Federal law requires a fee to file a bankruptcy petition. If you cannot afford to pay the full fee at the time of filing, you may apply to pay the fee in installments. A form must be completed to make that application. The form is available in the Clerk's Office or by clicking the link below:
http://www.uscourts.gov/forms/individual-debtors/application-individuals-pay-filing-fee-installments
If you cannot afford to pay the fee either in full at the time of filing or in installments, you may request a waiver of the filing fee by completing and filing an application. A judge will decide whether you have to pay the fee. By law, the judge may waive the fee only if your income is less than 150 percent of the official poverty line applicable to your family size and you are unable to pay the fee in installments. The form is available in the Clerk's Office or by clicking the link below:
http://www.uscourts.gov/forms/individual-debtors/application-have-chapter-7-filing-fee-waived
You may obtain information about the poverty guidelines in the Clerk's Office or at the following link: