Many people that are filing bankruptcy are counting the change on their dresser to survive. Because of this, many are looking for the cheapest possible way to file for bankruptcy and get the best results. Many people look into do-it-yourself bankruptcy services online in an attempt to file bankruptcy on their own. Many of them find out it's not all what it's cracked up to be and end up hiring a bankruptcy attorney to finish up. A question that is commonly asked online, is it possible to file bankruptcy for free? The term free is relative, because it is possible but highly unlikely.

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs an individual about $300 in court fees. An individual could have these fees waived if they want to attend a hearing in front of the bankruptcy judge and explain why they can't afford to pay these fees. Most of the time they can get the fees waived, but there are still other costs. Since the changes the bankruptcy code back in 2005 an individual is now required to take a pre-bankruptcy credit counseling course and a post bankruptcy financial management course. These courses cost between $25-$50 apiece and are required to get a bankruptcy discharge. Once again, there are organizations that will waive these fees and offer the courses for free for certain individuals. This will take time for someone to find these courses, but it is possible.

Lastly, to get the best results of a bankruptcy filing one should hire a bankruptcy attorney. Rarely do attorneys give their services away, but some offer pro bono work for low income clinics. So once again it is possible, but not the standard. Typically, filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs about $2000 on the average. This will include the bankruptcy attorney, bankruptcy court filing fees and necessary court ordered courses. I know this seems like a lot of money when you don't have any, but when you consider the value you get in the amount of debt that is being included in the bankruptcy discharge, it is really quite a deal.

Just because someone doesn't have the money to file for bankruptcy, doesn't mean they shouldn't pursue it. Sometimes a bankruptcy attorney will allow the individual to pay payments over a long period of time to help them out. All it takes is some diligence and research. There are great deals out there and many good people that are willing to help. The first place to start looking is the Internet. The Internet has a wealth of information about filing bankruptcy and has many legal websites that offer support to those with low income.