How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Georgia
Upsolve is a nonprofit that helps you eliminate your debt with our free bankruptcy filing tool. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. You could be debt-free in as little as 4 months. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University — so we’ll never ask you for a credit card. See if you qualify →
If you're dealing with debt that feels impossible to get out from under, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the fresh start you need. It can erase eligible debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans — and many Georgians file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in Georgia.
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer.
Updated June 30, 2025
5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in Georgia
If you're feeling overwhelmed by bills, collection calls, or the stress of making ends meet, you're not alone. Many people turn to bankruptcy when they've tried everything else and still can't get ahead.
Filing Chapter 7 in Georgia involves a few steps — gathering your financial documents, completing two short courses, filing your paperwork, and attending a brief meeting with a trustee — and many people do it successfully without a lawyer. This guide walks you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.
Step 1: See If You Qualify
Chapter 7 has income limits, but most people who need it meet them. You'll answer a few questions about your household size and income. If you use Upsolve's free tool, it just takes two minutes to see if you qualify.
If your income is below Georgia’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| Loading... | ||
Step 2: Gather Your Documents
Before you file, you'll need to pull together a few key documents. One of those is a certificate from a short credit counseling course, which you'll complete online. It takes 1–2 hours and costs $10–$50 (fee waivers available).
See the full document checklist →
Step 3: Complete Your Forms and File
The forms you'll fill out are federal, so they're the same across the country. You can find them as free fillable PDFs at uscourts.gov.
If you use Upsolve, your forms are generated for you based on your answers and organized so they’re ready to print and sign.
How filing works with Upsolve →
Georgia has three bankruptcy districts: Northern, Middle, and Southern. In all three, you can file your forms in person or by mail. Each district has its own local forms requirements, filing instructions, and court fee payment options. You'll find those details in the Georgia Bankruptcy Districts section below.
Filing Fee Information & Fee Waiver Eligibility
There’s a $338 filing fee for Chapter 7. If you can’t afford it, you can ask the court to waive the fee when you file your paperwork.
People whose income falls below 150% of the federal poverty level may be eligible. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant the fee waiver.
| Household Size | State Poverty Level | Fee Waiver Limit (150% PL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330.00 | $1,995.00 |
| 2 | $1,803.33 | $2,705.00 |
| 3 | $2,276.67 | $3,415.00 |
| 4 | $2,750.00 | $4,125.00 |
| 5 | $3,223.33 | $4,835.00 |
| 6 | $3,696.67 | $5,545.00 |
| 7 | $4,170.00 | $6,255.00 |
| 8 | $4,643.33 | $6,965.00 |
| 9 | $5,116.67 | $7,675.00 |
| 10 | $5,590.00 | $8,385.00 |
If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver, you’ll need to pay the full filing fee or an installment payment (if approved) when you file your forms.
Each Georgia district has its own accepted payment methods, which are covered in the Georgia Bankruptcy Districts section later.
Step 4: Attend Your 341 Meeting
About a month after you file, you'll have a short meeting with your bankruptcy trustee on Zoom. It typically takes about five minutes. The trustee will verify your identity and ask a few basic questions about your paperwork.
Upsolve can help you prep for your 341 meeting →
Step 5: Get Your Discharge
After your 341 meeting, you'll need to take one more short course — a debtor education course on budgeting and managing credit. Once that's done and any follow-up is resolved, the court erases your eligible debts. That's your fresh start, usually within 3–4 months of filing.
What debts does Chapter 7 discharge? →
Georgia Bankruptcy Districts
Where and how you file your bankruptcy forms depends on which district you live in. Use the chart below to find your county and see which district and division will handle your case.
| District | Division/Courthouse | Counties Served |
|---|---|---|
| Northern District | Atlanta Division | Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, and Rockdale |
| Gainesville Division | Banks, Barrow, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Habersham, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Pickens, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White | |
| Newnan Division | Carroll, Coweta, Fayette, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup | |
| Rome Division | Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield | |
| Middle District | Albany Division | Baker, Ben Hill, Calhoun, Crisp, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Schley, Seminole, Sumter, Terrell, Turner, Webster, and Worth |
| Athens Division | Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Hart, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton | |
| Columbus Division | Chattahoochee, Clay, Harris, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Stewart, Talbot, and Taylor | |
| Macon Division | Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Crawford, Dooly, Hancock, Houston, Jasper, Jones, Lamar, Macon, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, Upson, Washington, Wilcox, and Wilkinson | |
| Valdosta Division | Berrien, Brooks, Clinch, Colquitt, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Thomas, and Tift | |
| Southern District | Augusta Division | Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Jefferson, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, and Wilkes |
| Brunswick Division | Appling, Camden, Glynn, Jeff Davis, Long, McIntosh, and Wayne | |
| Dublin Division | Dodge, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Telfair, Treutlen, and Wheeler | |
| Savannah Division | Bryan, Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty | |
| Waycross Division | Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Charlton, Coffee, Pierce, and Ware | |
| Statesboro Division | Bulloch, Candler, Emanuel, Evans, Jenkins, Screven, Tattnall, and Toombs |
Local Forms/Requirements for the Northern District
The Northern District has four divisions, each with its own courthouse.
