How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Mississippi

Debt doesn’t have to define your future. You can take control starting today.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy erases credit card debt, medical bills, personal loans, and utility bills. It stops wage garnishments and collection calls. If your case is straightforward, you can file without a lawyer.

You’ll save thousands in legal fees. This guide shows you exactly how to do it.

Step 1: Collect Your Mississippi Bankruptcy Documents

Gather your documents before you start filling out forms. You’ll save time and avoid headaches later.

You must submit these documents with your case:

• Tax returns from the past two years
• Paycheck stubs or proof of income for the past 60 days
• A bank statement that covers your filing date

These additional documents aren’t required but make everything easier:

• Credit card and loan statements
• Bank statements from the past 6-12 months
• Letters from debt collectors
• A recent credit report from Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion

Step 2: Take a Credit Counseling Course

You must complete a credit counseling course before filing. Use only an approved provider.

The course covers basic personal finance and debt relief options. It takes about 90 minutes.

Key details:

• You can take it online or by phone
• Most providers charge $10-$50, but many offer fee waivers
• You must complete it within 180 days before filing

You’ll receive a certificate of completion. File this certificate with your bankruptcy forms or your case will be dismissed.

Step 3: Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

After finishing your credit counseling course, fill out your bankruptcy forms. Federal forms are available free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov.

Some Mississippi courts require local forms. Check your district’s website for specific requirements.

Step 4: Get Your Filing Fee

The Chapter 7 filing fee is $338. Many people qualify for a fee waiver.

If your income falls below 150% of the poverty level, you pay nothing. If you don’t qualify, you can pay in installments.

A payment plan lets you file immediately. You’ll get automatic stay protection right away.

Make each payment on time. Miss one and your case may be dismissed.

Step 5: Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

Use white, letter-size paper (8.5″ x 11″). Print everything single-sided in black ink.

Don’t staple or hole-punch the pages. Courts need to scan each page separately.

Sign everywhere a signature is required. Use blue or black ink.

Step 6: File Your Forms With the Mississippi Bankruptcy Court

You can file in person or by mail. Only lawyers can use the electronic filing system.

Filing in person is fastest. You’ll stop wage garnishments and car repossessions immediately.

Bring an extra copy of your forms. The clerk can stamp it with your filing date and case number.

If you mail your forms, use certified mail. You’ll have proof of delivery.

Step 7: Mail Documents to Your Trustee

The court assigns a bankruptcy trustee to review your case. You’ll receive a notice with the trustee’s name and your 341 meeting date.

Send these documents at least 14 days before your meeting:

• Your most recent federal tax return
• A bank statement for each account from your filing date
• A clear copy of your government-issued photo ID
• Proof of your Social Security number
• Your most recent pay stub or proof of income

After mailing these documents, file a certificate of service with the court. You can contact a bankruptcy attorney for free if you need help with this requirement.

Step 8: Take a Debtor Education Course

You must complete debtor education within 60 days after your 341 meeting. Take it through an approved provider.

The course covers budgeting, saving, and managing money after bankruptcy. Without this certificate, you won’t receive a discharge.

Step 9: Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after filing, you’ll meet with your trustee via Zoom. Most meetings take less than 10 minutes.

The trustee will ask simple questions under oath. They’ll confirm your paperwork is complete and correct.

Have these items ready:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms
• The documents you sent to your trustee
• Your case notice from the court

Answer honestly. Most people find the meeting quick and straightforward.

Step 10: Deal With Your Car

You have several options for keeping or surrendering your vehicle.

If you own your car outright and its value is under $10,000, you can usually keep it using Mississippi’s general property exemption.

If you’re still paying off a car loan, you can:

• Reaffirm the loan and keep making payments
• Redeem the car by paying its current value in a lump sum
• Surrender the vehicle and eliminate the remaining loan balance

If you lease your car, you can keep it or return it and cancel the lease.

Mississippi Bankruptcy Means Test

You must pass the means test to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The test compares your income to Mississippi’s median income.

If your income is below the median, you automatically qualify. Most people pass at this stage.

Mississippi Median Income Standards for 2025

Median income varies by household size. Compare your income to these figures:

• 1 person: Check current DOJ figures
• 2 people: Check current DOJ figures
• 3 people: Check current DOJ figures
• 4+ people: Add for each additional person

Mississippi Fee Waiver Eligibility for 2025

You qualify for a fee waiver when your income is under 150% of the poverty level:

• 1 person: $1,882.50/month
• 2 people: $2,555.00/month
• 3 people: $3,227.50/month
• 4 people: $3,900.00/month
• 5 people: $4,572.50/month
• 6 people: $5,245.00/month

Mississippi Districts & Filing Requirements

Mississippi has two bankruptcy districts. Find your district by county.

Northern District of Mississippi

The Northern District covers counties in the northern half of the state.

File at:
Aberdeen U.S. Bankruptcy Court
703 Hwy 145 North
Aberdeen, MS 39730

Counties served: Alcorn, Attala, Benton, Bolivar, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Clay, Coahoma, Desoto, Grenada, Humphreys, Itawamba, Lafayette, Lee, Leflore, Lowndes, Marshall, Monroe, Montgomery, Oktibbeha, Panola, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tate, Tippah, Tishomingo, Tunica, Union, Washington, Webster, Winston, Yalobusha.

You’ll need a creditor matrix and Verification of Matrix form.

Pay by cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Southern District of Mississippi

The Southern District covers counties in the southern half.

File at:
Jackson Thad Cochran U.S. Courthouse
501 East Court Street
Jackson, MS 39201

Or:
Gulfport Dan M. Russell Jr. U.S. Courthouse
2012 15th St.
Gulfport, MS 39501

The court offers a helpful guide for pro se filers.

Pay by cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Mississippi Bankruptcy Exemptions

Exemptions protect property you need to live and work. Mississippi requires you to use state exemptions.

Key Mississippi exemptions:

• Homestead: Up to $75,000 in home equity
• Wildcard: Up to $10,000 in any personal property ($50,000 extra if you’re 70 or older)
• Retirement accounts: Fully protected
• Vehicle: Protected under wildcard exemption

Mississippi Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

Attorneys in Mississippi charge $1,200-$1,500 for most Chapter 7 cases. Complex cases cost more.

Hiring a lawyer is the biggest expense. But for homeowners or people with complicated finances, an attorney provides valuable support.

Mississippi Legal Aid Organizations

Legal aid organizations offer free or low-cost help if you qualify based on income. These nonprofits can guide you through the filing process.