By Michael A. Ziegler, Esq. | Ziegler Diamond Law
For most Floridians, the total cost of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy comes in between $1,500 and $2,500, all in. That includes attorney fees, the federal court filing fee, and the two required courses. The number can move higher for cases with business income, non-exempt property, or pending lawsuits. It can move slightly lower for simple cases that qualify for fee waivers. Here’s how it actually breaks down and what drives the variation in the Middle District of Florida.
The fixed costs every Chapter 7 has
These don’t change based on which attorney you hire:
- Court filing fee: $338, paid to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court when your petition is filed
- Credit counseling course (pre-filing): $15-$25, completed online through an approved provider within 180 days before you file
- Financial management course (post-filing): $15-$25, completed before discharge
Total fixed cost: about $370-$390 in fees that don’t involve any attorney.
The variable cost: attorney fees
Attorney fees for a Chapter 7 in the Middle District of Florida typically run $1,200 to $2,200 for a routine case. The range exists because cases aren’t all the same complexity.
What pushes a Chapter 7 toward the lower end:
- W-2 income only (no self-employment, no rental, no business)
- Standard household assets — checking/savings, one car under the Florida exemption, modest household goods
- No real estate or a primary residence that fits cleanly within Florida’s unlimited homestead exemption
- No transfers, gifts, or sales in the last 1-2 years over a few hundred dollars
- No pending lawsuits or active garnishments
- No prior bankruptcy filings
What pushes a Chapter 7 toward the higher end:
- Self-employment income or business ownership
- Multiple bank or investment accounts to review
- Non-exempt assets the trustee will likely look at (a vehicle worth more than the exemption, real estate beyond homestead, business equipment)
- Pending debt-collection lawsuits requiring faster filing
- Recent large transfers requiring careful disclosure
- Income near the Florida median that needs Form 122A-2 calculation
A 1099-employed Floridian with a paid-off second vehicle and a $5,000 deposit two months before filing isn’t trying to do anything wrong — it’s just more work to draft the schedules and prepare the 341 meeting answers correctly.
What you’re paying for in a Chapter 7
The attorney fee in a typical Chapter 7 covers:
- The Free Debt Freedom Strategy Session
- Running the means test to confirm you qualify
- Reviewing your documents, lawsuit papers (if any), and account statements
- Identifying which Florida exemptions apply to your assets
- Drafting and filing the petition, schedules, statement of financial affairs, and means test
- Communicating with the trustee before the 341 meeting
- Attending your 341 meeting with you
- Routine amendments and creditor correspondence
- Communicating with you through discharge
It does not cover adversary proceedings, conversions to Chapter 13 mid-case, or contested matters that arise. Those are billed separately and disclosed in writing before any work starts.
Can I file Chapter 7 with no money?
You’ll see ads from other Florida firms offering “$0-down” Chapter 7 filings. We don’t do that, for reasons I cover in the main cost guide. What we do offer is a pre-filing payment plan: you pay the attorney fee in monthly installments over 3-6 months, and we file once the balance is cleared. If you’ve been served with a lawsuit and need faster filing to stop garnishment, we can compress the payment timeline.
For the court filing fee itself, you have two options:
- Pay it at filing — $338 due when the petition goes in
- Apply for installments — pay the $338 in up to 4 court-approved installments over 120 days after filing
- Apply for a waiver — if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty line (and you can’t afford even the installment plan), the court can waive the filing fee entirely. About 1 in 7 Chapter 7 filers qualifies.
We help you fill out the installment or waiver application as part of the fee.
How Chapter 7 cost compares to Chapter 13
Chapter 13 attorney fees in the Middle District are typically higher than Chapter 7 — usually $3,500 to $4,500 — because the work is longer. There’s plan drafting, the confirmation hearing, ongoing creditor objections, plan modifications, and 3-5 years of court oversight.
The good news on Chapter 13: most of the attorney fee can be paid through the plan itself. You don’t have to come up with $4,000 cash upfront. The downside: you’ll be in the plan for 3-5 years.
Frequently asked questions
Why are some Florida bankruptcy attorneys cheaper than $1,200?
Two reasons. First, some firms scope very narrowly — they handle the petition and the 341 meeting, then bill separately for anything else. Second, some volume-discount mills handle very high case counts with limited attorney time per case. We staff cases with attorney involvement at every step. That’s not a value judgment about other firms; it’s a different model.
What if I get my fee quote but my situation changes before I file?
If something material changes — a new lawsuit, a garnishment, a tax issue we didn’t know about — we re-quote in writing. We don’t quietly add charges after the fact.
Can I write the filing fee off as a tax deduction?
Personal bankruptcy fees are generally not tax-deductible. Talk to your CPA for your specific situation.
Do you accept credit cards for the attorney fee?
Yes. Most clients pay in installments via credit card, ACH, or check. We don’t accept cryptocurrency.
For a fee quote on your specific Chapter 7 case, call us at (727) 538-4188 for a Free Debt Freedom Strategy Session. We’ll run the means test, identify any complications upfront, and tell you the fee in writing.
Related: How much does bankruptcy cost in Florida overall, the Florida Chapter 7 means test explained, and what happens at your 341 meeting.
This article is general information, not legal advice. For Florida residents, contact Ziegler Diamond Law for a Free Debt Freedom Strategy Session.
