File Bankruptcy for Free in New Jersey: Complete 2025 Guide

You can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey without paying a lawyer. Many people successfully file on their own and eliminate debts like credit cards and medical bills.

You don’t need thousands of dollars for legal fees. You just need the right information and a clear plan.

This guide shows you exactly how to do it.

Step-by-Step: Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in New Jersey

Collect Your New Jersey Bankruptcy Documents

Before filling out your bankruptcy forms, gather important documents. Having everything organized reduces stress and speeds up the process.

You’ll need:

• Pay stubs from the last six months
• Your two most recent federal tax returns
• A bank statement that covers your filing date

Additional helpful documents include:

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

Take a Credit Counseling Course

You must complete a credit counseling course before filing. The court requires this for everyone who files Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Course requirements:

• Most courses cost $10-$50, but many people qualify for a fee waiver
• You must take the course within 180 days before filing
• The course takes about an hour and covers your financial options
• You can take it online, by phone, or sometimes in person
• You’ll receive a certificate of completion to file with your forms

Without this certificate, the judge may dismiss your case. Your debts won’t be erased and you’ll start over.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Everyone filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy uses the same federal forms. Forms are available free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov.

You can also speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to understand which forms apply to your situation.

Get Your Filing Fee

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy costs $338. You’ll pay this fee to the court when filing your forms.

If you can’t afford the fee, you may qualify for a waiver. Most people earning less than 150% of the federal poverty guideline are eligible.

Don’t qualify for a waiver? You can apply to pay in installments.

Some people choose this option when they need to file quickly. Filing immediately stops a wage garnishment or other urgent debt collection through the automatic stay.

Miss a payment and the court may dismiss your case.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

You can file your forms online or print them for mail or in-person filing.

If you’re printing your forms:

• Use regular white letter-size paper (8.5″ x 11″)
• Print single-sided in black ink
• Don’t staple or hole-punch anything

The court requires one original set of forms and one full copy. Many filers print a third copy for their records.

Don’t print until you’re ready to file within the next few days. Before submitting, double-check that you’ve signed every required page.

File Your Forms With the New Jersey Bankruptcy Court

In New Jersey, you can file your forms in person, by mail, or online.

Many filers choose in-person filing for peace of mind. The court clerk checks that your forms are complete and signed. If anything’s missing, they’ll tell you immediately.

If you file by mail, use certified mail. You can track delivery and confirm receipt.

You can also file online through the court’s Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system. After submitting online, you’ll complete a few follow-up steps before your case is officially filed.

Need guidance? You can speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free about filing requirements.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After filing, the court assigns a bankruptcy trustee to your case. The trustee reviews your paperwork and oversees your case.

You’ll receive a notice with your trustee’s name, contact information, and your 341 meeting date.

You must send these documents to your trustee at least two weeks before your 341 meeting:

• A copy of your most recent federal income tax return
• Pay stubs or proof of income for the 60 days before filing
• A bank statement that covers your filing date
• A clear copy of your photo ID and proof of Social Security number

Some trustees may request additional documentation. Follow any instructions your trustee provides.

Take a Debtor Education Course

After filing your bankruptcy case, you’ll complete a second required class. The debtor education course teaches basic money management skills.

You must take this course to receive your discharge. The discharge officially wipes out your eligible debts.

Course requirements:

• You must complete the course within 60 days after your 341 meeting
• You’ll need to use a court-approved provider
• You must file the certificate with the court

Don’t file the certificate on time? The court may dismiss your case without issuing a discharge.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after filing, you’ll attend a brief meeting called the 341 meeting. You’ll receive an official notice with the date, time, and how to join.

Most meetings are held virtually using Zoom.

Your meeting usually lasts less than 10 minutes. The bankruptcy trustee runs it, not a judge. The trustee verifies your identity and asks questions about your paperwork while you’re under oath.

Your creditors are allowed to attend and ask questions. That almost never happens in Chapter 7 cases.

Many people are surprised by how simple and low-stress the meeting is. Once you finish, you’re one step closer to your fresh start.

Deal With Your Car

Many people filing Chapter 7 in New Jersey keep their vehicles.

If you own your car outright, you may protect it if its value is less than the available bankruptcy exemption.

Exemptions are laws that let you keep certain property in bankruptcy. In New Jersey, you can choose between state and federal exemptions.

For cars, federal exemptions are more generous:

• New Jersey’s personal property exemption protects up to $1,000 of your car’s value
• The federal motor vehicle exemption protects up to $5,025

If you have a car loan, you can usually keep your car as long as your equity is protected. Equity is the car’s value minus what you owe.

Example: If your car is worth $8,000 and you owe $5,000, you have $3,000 in equity. If that fits within your available exemption, you keep the car.

