How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Alaska (2025 Guide)

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Alaska can give you a fresh start. You can wipe out debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans. Many people are surprised to learn they can file without hiring a lawyer. This guide breaks down each step in plain language. You’ll learn how to protect your property and file without paying legal fees.

How To File Bankruptcy in Alaska for Free

Alaskans carry the highest average credit card debt in the U.S. The state’s high cost of living makes this unsurprising. Many Alaskans find relief each year by filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You can get a fresh start by erasing credit card debt, medical bills, payday loans, and more.

You don’t need a lawyer to file Chapter 7. This guide walks you through each step of the process. You’ll learn how to gather documents, take required courses, and submit your forms. You’ll also learn how to protect your property and file your case online.

Collect Your Alaska Bankruptcy Documents

You’ll need to gather some important financial documents. These help the court and the bankruptcy trustee confirm your income and eligibility.

You’ll need:

• Pay stubs from the past six months
• Tax returns from the last two years
• A bank statement that includes the date you file your case

While you’re collecting paperwork, gather other helpful documents. You don’t have to submit these to the court. They can help you fill out your forms:

• Credit card bills and loan statements
• Letters or notices from debt collectors
• Bank statements from the last 6-12 months
• A recent credit report

You can get a free credit report every week from each of the three credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Completing your Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms might feel like a big task. Many people do it successfully on their own. Most filers with simple cases find they don’t need to be a lawyer. Take it one step at a time.

The forms you’ll fill out are federal. They’re the same across the country. You can download them all for free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov. Some courts also require local forms. We’ll cover what’s required in Alaska later.

If you speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free, they’ll collect your information through a questionnaire or meeting. Then they’ll prepare and file the forms for you.

Take a Credit Counseling Course

Before you file your bankruptcy case, you must take a credit counseling course. In this short class, you’ll learn how bankruptcy works. You’ll also learn what alternatives might be available.

Here are some key things to know about this class:

• It takes 1-2 hours to complete
• You can take it online, by phone, or sometimes in person
• It costs between $10-$50, but many filers qualify for a fee waiver and take it for free
• You must use a court-approved provider
• You must take the course no more than 180 days before you file

When you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion. You need to file this with your bankruptcy paperwork. If you don’t, the court may dismiss your case.

Get Your Filing Fee

It costs $338 to file a Chapter 7 case. Many people file for free by using a fee waiver.

If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, you can ask the court to waive the fee. You can also ask the court for a payment plan if you don’t qualify for a waiver. This allows you to pay the fee in up to four installments.

Some people choose this option if they need to file quickly. Filing triggers the automatic stay, which is the legal protection that stops wage garnishment, car repossession, and other debt collection efforts. It starts as soon as you file.

Be aware the court may dismiss your case if you miss a payment.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

If you’re filing for bankruptcy on your own in Alaska, you can print your forms. Submit them in person or by mail. If you prefer, you can skip the printing and file electronically. The Alaska bankruptcy court offers an Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system.

If you choose to print your forms, here are some tips:

• Use black ink
• Print single-sided
• Use standard 8.5″ x 11″ white paper
• Don’t staple or hole-punch anything

You’ll also need to sign every page that asks for a signature. It’s easy to miss a spot. Some filers use a checklist to stay organized.

File Your Forms With the Alaska Bankruptcy Court

There are three ways you can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Alaska:

• Use the court’s online filing system (eSR). You’ll fill out your forms through the portal. The court will email you a confirmation with links to two forms. You’ll need to print, sign, and mail these forms: the Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing and the Statement About Your Social Security Numbers. If you file using the eSR, you’ll also need to send your filing fee or submit a request for a fee waiver or payment plan. Your case won’t be officially entered until the court receives all documents.
• Print your forms and file them in person. Bring your signed forms and either the filing fee or a waiver request to the bankruptcy court in Anchorage. Filing in person can be helpful because the clerk can flag any missing signatures or forms. But since there’s only one courthouse, many people choose to file by mail or use the eSR system instead.
• Print your forms and file them by mail. Send your signed forms along with your filing fee or waiver request to the Anchorage Bankruptcy Court. This can be a good option if you don’t want to file online and can’t make it to Anchorage in person. Be aware, it usually takes longer than the other two filing options.

Once the court receives your paperwork, it’ll open your case and assign a bankruptcy trustee. That’s the person who’ll review your forms and oversee your case.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

Before your 341 meeting, you’ll need to mail a few documents to your court-appointed bankruptcy trustee. These documents help them confirm everything in your forms is accurate.

The U.S. Trustee’s website suggests sending:

• Your two most recent federal tax returns
• A bank statement for any accounts you had open when you filed
• A clear copy of your photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport)
• Proof of your Social Security number (like a copy of your Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub)
• Proof of your current income, like a recent pay stub

The trustee’s office recommends sending these at least 14 days before your 341 meeting. If you don’t have one of the items, include a short note explaining why it’s unavailable.

You’ll get the trustee’s name and contact info in an official notice from the court after you file. Each trustee works a little differently. Read your court notices carefully and provide the specific information they ask for.

Take the Second Required Course (Financial Management/Debtor Education Course)

After you file your case, there’s one more course to complete. It’s called the financial management or debtor education course. This course focuses on skills like budgeting, saving, and financial goal-setting. It’s meant to help you make the most of your fresh start.

This course is required if you want to receive a discharge. That’s the legal order that erases your qualifying debts.

