The cost to file bankruptcy in Missouri generally runs $1,200 to $2,500 for a Chapter 7 case once you add the court filing fee, two required courses, and attorney charges. Chapter 13 costs more on paper because attorney fees are roughly double and a trustee takes a cut of every plan payment, but most of those costs get built into your three-to-five-year repayment plan rather than paid up front. Where you land in those ranges depends on how complicated your finances are and whether you qualify for a fee waiver or installment plan.
Court Filing Fees
The fee paid to the federal court is fixed and identical in both the Eastern District (St. Louis and eastern Missouri) and the Western District (Kansas City and western Missouri):
- Chapter 7: $338 ($245 filing fee, $78 administrative fee, $15 trustee surcharge)
- Chapter 13: $313 ($235 filing fee, $78 administrative fee)
These amounts are set nationally by the Judicial Conference of the United States under 28 U.S.C. ยง 1930.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 28 U.S. Code 1930 – Bankruptcy Fees The court accepts cash, cashier’s checks, personal checks, and money orders, and in some cases credit cards, though the accepted methods vary a bit between divisional offices.2Eastern District of Missouri. Payment Methods
If you can’t pay the full fee at filing, you have two options. For Chapter 7 only, the court can waive the entire $338 fee if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines and you cannot pay even in installments. For 2026, that income ceiling in Missouri is $23,940 for one person, $32,460 for two, $40,980 for three, and $49,500 for four, with $8,520 added for each additional person.3United States Courts. 150% of the HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2026 You apply using Official Form 103B, and the judge decides based on your full income and expense picture. Being under the income ceiling makes you eligible, not automatically approved. No equivalent waiver exists for Chapter 13.4United States Trustee Program. Notice to Chapter 7 Trustees re: Bankruptcy Filing Fee Waivers
In either chapter, you can also ask to pay the filing fee in up to four installments by submitting Official Form 103A. All payments must be completed within 120 days of filing, with a possible extension to 180 days for good cause.5Cornell Law School. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 1006 – Filing Fee Miss a scheduled payment and the court can dismiss your case with no discharge.
Attorney Fees
Legal representation is the single biggest variable in your total cost, and the fee structure differs sharply between the two chapters.
Chapter 7
Most Missouri attorneys quote a flat fee of roughly $1,000 to $2,000 for a standard Chapter 7, covering the petition, schedules, and the meeting of creditors. Fees climb toward the top of that range when you have significant assets, a lot of creditors, or complications like pending lawsuits or business debts. The fee is almost always due in full before the petition is filed, because an unpaid legal bill owed at filing could be discharged along with the rest of your debts.
One thing that surprises people: the flat fee rarely covers adversary proceedings. If a creditor challenges your discharge or objects to a specific debt, that litigation is billed separately at hourly rates, and some attorneys who handle routine filings won’t take on adversary work at all.
Chapter 13
Both Missouri districts use a “no-look” fee for Chapter 13, meaning the court has pre-approved a standard amount that attorneys can charge without filing a detailed justification. That figure is typically around $3,500 to $4,000 and covers standard legal work across the entire three-to-five-year plan. The practical benefit is big: most of the attorney fee gets folded into your monthly plan payment instead of coming out of pocket at filing.
In either chapter, your attorney must disclose all compensation to the court under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 2016, and the court can order a partial refund if it finds the fees excessive for the work done.6Cornell Law School. Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure Rule 2016 – Compensation for Services Rendered
Required Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses
Federal law requires two separate courses, and skipping either one means no discharge. The first is a credit counseling briefing completed within 180 days before you file.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 U.S. Code 109 – Who May Be a Debtor The second is a debtor education course on personal financial management, taken after you file but before the court grants your discharge.8U.S. Courts. Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Courses Both must come from providers approved by the U.S. Trustee Program.9U.S. Trustee Program. Credit Counseling and Debtor Education Information
Each session typically costs $10 to $50, with online and telephone options at the lower end. If your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level, approved agencies are required to waive or reduce the fee, and they must tell you about reduced-fee options before the session starts.10U.S. Trustee Program. Frequently Asked Questions – Credit Counseling
The Chapter 13 Trustee’s Percentage
This is the cost most Chapter 13 filers don’t see coming. A standing trustee collects a percentage of every payment you make into your plan to cover case administration. The statutory maximum is 10%, but the actual rate varies by district. Based on U.S. Trustee Program data, Missouri’s Eastern District has historically charged around 5.6% and the Western District around 7.7%.11U.S. Trustee Program. Schedules of Actual Administrative Expenses of Administering a Chapter 13 Plan Those percentages shift over time, so ask your attorney for the current figure.
What that looks like in practice: on a $500 monthly plan payment at a 7% trustee rate, $35 of every payment goes to administration rather than your creditors. Over a five-year plan, that adds up quickly, and your attorney should account for it when calculating what your plan payment needs to be.
Other Small Costs
A merged credit report formatted for bankruptcy purposes generally runs $30 to $50 for an individual filer and slightly more for a joint filing. Tax return transcripts are free from the IRS but take time to arrive. If you need to amend your creditor list after filing, the court charges a $34 amendment fee, though simple address corrections and additions of a creditor’s attorney are not charged.12United States Courts. Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule
If you own real estate and there’s a real question about whether your home equity exceeds the Missouri homestead exemption, a professional appraisal to establish value for exemption purposes can run several hundred dollars depending on the property. It isn’t always necessary, but it can prevent a dispute with the trustee when the numbers are close.