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

Feeling overwhelmed by debt? You’re not alone. Many people across Indiana turn to bankruptcy for a fresh start.

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy can help wipe out debts like credit cards, payday loans, medical bills, and old utility balances. It also puts an immediate stop to collection calls, wage garnishments, and lawsuits.

You don’t need a lawyer to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Many people successfully file on their own and save thousands of dollars in legal fees.

This guide walks you through every step of the process. You’ll learn how to collect documents, take required credit courses, complete forms, and understand what happens after you file.

Collect Your Indiana Bankruptcy Documents & Get Organized

Before you can file for bankruptcy in Indiana, you’ll need to collect several financial documents. These help you fill out the required bankruptcy forms.

You’ll need:

• Paycheck stubs from the last six months
• Tax returns from the past two years
• Recent bank statements

The court and your bankruptcy trustee use these documents to check your income and financial situation.

The bankruptcy trustee is the person assigned to review your case and financial documents.

The bankruptcy forms ask about your income, expenses, and debts. To report this information accurately, it’s also helpful to gather:

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

You can get a free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. Many filers use this to double-check their list of debts.

Take the Required Credit Counseling Course

Before you file your bankruptcy case, you also need to take a credit counseling course.

Credit counseling helps you review your financial situation and understand your options, including bankruptcy. You must take the course from an approved provider. Most people take the course online or by phone.

Here’s what you need to know:

• You must complete the course within 180 days before you file.
• The cost is usually between $10–$50, but you can request a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.
• You’ll get a certificate when you finish the course, which you must submit with your bankruptcy forms.

If you don’t submit your certificate, the court will dismiss your case. That means your debts won’t be wiped out, and you’ll have to start over.

Complete the Indiana Bankruptcy Forms

Next, you’ll fill out your bankruptcy forms. These forms tell the court about your income, expenses, debts, property, and more.

Bankruptcy forms are federal, which means they’re the same no matter where you live. You can download them for free from USCourts.gov.

Some Indiana courts may also require local forms. We’ll cover those details in the district-specific sections later in this guide.

Many people choose to speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to ensure their forms are completed correctly.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

Once you’ve handled the filing fee or set up a payment plan, it’s time to get your forms ready to submit.

If you live in Indiana’s Southern District, you can file your bankruptcy forms online, in person, or via mail. If you file your forms online, you won’t need to print them.

If you live in Indiana’s Northern District, you must file your forms in person at the courthouse or via mail.

If you’re printing your filing packet, you must follow the court’s instructions:

• Use black ink.
• Print on standard, white letter-size paper (8.5″ x 11″).
• Print single-sided only.
• Don’t staple or hole-punch any pages.

Be sure to sign every signature page. It’s easy to miss a spot, and that can cause delays.

Pay Your Filing Fee or Submit a Fee Waiver Form

When you go to file your bankruptcy forms with the court, you’ll also need a plan for paying the $338 Chapter 7 filing fee.

The good news is that many filers qualify for a fee waiver. If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, the court may waive the fee entirely.

If your request is denied or you don’t qualify, you can ask to pay the fee in up to four installments. This option can be helpful if you need to file quickly to stop wage garnishment or repossession.

Just be aware that if you miss a payment, the court can dismiss your case. You won’t get a refund. If you aren’t confident you can make all four payments, wait to file until you can pay the full fee up front.

File Your Forms With the Indiana Bankruptcy Court

Once your forms are printed and signed, you’re ready to officially file your bankruptcy case with the court.

Most people either deliver their forms to the courthouse in person or send them by mail. Filers in Indiana’s Southern District can also submit their paperwork electronically.

You can find more information about Indiana’s two bankruptcy districts below.

Many people prefer to file in person if they can. When you bring your forms to the courthouse, the clerk can do a quick check to make sure everything’s signed and nothing is missing. That small step can help avoid delays or problems with your case.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After you file your forms with the court, your case will be assigned a bankruptcy trustee.

The bankruptcy trustee is the person who reviews your paperwork, checks for accuracy, and oversees your case. You’ll get their name and contact information in an official notice from the court.

The court will then schedule your 341 meeting, also called the meeting of creditors. At least seven days before that meeting, you’ll need to send your trustee some documents. This helps them confirm the information you included in your forms.

Trustees in the Northern and Southern Districts have different required documents. You can find complete district-specific information below.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Next, you need to take the second required course, called the debtor education or financial management course. This class is different from the one you took before filing.

It focuses on helping you manage your money moving forward so you can rebuild your finances after bankruptcy.

Here’s what to know:

• You must take the course within 60 days of your 341 meeting.
• It costs around $10–$50, but many people qualify for a fee waiver.
• You have to take it from a court-approved provider.
• To get your debts officially discharged, you must complete this course and file the certificate with the court.

If you don’t, the court can close your case without erasing your debts.

Most filers choose to take this course as soon as possible after filing their case with the bankruptcy court.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

The 341 meeting, also called the meeting of creditors, usually takes place about a month after you file.

In this meeting, you meet with the bankruptcy trustee assigned to your case. The trustee’s job at this meeting is to confirm your identity and ask a few questions to make sure your forms are complete and accurate.

Creditors are allowed to attend, but in most simple Chapter 7 cases, they don’t show up.

You’ll receive a court notice with the date, time, and instructions. In Indiana, many 341 meetings now happen via videoconference. Sometimes they’re still held in person or via phone.