Here are some important details about this course:

• You must take the course within 60 days after your 341 meeting
• You’ll need to choose a provider that’s approved by the court
• When you finish, you’ll get a certificate that you must file with the court
• Like the first course, this course takes about an hour and can be done online, by phone, or sometimes in person

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll attend a short meeting called the 341 meeting. It’s also known as the meeting of creditors. Everyone who files for Chapter 7 has to go. It’s usually just you and your trustee. Though your creditors are allowed to attend, they rarely do.

Most 341 meetings happen online through Zoom. You can ask for one in person or by phone if that works better for you. Your court notice will include the date, time, and instructions. These meetings are usually quick and often last just 10 minutes.

The trustee will ask you to confirm your identity. You’ll answer a few questions under oath. They might ask about your income, expenses, or anything that needs more detail on your forms. Many filers get nervous about this meeting. Most people find that if they answer honestly, the meeting runs smoothly. It’s over quickly.

Deal With Your Car

If you’re worried about losing your car, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common concerns in bankruptcy. The good news is that many people who file Chapter 7 get to keep their car.

Whether you can keep yours depends on:

• Whether you own it outright, have a car loan, or lease your car
• How much equity you have in the car (that’s the car’s value minus what you still owe)
• Whether the equity is protected by a bankruptcy exemption

In general, filers can keep their car if the car’s equity is less than the bankruptcy exemption they claim for it. We’ll go over exemption rules later.

If you’re financing your car, you have three main options:

• Reaffirm the loan: If you’re up to date on your car payments and want to keep your car, you can sign a reaffirmation agreement with your lender after you file. You agree to keep paying your car loan after bankruptcy and get to keep your car.
• Redeem the car: If you owe more than your car is worth, you have the option to redeem the car. You pay its current market value in one lump sum. The rest of the loan is wiped out. You’ll need to have enough money on hand to make that one-time payment, which is tough for many people.
• Surrender the car: If you’re behind on your car payments, your car is worth more than you owe, or you simply don’t want to keep the car, you can surrender the car and wipe out the car loan. When you surrender the vehicle, you can give the car back to the lender. The car loan debt is erased through bankruptcy.

If you choose to give up your car during the bankruptcy process, remember you can buy a car later. You may even be able to get better terms on a loan.

Alaska Bankruptcy Means Test

Chapter 7 eligibility is based on income. You measure this through something called a means test.

The means test is a two-step calculation. It looks at your income and expenses to see if you’re eligible to erase your debts through Chapter 7.

The first step compares your average monthly income to the median income. The comparison uses the median for a household of your size in Alaska. If your income is below the median, you automatically pass the test. You can move forward with your case.

Many people qualify based on this first step.

If your income is higher than the median, there’s a second part of the test. It looks at your necessary living expenses and calculates your disposable income. That’s what’s left over each month. If that amount is very low, you may still qualify to file Chapter 7.

If you don’t qualify for Chapter 7, you may be able to file Chapter 13 instead. Chapter 13 requires a 3-5-year repayment plan. It’s typically used by people who don’t qualify for Chapter 7 or who own a home they want to protect.

Alaska District & Filing Requirements

Alaska is served by one bankruptcy district that covers the entire state.

If you’re filing Chapter 7 on your own, you can submit your forms in person at the courthouse in Anchorage. You can also file by mail or online using the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system.

The courthouse is located at:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court – District of Alaska
605 W. 4th Avenue, Suite 138
Anchorage, AK 99501

Alaska courts follow the standard federal bankruptcy forms. There are a few local requirements to keep in mind:

• Protect your personal information: You’ll need to remove sensitive details like your full Social Security number from any supporting documents you submit. This includes pay stubs and bank statements.
• Submit a creditor list: Alaska requires you to submit a list of all the people or companies you owe money to. This is called a creditor matrix. You’ll also need to include a signed Verification of Creditor Matrix form.

You can find Alaska’s local bankruptcy rules and required forms on the court’s website. It’s the best place to check for updates and get the documents you’ll need.

Alaska District Filing Fee Information

The Chapter 7 filing fee is $338. You can pay this in person using cash (exact change) or by cashier’s check or money order. Make it payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If you’re using the court’s drop box or filing by mail, you must use a money order or cashier’s check.

Personal checks and credit cards aren’t accepted.

Alaska Bankruptcy Exemptions

Bankruptcy exemptions are laws that help you protect your property in Chapter 7. If your property isn’t protected by an exemption, the trustee can sell the property. They use the funds to repay your creditors. This rarely happens in Chapter 7 though.

Most filers find that exemptions protect all their property. They’re able to keep essentials, from household goods to their car. Exemptions help you start over financially without losing everything.

In Alaska, you can choose to use either federal exemptions or Alaska’s state exemptions. Use whichever protects more of what you own. But you must have lived in Alaska for at least two years before filing to use the state exemptions.

You can choose the set of exemptions that works best for you. You can’t mix and match between the two.

Here’s an overview of how federal and state exemptions compare on some of the most common types of property:

Many filers in Alaska choose to use the federal exemptions. They find they can protect more of their property using the wildcard exemption. This can vary based on individual circumstances and what you own.

Alaska Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

Many people with simple Chapter 7 cases are able to file bankruptcy without a lawyer. People with complicated cases or who are worried about losing their property often choose to hire a lawyer.

In Alaska, most bankruptcy attorneys charge a flat fee. It ranges from $1,000 to $1,500.

Alaska Legal Aid Organizations

If you want to hire a lawyer but can’t afford one, you may be eligible for low-cost or free legal advice. Contact legal aid such as the Alaska Legal Services Corporation.