How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Arizona (2025 Guide)
You can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Arizona without a lawyer and potentially for free. Gather your documents, take required courses, complete your forms, and file with the court. Arizona's generous exemptions let most filers protect their home, car, and personal property.
Get Free ConsultationYou can wipe out credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans through Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You don’t need a lawyer to file. This guide shows you exactly how to file bankruptcy for free in Arizona.
You’ll learn which documents to gather and which forms to complete. You’ll also learn how to protect your property and what happens at your meeting with the trustee.
Not Sure If You Qualify for Chapter 7?
Get a free consultation with a bankruptcy attorney to review your income, debts, and Arizona exemptions. Find out if you can eliminate your debt and protect your property.
Check Eligibility NowStep 1: Collect Your Arizona Bankruptcy Documents
You need specific documents to file your bankruptcy case. Having these ready makes the process much easier. Gather them whether you’re filing alone or with an attorney.
Required documents include:
- Federal tax returns from the last two years
- Pay stubs or income proof from the last 60 days
- A bank statement that covers your filing date
Additional helpful documents:
- Bank statements from the past 6-12 months
- Bills or statements from creditors
- Letters from collection agencies
- A current copy of your credit report
You can get a free credit report from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Step 2: Take the Required Credit Counseling Course
You must complete a credit counseling course before filing your case. Complete it within 180 days before submitting your forms.
The course helps you understand your financial situation and explore your options. Even if you’re sure about Chapter 7, you still need the course.
What to expect:
- The course takes about 1 hour
- Most people take it online or by phone
- You’ll receive a completion certificate
- You must file the certificate with your case
Without the certificate, the court may dismiss your case. You’d have to start over.
Important details:
- Cost ranges from $10-$50, with fee waivers available
- You must use a court-approved provider
- In-person courses are only in Phoenix and Scottsdale
- Many providers offer Spanish courses
Step 3: Complete the Bankruptcy Forms
Chapter 7 requires forms that explain your income, expenses, debts, and property. These are federal forms, the same in every state. Download them free at uscourts.gov.
Arizona also requires some local forms. Check the district section below for details.
Working with a lawyer? They’ll complete and submit your forms for you.
Step 4: Get Your Filing Fee
Chapter 7 has a $338 filing fee. Most people pay with a money order or cashier’s check made out to “Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.” The court doesn’t accept credit cards or personal checks.
Can’t afford the full fee? You have two options:
- Apply for a fee waiver: You may qualify if your income is below 150% of federal poverty guidelines
- Pay in installments: Make a down payment (usually $80) when filing and pay the rest over time
Filing triggers an automatic stay. This stops most collection actions, including wage garnishments, lawsuits, and car repossessions.
Stay current on installment payments or your case could be dismissed.
Step 5: Print Your Bankruptcy Forms
Filing without a lawyer means printing your forms and bringing them to court in person.
Printing tips:
- Use black ink on white, letter-size paper
- Print single-sided only
- Don’t staple or hole punch
- Double-check you’ve printed every section
- Sign every page that needs a signature
Print two full copies: one to file and one for your records. Check with your library or a printing store if you don’t have a printer.
Hiring a lawyer? They’ll file everything electronically for you.
Step 6: File Your Forms With the Arizona Bankruptcy Court
You can file your Chapter 7 case without a lawyer by submitting forms:
- In person at court offices in Phoenix, Tucson, and Yuma
- By mail to the court serving your county
- Online via the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool
Filing in person? The clerk can check that nothing important is missing or unsigned. Visit Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mornings and mid-afternoons are typically less busy.
Step 7: Mail Documents to Your Trustee
After filing, the court assigns a bankruptcy trustee to your case. You’ll receive their name and contact information shortly after filing.
Within 7-10 days, you’ll get a letter with instructions. Your trustee often requests:
- Your two most recent federal tax returns
- A bank statement that includes your filing date
Your trustee might request other items like bank statements, car titles, or divorce decrees. Respond quickly to keep your case moving.
Send these documents at least seven days before your 341 meeting. Black out sensitive details like Social Security numbers before sending.
Step 8: Take the Second Required Course
Before the court can discharge your debts, you must complete a debtor education course. The course teaches budgeting, saving, and using credit.
Take the course from an approved provider. Check if your credit counseling provider offers this course at a discount.
Key details:
- Complete within 60 days of your 341 meeting
- Cost ranges from $10-$50, fee waivers often available
- Must use a court-approved provider
- File your completion certificate with the court
Step 9: Attend Your 341 Meeting With the Trustee
About a month after filing, you’ll attend a 341 meeting (meeting of creditors). You won’t speak to a judge or defend yourself in court. You’ll talk with your assigned trustee and confirm your paperwork is accurate.
Arizona holds all 341 meetings by Zoom video conference. You’ll receive the date, time, and Zoom link from the court.
During the meeting, show:
- Government-issued photo ID (driver’s license or passport)
- Document showing your full Social Security number (Social Security card or W-2)
Without these, your meeting may be delayed or rescheduled.
The meeting usually lasts about 10 minutes. The trustee places you under oath and asks simple questions about your finances. Most are yes-or-no questions about things in your forms. Speak clearly and wait for each question to finish before answering.