To keep your car, you can:

• Reaffirm the loan: If payments are manageable and the car isn’t worth much less than you owe, sign a reaffirmation agreement. You agree to keep paying the loan and keep the car.
• Redeem the car: If you owe more than the car is worth, you might redeem the vehicle. You pay the lender the car’s current value, and the rest of the loan is wiped out.

If the loan is too expensive or the car needs major repairs, give the car back. You won’t owe anything else on the loan after your discharge.

If you’re leasing a car, you can either keep the lease or return the vehicle.

New Jersey Bankruptcy Means Test

To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey, you’ll need to pass the means test. This test looks at your income to confirm you qualify for debt relief.

The means test happens in two steps:

Step 1: You compare your income to the median income for your household size in New Jersey. If your income is below the median, you automatically pass and can file under Chapter 7.

Most filers qualify at this step and don’t need the second step.

Step 2: If your income is above the median, you’ll complete additional calculations. These look at your allowed expenses and whether you have enough income left to repay some of your debts.

New Jersey Median Income Standards for 2025

Households with income below these amounts typically qualify for Chapter 7:

• 1 person: $70,500 annually
• 2 people: $90,200 annually
• 3 people: $108,400 annually
• 4 people: $131,700 annually

New Jersey Fee Waiver Eligibility for 2025

Eligible for fee waiver when under 150% the poverty level:

• 1 person: $1,882.50 monthly
• 2 people: $2,555.00 monthly
• 3 people: $3,227.50 monthly
• 4 people: $3,900.00 monthly

New Jersey Districts & Filing Requirements

New Jersey has one federal bankruptcy district, divided into three vicinages:

• Camden
• Newark
• Trenton

You can file your forms in person, by mail, or online through the Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system.

If you file in person or by mail, use the courthouse that serves your county.

New Jersey Bankruptcy Court Locations

Camden Vicinage
Counties: Atlantic, part of Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem
US Post Office & Courthouse
401 Market Street
Camden, NJ 08101

Newark Vicinage
Counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union
Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building
50 Walnut Street
Newark, NJ 07102

Trenton Vicinage
Counties: Part of Burlington, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean, Somerset, Warren
Clarkson S. Fisher U.S. Courthouse
402 East State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608

Paper Filing Requirements

If you file in person or by mail, the court requires two complete sets of your paperwork. That’s the original and one copy.

Online Filing Through eSR

New Jersey offers an Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system for online submission.

Here’s how it works:

• You submit your forms through the court’s secure website
• You’ll receive an email confirmation with instructions for additional items
• Within 10 days, you must send: a signed Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing, a Statement About Your Social Security Numbers, your credit counseling certificate, a copy of your photo ID, and your filing fee payment, fee waiver application, or installment plan application
• Send these documents by mail, overnight carrier, or hand-delivery to the courthouse listed in your confirmation email
• Your case is officially filed when the clerk receives these follow-up items

Pay Your Filing Fee

The Chapter 7 filing fee in New Jersey is $338.

You can pay:

• In person at the courthouse with a cashier’s check or money order made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
• By mail with a cashier’s check or money order included with your paperwork
• Online through the court’s Pay.gov system using a debit card or PayPal

The court doesn’t accept cash, personal checks, or credit cards.

Can’t afford the full fee? You can apply to pay in up to four installments (starting with at least $85) or apply for a fee waiver if your income is below 150% of the poverty guideline.

New Jersey Bankruptcy Exemptions

Bankruptcy exemptions are legal protections that help you keep certain property when you file. In a Chapter 7 case, the trustee can sell non-exempt property to pay creditors.

Most people who file don’t lose anything. Their belongings are fully protected by exemptions.

If you live in New Jersey, you can choose between New Jersey exemptions or federal bankruptcy exemptions. Many people choose the federal set, especially homeowners.

New Jersey doesn’t have a homestead exemption to protect equity in your primary home. The federal homestead exemption protects up to $31,575 in home equity, or $63,150 if you’re married and filing together.

Federal exemptions also include:

• Vehicle: Up to $5,025
• Wildcard: Up to $1,675, plus up to $15,800 of unused homestead exemption
• Household goods: Up to $800 per item, max $16,850 total

New Jersey’s state exemptions cover certain pensions, life insurance, and public benefits like workers’ comp or disability.

New Jersey Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

Many New Jersey lawyers charge a flat fee for handling Chapter 7 cases. These fees usually range from $1,500 to $2,800 depending on your location and case complexity.

Can’t afford those fees? You can speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to explore your options.

New Jersey Legal Aid Organizations

Legal aid organizations are nonprofits that help people with low incomes get free legal help. If you’re filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in New Jersey and can’t afford a lawyer, these groups may assist.

You’ll usually need to meet income guidelines to qualify.

Legal Services of New Jersey has locations statewide.

If you live in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, or Union County, Volunteer Lawyers for Justice may connect you with free legal help.