| Division | In-Person Court Address |
|---|---|
| Atlanta | Richard B. Russell Federal Building 75 Ted Turner Drive, SW Atlanta, GA 30303 |
| Gainesville | Sidney O. Smith Federal Building 121 Spring Street SE, Room 120 Gainesville, GA 30501 |
| Newnan | Lewis R. Morgan Federal Building 18 Greenville Street Newnan, GA 30263 |
| Rome | United States Courthouse 600 East First Street Rome, GA 30161 |
📫 If you're filing by mail, send your forms and payment to the Atlanta office regardless of which division your county falls under.
🪪 Whether you file in person or by mail, include a copy of a government-issued ID (like a driver's license or state ID) for each person filing.
The Northern District mostly uses the standard federal forms, but there are a couple of local forms to be aware of:
Pro Se Affidavit: lets the court know you're filing on your own and confirms you understand what that means.
Statement Regarding Payment Advices: include if you don't have pay stubs from the past 60 days.
You'll also need to include a creditor matrix, which is a formatted list of the names and addresses of everyone you owe. The Northern District has specific formatting rules for this and provides an example matrix to help you get it right.
How To File Pay the Filing Fee in the Northern District
💰 You can pay the filing fee by cashier’s check or money order. Make it payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, and be sure to include your case number. You can also pay online using a debit card or PayPal through the court’s payment portal.
🚫 Cash, personal checks, and credit cards are not accepted.
Local Forms/Requirements for the Middle District
The Middle District has five divisions with two courthouses.
| Division | Court Address |
|---|---|
| Albany, Columbus, and Valdosta | U.S. Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Georgia P.O. Box 2147 Columbus, GA 31902 |
| Athens and Macon | U.S. Bankruptcy Court Middle District of Georgia P.O. Box 1957 Macon, GA 31202 |
🪪 Whether you file in person or by mail, include a copy of a government-issued ID (like a driver's license or state ID) for each person filing.
The Middle District uses the standard federal forms, but there is one local form to be aware of. The Statement of Assistance Form lets the court know whether anyone helped you prepare your bankruptcy forms. You'll need to file it with your petition.
You'll also need to include a creditor matrix, which is a formatted list of the names and mailing addresses of everyone you owe. The Middle District has specific formatting requirements, which you can find on page 60 of the Clerk's Instructions, along with an example matrix. When you file your matrix, include a signed Verification of Creditor Matrix confirming your list is accurate.
How To File Pay the Filing Fee in the Middle District
💰 You can pay the filing fee by cashier’s check or money order made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can also pay online using a bank account, debit card, or PayPal through the court’s payment portal.
🚫 Cash, personal checks, and credit cards are not accepted.
Local Forms/Requirements for the Southern District
The Southern District has six divisions with three courthouses.
| Division | File in Person | File by Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Augusta and Dublin | Federal Justice Center 600 James Brown Blvd Augusta, GA 30901 | P.O. Box 1487 Augusta, GA 30903 |
| Brunswick and Waycross | 801 Gloucester St., 3rd Floor Brunswick, GA 31520 | 801 Gloucester St., 3rd Floor Brunswick, GA 31520 |
| Savannah and Statesboro | 124 Barnard St., 2nd Floor Savannah, GA 31401 | P.O. Box 8347 Savannah, GA 31412 |
The Southern District has two required local forms to know about:
Transmittal of Pay Advices: If you've received pay from an employer, list the employer's name and the dates of the pay stubs or other proof of income you're submitting. If you didn't receive pay or don't have documentation, use this form to explain why.
Certification of Creditor Mailing Matrix: File this form with your creditor matrix, which is your list of everyone you owe and their mailing addresses. By signing it, you're confirming your list is complete and matches your bankruptcy schedules.
How To File Pay the Filing Fee in the Southern District
💰 You can pay the filing fee by money order or cashier’s check made payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If you’re paying in person, cash is accepted in the exact amount. You can also pay online using a bank account, debit card, or PayPal through the court’s payment portal.
🚫 Personal checks and credit cards are not accepted.
