When you’re drowning in debt—past-due credit cards, mounting medical bills, creditor calls that won’t stop—the last thing you want to hear is that getting relief is going to cost you more money you don’t have. That concern is completely understandable, and it’s one of the first questions we hear from Fort Worth residents who come to us for a free consultation: How much is this actually going to cost me?
The honest answer is: less than you probably think—and almost certainly less than you’re currently paying every month to stay afloat.
Here’s a straightforward breakdown of what Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs in Fort Worth, Texas in 2026, and how most of our clients find a way to afford it even when money is tight.
The Two Main Costs: Court Filing Fee + Attorney Fees
1. Court Filing Fee: $338
The United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas—which covers Fort Worth and the surrounding Tarrant County area—charges a filing fee of $338 for a Chapter 7 petition. This fee is set by the federal court and is the same regardless of which attorney you use or how large your debt is.
If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty line, you may qualify to have this fee waived entirely. Your attorney will help you complete a fee waiver application as part of the filing process, so you won’t need to figure that out on your own.
2. Attorney Fees: $1,100–$2,000 (Most Fort Worth Cases)
Attorney fees for Chapter 7 in the Fort Worth and DFW area typically fall between $1,100 and $2,000, with most straightforward consumer cases landing in the lower half of that range. Cases with more complexity—business debts, personal guarantees on SBA loans, or significant assets—may cost somewhat more.
Additional costs you should budget for:
- Credit counseling course: Required before filing, typically $10–$50 online
- Debtor education course: Required after filing to receive your discharge, also $10–$50
Total range for most Fort Worth Chapter 7 cases: approximately $1,500–$2,400
Why the Cost Is Usually Worth It—Quickly
Consider this: the average Fort Worth resident who comes to us is paying $400–$700 per month in minimum payments on debt they’ll never realistically pay off at that rate. Chapter 7 takes roughly 3–4 months to complete. That means you could eliminate years’ worth of unmanageable debt for a one-time cost that’s often less than a single month of those payments combined.
Once your discharge is granted, qualifying debts—credit card balances, medical bills, personal loans, utility arrears—are legally wiped out. Gone. You no longer owe them, and creditors cannot attempt to collect.
For most people in financial distress, the real question isn’t Can I afford to file? It’s Can I afford not to?
Payment Plans: How Fort Worth Residents Afford Bankruptcy
We know that when you need bankruptcy, the idea of coming up with $1,500–$2,000 upfront feels impossible. Here’s how most of our clients handle it:
Installment plans before filing. Attorney fees for Chapter 7 must typically be paid before the case is filed (unlike Chapter 13, where fees can be rolled into the repayment plan). At Machi Wright & Associates, we work with clients to set up manageable payment plans so you’re paying in smaller amounts over a few weeks or months leading up to your filing date.
Stopping payments to unsecured creditors. Once you’ve decided to file for bankruptcy, many attorneys—and we include this in our free consultation—advise clients to stop making minimum payments on debts that will be discharged anyway. That money can go toward your filing costs instead. You’re not going to keep those accounts, so paying toward them doesn’t help you.
Filing fee waivers. As noted above, if your income qualifies, the $338 court fee can be eliminated entirely.
What the Chapter 7 Process Looks Like in Fort Worth
Once you’ve paid the required fees and filed your petition with the Northern District of Texas:
- Automatic stay goes into effect immediately. Creditor calls stop. Wage garnishment halts. Foreclosure and repossession actions pause. This protection begins the moment your case is filed.
- 341 Meeting of Creditors (about 30–45 days after filing). This is a brief meeting—typically 5–10 minutes—with a bankruptcy trustee. It’s not a courtroom hearing. Most clients describe it as much less intimidating than they expected.
- Discharge granted. For a no-asset Chapter 7 case (the most common type), your discharge is typically issued 60–90 days after the 341 meeting. That’s your fresh start.
The entire process runs 3–4 months from filing to discharge in the Fort Worth area.
Who Qualifies for Chapter 7 in Tarrant County?
Chapter 7 has income requirements. To qualify, you must pass the means test, which compares your household income to the Texas median income for your family size. If your income is at or below the median, you automatically pass.
If your income is above the median, you may still qualify through a more detailed expense analysis. Many higher-income filers with large medical bills, high housing costs, or other necessary expenses pass the full means test with an attorney’s help.
The only way to know for certain is to go through your numbers with an experienced attorney—which is exactly what our free consultation is designed to do.
Why Fort Worth Clients Choose Machi Wright & Associates
Ted Machi is board-certified in consumer bankruptcy law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization—a credential that fewer than 1% of Texas attorneys hold. With over 40 years representing Fort Worth, Arlington, and Tarrant County residents in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, he brings a depth of experience that matters when your financial future is on the line.
We offer free, no-obligation consultations where we go through your debts, income, and assets together, explain exactly what you’d qualify for, and give you a clear cost estimate with no surprises.
You don’t have to keep carrying this. Let’s talk about what a path forward actually looks like for your situation.
Get a Free Consultation Today
Call us at (817) 335-8880 for a free consultation, or visit our Fort Worth Chapter 7 bankruptcy page to learn more. We serve clients throughout Fort Worth, Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield, and all of Tarrant County.
For official U.S. Bankruptcy Court filing fee schedules, see the Northern District of Texas Bankruptcy Court fee schedule.