How Much Does it Cost to File for Bankruptcy in New Jersey?

Although you use bankruptcy to get out of debt, you do have to spend a little to file a bankruptcy petition with the court in New Jersey and ensure the case resolves successfully, with all debts repaid or discharged.

You can expect to spend several hundred dollars on the bankruptcy filing fee, much less than that on mandatory credit counseling courses and legal fees. More complex cases may take longer and ultimately cost more to file and finish. Delaying filing for bankruptcy may ultimately cost you more, so don’t wait to submit your bankruptcy petition today in New Jersey.

Call the New Jersey bankruptcy lawyers of Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates for a free analysis of your case today at (609) 755-3115.

How Much Does Filing for Bankruptcy Cost in New Jersey?

There are several costs to consider before initiating a bankruptcy case in New Jersey, starting with the filing fees the petitioner must pay to the court.

Court Filing Fees

Court filing fees vary depending on the chapter of bankruptcy under which the debtor is filing. The fee to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case in New Jersey is currently $338 in 2026. The filing fee for a Chapter 13 case is $313, so there is not a major difference between the cost to file a Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy petition with the court.

There is also typically a fee to file an appeal of a bankruptcy case in New Jersey.

Mandatory Credit Counseling

Debtors must take mandatory credit counseling courses before filing for bankruptcy in New Jersey. Credit counseling courses range in price, but generally don’t cost more than $50, with some costing substantially less. You must complete the credit counseling course within 180 days of filing the bankruptcy petition. If you don’t, the court won’t accept the case.

You may also have to take additional counseling courses before obtaining a debt discharge at the end of bankruptcy.

Legal Representation

Debtors should also factor in the cost of representation into the total cost of a bankruptcy case. While filing without an attorney might cost less initially, it may end up harming you in the long run if you make costly mistakes during the case. Even accidentally omitting or providing incorrect information may lead to a costly dismissal, forcing you to restart the entire bankruptcy process.

Why Do Some Bankruptcy Cases Cost More to File?

Some bankruptcy cases cost more to file and see through because of their complexity and length, the debtor’s eligibility for a debt discharge, and the debtor having to re-file the case after a dismissal.

Bankruptcy Chapter

The specific bankruptcy chapter dictates the basic filing fee. However, there is very little difference between the filing fees for Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcies in New Jersey.

Case Complexity and Length

A longer, more complex case may cost more due to the amount of work and preparation required. The more assets and creditors involved, the more complicated the case gets. Rushing complex cases risks mistakes that can lead to dismissal of the bankruptcy case.

No Debt Discharge

A bankruptcy case may end up costing you much more than you anticipated if you do not receive a debt discharge, absolving you of repaying certain unsecured debts. If there is no debt discharge, you must repay those unsecured debts, which may require you to liquidate more assets or extend the repayment period. Debt discharges can be withheld for several reasons, such as providing inaccurate information or filing repeatedly.

Case Dismissal

If a bankruptcy case is dismissed before all debts are repaid, the petitioner can re-file. Still, they must repay the filing fees and retake credit counseling courses within six months of the new filing date, increasing the overall cost of bankruptcy. A case dismissal means creditors can resume debt collection, meaning interest rates might spike, and wage garnishment might begin, costing you a lot.

Does Delaying Filing a Bankruptcy Case Cost More?

Anyone struggling with debt in New Jersey should not wait to learn whether bankruptcy is the right solution. Delaying a bankruptcy case might cost you more for several reasons, namely, because the debt has continued to grow unchecked.

The more debt you incur as you wait to file for bankruptcy, the more you will have to repay during your bankruptcy case. If you file a Chapter 7 case, you will repay debts via asset liquidation. If you file Chapter 13, you will follow a three to five-year repayment plan that our Trenton, NJ bankruptcy lawyers help set up based on your income and expenses.

Accumulating more debt because of high interest rates, worsening your credit score, and ultimately paying more are risks of delaying a crucial bankruptcy case to improve your financial health in New Jersey.

What Costs Can You Avoid by Filing for Bankruptcy in New Jersey?

You can avoid many costly collection efforts from creditors by filing for bankruptcy in New Jersey with our lawyers’ help and benefiting from an immediate automatic stay.

Wage Garnishment

Wage garnishment is a major consequence of accumulating debt. With wage garnishment, the court allows your employer to withhold some of your income and send it directly to the creditors seeking repayment. This can directly affect your ability to pay other bills, worsening your overall financial health.

