Reviewed October 21, 2026. “No money” can describe several different problems: the court filing fee, credit-counseling costs, attorney fees, or the cash flow needed for a Chapter 13 plan. Those questions are not interchangeable. This page provides general federal information, not legal advice, a filing recommendation, a fee quote, or a promise that a court will approve installments, confirm a plan, stop a particular collection action, or grant a discharge.

Start with the current court fee and the installment question

As checked October 21, 2026, the national Chapter 13 filing fee is $313: a $235 statutory filing fee plus a $78 bankruptcy-court administrative fee. Fee schedules can change, and a local court can have its own payment instructions, so confirm the current amount and method with the U.S. Courts Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule and the court where a case would be filed.

An individual debtor may apply to pay the filing fee in installments with Official Form 103A. Under Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1006, the clerk must accept an individual’s voluntary petition accompanied by a completed, signed installment application even if no fee has yet been paid. Before the meeting of creditors, the court may order full payment or installments. The order can set no more than four installments, generally all due within 120 days after filing; for cause, the last installment can be due no later than 180 days after filing. An application is not an automatic approval, and missing a required payment can put a case at risk.

For a general chapter overview and local attorney-search paths, use the Chapter 13 hub. This page focuses on low-cash filing questions; it does not decide whether Chapter 13 is the right chapter for a particular person.

Do not apply the Chapter 7 fee-waiver form to a Chapter 13 petition

The federal filing-fee-waiver procedure and Official Form 103B are for a voluntary Chapter 7 petition. They are not the federal Chapter 13 filing-fee-waiver process. If the Chapter 13 fee cannot be paid in full at filing, ask the local bankruptcy court or a qualified bankruptcy lawyer about an installment application and local requirements. Low income, an installment request, or a general online rule does not determine an individual Chapter 13 fee result.

Budget for more than the filing date

Filing cost is only one part of the cash-flow question. A Chapter 13 plan is generally filed with the petition or within 14 days unless the court extends time. Under 11 U.S.C. § 1326, proposed plan payments generally begin no later than 30 days after the earlier of filing the plan or the order for relief, unless the court orders otherwise. This can be before confirmation. The plan amount, direct-payment obligations, and feasibility depend on the debts, income, property, claims, local procedures, and court orders in a particular case.

For the broader sequence of forms, disclosures, and court events, use the bankruptcy process guide. For plan mechanics and confirmation questions, use the Chapter 13 repayment-plan guide. Those pages are educational resources; they cannot determine a payment amount or whether an individual plan will be confirmed.

Complete the two education requirements at the right time

The U.S. Trustee Program explains that approved credit counseling is generally completed before an individual files bankruptcy, subject to very limited exceptions. Debtor education is a separate course taken after filing and is generally required for discharge. The two courses are not the same. Use an approved provider for the filer’s judicial district; in Alabama and North Carolina, check Bankruptcy Administrator or local court information for the applicable provider resources.

If cost is a concern, ask an approved provider about its current fee or reduced-cost policy before starting. A course-cost question is different from the court filing-fee question, and neither creates a general promise of a free filing or a discharge.

Regular income and plan feasibility still matter

Chapter 13 is designed for an individual with regular income who can propose a repayment plan. Having little cash on the filing date does not by itself answer the separate questions about income, debts, property, prior cases, or plan feasibility. Review the Chapter 13 eligibility and debt-limits guide for the distinct eligibility questions, including current debt-limit information.

If Chapter 13 is being considered because of a mortgage arrears, foreclosure, car, tax, or wage issue, the facts and timing can change the analysis. A bankruptcy filing generally triggers an automatic stay of most collection activity, but exceptions and limits apply. Do not rely on this page to determine whether a particular sale, eviction, repossession, garnishment, or other action will stop.

Ask for case-specific legal-help information

People can file bankruptcy without a lawyer, but the U.S. Courts recommends seeking qualified legal advice because Chapter 13 involves long-term legal and financial consequences. Court staff and judges cannot give legal advice. A non-attorney petition preparer may enter information into forms but cannot provide legal advice, choose a chapter, answer legal questions, or represent a filer in court.

Free or reduced-fee legal help may be available depending on the provider, location, and individual circumstances. Ask about the scope of representation and a written fee agreement. If the court permits filing-fee installments, Rule 1006 generally bars further payments by the debtor or Chapter 13 trustee to an attorney or other case-service provider until the filing fee is paid in full. Attorney-fee treatment and payment arrangements vary by district and case; do not assume an attorney can be paid through a plan or that a particular arrangement is available.

Questions to organize before speaking with the court or a lawyer

  • What is the current filing fee, and does this court accept a Form 103A installment application?
  • What filing, course, document, and local-form requirements apply in this district?
  • What income, expenses, secured debts, priority debts, property, and prior-case facts could affect plan feasibility?
  • When would the proposed plan payment and any direct obligations begin?
  • What legal-aid, bar-referral, or private-attorney options are actually available for this situation?

To compare Chapter 13 attorneys by location, use the bankruptcy attorney directory and verify a lawyer’s practice information directly. The directory is not a legal-service referral, fee quote, or eligibility determination.

Official resources