: $40,980
- 4 people: $49,500
- 5 people: $58,020
You apply by filing Official Form 103B with your petition. The waiver isn’t automatic. The court reviews your income and expenses before deciding.11Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 1006 – Filing Fee
Installment Payments
If you don’t qualify for a waiver but can’t pay $338 at once, you can request to pay in up to four installments by filing Official Form 103A with your petition. All payments must be completed within 120 days of filing, though the court can extend to 180 days for good cause.11Legal Information Institute. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 1006 – Filing Fee Missing a payment can get your case dismissed, so treat the schedule as firm.
Free and Low-Cost Help
If the attorney fee is the real barrier, Minnesota has options. The Volunteer Lawyers Network runs bankruptcy advice clinics every two weeks at the federal courthouses in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Eligibility depends on income, county, and the specifics of your case. The intake line is (612) 752-6677, Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Filing without an attorney is also legally permitted. The Minnesota bankruptcy court accepts pro se petitions, and organizations like Upsolve offer free guided tools for straightforward Chapter 7 cases. Going pro se eliminates attorney fees entirely, but it carries real risk. Errors on your petition can delay your discharge, lose you an exemption, or get your case dismissed. For simple cases with no real property and debts that are clearly dischargeable, pro se can work. For anything more complicated, the money spent on a lawyer usually pays for itself.