Creditor Lawsuits

Avoid costly creditor lawsuits by filing a bankruptcy case. When you do this, any ongoing creditor lawsuit must pause, as the bankruptcy case takes precedence. If a creditor violates the automatic stay during this time, they can face consequences from the bankruptcy court, so tell us if that happens to you.

Mortgage Foreclosure or Vehicle Repossession

Mortgage foreclosure and vehicle repossession are very real risks of delaying a bankruptcy case for too long. We may use federal exemptions to protect your car and a large portion of the equity in your home during the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, so you don’t have to worry about transportation or living accommodations while repaying debts.

Does it Cost the Same to File for Bankruptcy After a Case is Dismissed?

Creditors may petition to dismiss bankruptcy claims for a variety of reasons, enabling them to resume debt collection efforts, such as wage garnishment or mortgage foreclosure. If the case is dismissed and you file it again, do you have to pay the filing fee again?

You pay the standard filing fee a second time if you file for bankruptcy again after a case is initially dismissed by the court. While the filing fee remains the same, the protections under the automatic stay do not. If you re-file your case within the same year, the automatic stay will only stop creditors from collecting debt for 30 days, though we can file a motion to extend it.

It may cost less to “reinstate” a closed bankruptcy case rather than filing a new case, and we can see if that saves you some money.

What Makes the Cost of Filing for Bankruptcy Worth It?

The asset protection from the automatic stay, debt reduction from the debt discharge, and the opportunity to rebuild your credit are clear benefits that make the cost of filing for bankruptcy worth it for debtors in New Jersey.

Asset Protection

After you pay the filing fee to open a bankruptcy case in New Jersey, an automatic stay will most likely take effect. The automatic stay prohibits any creditors associated with the case from contacting the debtor outside the case or attempting to collect money from you. The peace of mind this alone provides makes bankruptcy filing worth it for many debtors.

You may also protect assets further in a Chapter 7 case by selecting exemptions that shield your home, vehicle, or personal property from liquidation.

Debt Reduction

The point of bankruptcy is to reduce or eliminate debt. Some unsecured debts may be entirely erased through a discharge, such as credit card debt, medical bills, and even personal loans. Being proactive and addressing debt stops it from growing and worsening your financial situation.

Rebuild Credit

Filing for bankruptcy also gives you the opportunity to begin rebuilding your credit. If you don’t file and let debt continue to grow, the worse your credit score might become, hurting your ability to buy a home or vehicle.

The bankruptcy case will remain on your credit report for several years and will eventually be removed.

FAQs About the Cost of Filing for Bankruptcy in New Jersey

Is Filing for Bankruptcy in New Jersey Too Expensive?

Compared to the cost of creditor lawsuits and growing interest on unpaid debts, filing for bankruptcy may be considerably less expensive, especially if you receive a debt discharge and don’t need to repay everything you owed, such as credit card bills.

Can You Pay Bankruptcy Costs in Installments?

Debtors without the cash to pay all of the bankruptcy filing fees at once may pay in installments, most likely four over 120 days. We can help you complete and submit the installment payment application. Be prepared to pay 25% of the filing fee upfront, even if you qualify for installment payments based on your income.

Can You Get a Waiver for Bankruptcy Filing Fees?

You may get the bankruptcy filing fee waived if your income is below 150% of the federal poverty level for 2026, and we show that you cannot pay in installments and still support yourself.

Does it Cost Less to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

Overall, Chapter 7 bankruptcy generally costs less to file because it ends the quickest, in 3 to 6 months, even though the initial filing fee might be slightly higher.

Does it Cost More to File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

Chapter 13 may cost more to file because it generally takes three to five years.

Does it Cost More to File for Bankruptcy without a Lawyer?

When debtors file without our New Jersey bankruptcy lawyers’ help, they risk spending too much on filing fees, agreeing to bad interest rates for repayment plans, and not receiving the debt discharge they deserve.

How Do You Pay Filing Fees for a Bankruptcy Case?

Filing fees for bankruptcy cases are paid to the court, and you may pay online with a debit card, by mail, or in person via money order or cashier’s check, not cash.

For Help with Your Bankruptcy Case, Call Us in New Jersey

Call Young, Marr, Mallis & Associates at (609) 755-3115 for a free and confidential case review from our Voorhees, NJ bankruptcy lawyers.