Creditors can attend and ask questions, but this rarely happens. Most meetings are just with the trustee. Many filers feel relieved by how easy the meeting was.
Step 10: Deal With Your Car (if applicable)
Many filers in Arizona keep their vehicles. Your options depend on:
- Whether you own the car outright or have a loan
- The car’s current market value
- Arizona’s motor vehicle exemption
Exemptions are legal protections that let you keep certain property. Arizona allows individual filers to protect:
- Up to $15,000 of equity in one vehicle
- Up to $25,000 if you or a dependent has a disability
You can usually keep your car if:
- You own it outright and its value is less than the exemption you’re claiming
- You have a loan and your equity is less than the exemption you’re claiming (equity = market value minus loan balance)
Find your car’s fair market value on websites like KBB.com or Edmunds.com.
Have a car loan and want to keep the car? Stay current on payments. You’ll usually need to sign a reaffirmation agreement to keep paying after bankruptcy.
Can’t afford payments or your loan exceeds the car’s value? Surrendering the car and walking away from the debt may make more sense.
Another option is redeeming the car by paying its current value in one lump sum.
Arizona Bankruptcy Means Test
The means test determines if you qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. It examines your income and expenses.
The test has two parts.
First, the court compares your monthly household income to Arizona’s median income for your household size.
Income below the median? You pass and can file Chapter 7.
Income above the median? You move to the second part. The court considers your expenses to see if you have enough disposable income to repay debts. If you do, you may need to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead.
Arizona Median Income Levels for 2025
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $4,925 | $59,100 |
| 2 | $6,642 | $79,700 |
| 3 | $7,917 | $95,000 |
| 4 | $9,392 | $112,700 |
Arizona Fee Waiver Eligibility for 2025
You qualify for a fee waiver when under 150% the poverty level.
| Household Size | State Poverty Level | Fee Waiver Limit (150% PL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,255.00 | $1,882.50 |
| 2 | $1,703.33 | $2,555.00 |
| 3 | $2,151.67 | $3,227.50 |
| 4 | $2,600.00 | $3,900.00 |
| 5 | $3,048.33 | $4,572.50 |
| 6 | $3,496.67 | $5,245.00 |
| 7 | $3,945.00 | $5,917.50 |
| 8 | $4,393.33 | $6,590.00 |
Arizona Districts & Filing Requirements
Arizona has one federal bankruptcy district and three divisional offices:
- Phoenix Division: Apache, Gila, Maricopa, Navajo, Coconino, and Yavapai counties
- Tucson Division: Cochise, Graham, Greenlee, Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties
- Yuma Division: La Paz, Mohave, and Yuma counties
Your case is handled by the court office for your county. You can file your forms and pay fees at any court location.
Most bankruptcy hearings take place in Phoenix and Tucson. Judges also travel to Flagstaff and Bullhead City. Some hearings happen by phone or video conference.
Where To File Your Bankruptcy Case in Arizona
File in person, online, or via mail.
You can file in person at the Phoenix, Tucson, or Yuma courthouses.
You can use the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool to submit forms online.
Filing online? You still need to mail or hand-deliver:
- Your filing fee waiver application
- Your Declaration About an Individual Debtor’s Schedules
- Your Declaration of Social Security Number
These forms require signatures and can’t be submitted online.
You can mail your forms to:
U.S. Bankruptcy Court
230 N 1st Ave, Ste 101
Phoenix, AZ 85003
For more information, visit the District of Arizona website.
How To Pay Your Filing Fee to the Arizona Bankruptcy Court
You can pay your filing fee:
- Online via the District of Arizona online payment system
- In person at the Phoenix or Tucson courthouse
- Via mail
Paying online? Use debit card, PayPal Debit, or ACH.
Paying in person or by mail? Use a money order or cashier’s check made payable to “Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.”
You can’t use cash or credit cards.
Can’t afford the fee? Submit a fee waiver application or an application to pay in installments with an $80 down payment.
Arizona Bankruptcy Exemptions
Exemptions help you protect things you need to live, like your home, car, and household items.
Some states let you choose between state and federal exemptions. Arizona doesn’t. If you’ve lived in Arizona for at least two years, you must use Arizona state exemptions.
Arizona’s exemptions are quite generous. Three common exemptions:
- The homestead exemption protects up to $250,000 of equity in your home
- The motor vehicle exemption protects up to $15,000 for a single filer, or $25,000 if you or a dependent has a disability
- The personal property exemption protects up to $15,000 in household goods, electronics, and appliances
Arizona Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost
Hiring a bankruptcy attorney in Arizona usually costs between $750 and $1,500 for Chapter 7. Complex cases cost more.
While this is often the biggest expense, some people feel more confident working with an attorney. Those with homes or tricky finances especially benefit from professional help.
Can’t afford an attorney? Speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to discuss your options and see if you qualify for reduced-cost representation.
Arizona Legal Aid Organizations
Can’t afford a lawyer? You may qualify for free legal help from a legal aid organization. These nonprofit groups help people with low incomes navigate bankruptcy.
The Arizona Bankruptcy Court has a Self-Help Center with resources and guides. Legal aid organizations offer more personalized help.
Contact these organizations to learn more about free bankruptcy assistance in Arizona.