Regardless of where your meeting is held, you usually need to bring:

• A government-issued photo ID
• Proof of your Social Security number (usually your SSN card)
• Your most recent pay stubs
• Bank or financial statements that include your filing date

Most meetings are quick, lasting about 10 minutes. If everything checks out, that’s often the last step before your discharge.

Deal With Your Car

Many people worry they’ll lose their vehicle if they file bankruptcy. Most Chapter 7 filers are able to keep their car thanks to bankruptcy exemptions.

Exemptions are legal rules that say what property you’re allowed to keep and how much of it is protected.

Indiana doesn’t have a specific motor vehicle exemption. But you can use the state’s $12,100 wildcard exemption to protect your car and other personal property.

Essentially, you can protect up to $12,100 of the equity you have in your car using this exemption. How this plays out looks a little different based on whether you own the car or are paying on a car loan.

• If you own your car outright: You can usually keep it if the car’s current fair market value is less than the exemption you’re claiming to protect the car (up to $12,100 if you’re using the full wildcard exemption). You can find your car’s current fair market value by looking on KBB.com or Edmunds.com.
• If you’re paying on a car loan and you want to keep the car: You can usually keep your car as long as your equity is protected by the exemption. In this case, equity is the car’s current value minus what you still owe on the loan. You’ll also need to be current on your loan payments. In some cases, your lender may ask you to sign a reaffirmation agreement, which keeps you legally responsible for the loan after bankruptcy.
• If you’re paying on a car loan and can’t afford it anymore: Many people choose to surrender the vehicle. When you surrender the car, the loan is wiped out along with your other qualifying debts.

Indiana Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Income Limits & Means Test Info

To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you have to meet certain income requirements. This is decided through a means test.

Simply put, this test helps the court decide if you’re eligible to have your debts wiped out through Chapter 7 or if you have enough income to repay at least some of your debt through a Chapter 13 repayment plan.

In the means test, you first compare your current monthly income to Indiana’s median income for a household of your size.

If your income is below that number, you pass the means test right away. Most filers qualify at this step.

If your income is higher than the median, your eligibility for Chapter 7 is determined by looking at your expenses. If there’s little or no money left after basic costs like housing, food, and transportation, you may still qualify for Chapter 7.

Most people who don’t pass the means test on their income alone choose to speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to determine their eligibility for Chapter 7. If you don’t qualify for Chapter 7, you can look into filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy instead.

Indiana Median Income Standards for 2025

Income limits vary by household size. Consult current federal guidelines or speak with a bankruptcy attorney to confirm your eligibility based on the latest figures.

Indiana Fee Waiver Eligibility for 2025

You may be eligible for a fee waiver when your income is under 150% of the poverty level. Here are the current guidelines:

Indiana Districts & Filing Requirements

Indiana has two bankruptcy districts and eight divisional courthouses.

To figure out which district you’re in and which court to file at, find your county in the chart below.

Northern District of Indiana Filing Requirements

If you’re filing bankruptcy on your own in the Northern District, you’ll likely need to submit your forms in person, by mail, or through a courthouse drop box. Since the court doesn’t clearly explain these steps online, it’s best to call the clerk’s office in your division to confirm how you should file your forms and pay the filing fee.

In the Northern District of Indiana, the trustee doesn’t have a standard list of required documents. Your trustee will let you know what they need after you file your case.

Southern District of Indiana Filing Requirements

If you’re filing without a lawyer and live in the Southern District, you can file in person, by mail, by drop box, or online using the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool.

Note: Paper filings for the Terre Haute Division must be sent to the Evansville office.

When you file, include a copy of your government-issued ID.

You can pay the filing fee by debit card, money order, cashier’s check, or online. If you ask to pay in installments, the first payment must be at least $85.

In the Southern District of Indiana, trustees have a list of required documents used in every case. You’ll need to send:

• Your most recently filed tax return, including W-2s
• Your most recent pay stubs
• Your spouse’s income info (if married, even if filing solo)
• The last three months of bank statements
• Proof of certain expenses, like private school tuition
• Court documents, like complaints, judgments, or divorce paperwork
• Deeds, mortgages, and property appraisals or tax assessments
• Info about any domestic support obligations

Indiana Bankruptcy Exemptions

Bankruptcy exemptions protect your property so that the trustee can’t take it and sell it to pay your creditors.

Every state, as well as the federal government, has their own set of exemptions. In Indiana, filers must use the state’s bankruptcy exemptions.

Here are the amounts for some of the most commonly used exemptions in Indiana:

If you’re a homeowner in Indiana, you can use the homestead exemption to protect up to $22,750 of equity in your home.

Indiana doesn’t have an exemption that specifically covers motor vehicles. People generally use Indiana’s wildcard exemption of $12,100 to cover vehicles. The wildcard exemption is a catch-all type of exemption that can cover any kind of property except real estate.

Indiana Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

Hiring a bankruptcy lawyer is usually the biggest cost in a Chapter 7 case. In Indiana, most attorneys charge a flat fee that ranges from $1,000–$1,450, depending on how complex the case is.

Many people file on their own. A lawyer can be helpful if you have a more complicated case, like if you own a home or have non-exempt assets. Some filers also just feel more comfortable having legal support through the process.

You can speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to discuss your options and determine whether you need legal representation.

Indiana Legal Aid Organizations

If you’re not comfortable filing on your own but can’t afford a bankruptcy lawyer, you may be able to get free or low-cost help from a legal aid organization. These nonprofits assist people with civil legal issues like bankruptcy, especially if you have a low income.