How Much Does Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Cost in California?

The Court Filing Fee: $338

Every Chapter 7 case carries the same federal court filing fee regardless of which California district you file in. As of June 2026 that total is $338, which breaks down into three line items: a $245 filing fee, a $78 administrative fee, and a $15 Chapter 7 trustee surcharge (cacb.uscourts.gov; casb.uscourts.gov; caeb.uscourts.gov). This amount has been in effect since December 1, 2023 and applies in the Central, Southern, and Eastern Districts of California alike.

Attorney Fees in California

Most California Chapter 7 attorney fees fall in the range of roughly $1,000 to $2,500 for a straightforward no-asset case, according to published 2026 California attorney-fee surveys (tryascend.com; thebankruptcyhelp.com; legal-info.lawyers.com). Fees tend to run higher in coastal metros — Los Angeles and San Diego attorneys often quote toward the $1,500–$2,500 end — and lower in the Inland Empire and Central Valley, where Riverside, Sacramento, and Fresno filers may see quotes closer to $1,000–$2,000. The exact figure depends on case complexity, asset and income detail, and whether a means-test calculation is required. People's Justice does not set or collect attorney fees; quoted ranges are illustrative and any fee is set by the attorney you retain.

Required Credit-Counseling and Debtor-Education Courses

Federal law requires two courses from a U.S. Trustee–approved provider: a credit-counseling course within the 180 days before filing, and a debtor-education (financial management) course after filing. Each typically costs about $20–$50, so the pair usually runs roughly $30–$100 total; approved providers must offer a reduced fee or fee waiver to filers below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines (uscourts.gov; justice.gov/ust). You can find approved providers on the U.S. Trustee Program list at justice.gov/ust.

Fee Waivers and Installment Payments

If you cannot afford the $338 fee, two official options exist. Using Official Form 103B ("Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived"), the court may waive the fee entirely for individual filers whose income is below 150% of the federal poverty line and who cannot pay in installments. Alternatively, Official Form 103A ("Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments") lets eligible filers pay the $338 in up to four installments over time (uscourts.gov). Whether a waiver is granted is decided by the court, not guaranteed.

Putting It Together

A typical out-of-pocket California Chapter 7 cost is the $338 filing fee, about $30–$100 for the two required courses, and attorney fees in the roughly $1,000–$2,500 range — so most filers see a combined total of about $1,370 to roughly $2,940, before any fee waiver. The figures above are educational only and current as of June 2026; People's Justice is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice; we connect you with licensed attorneys; we are not a government agency.