How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Missouri

5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in Missouri

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 Missouri 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. 

Start here →

If your income is below Missouri’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.

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 →

Missouri is divided into two federal bankruptcy districts: the Eastern District and the Western District. Where you file depends on the county you live in. We’ll go over specific rules and local form requirements for each district later in the Missouri Bankruptcy Districts section.

In both districts, you can file your bankruptcy forms by mail or in person at the courthouse for your district, or online.

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.

You may be eligible for a fee waiver if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level and you can't afford to pay the fee in installments. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant it.

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 district’s Local Forms/Requirements section below covers how to pay the filing fee in your county. 

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? →

Missouri Bankruptcy Districts

Missouri has two bankruptcy districts: Eastern and Western. Each district has its own court and filing rules. The courthouse that handles your case depends on the county you live in, so you can find your county in the district sections below to see where to file.

If you’re not sure which district you’re in, the court locator tool can help you find it.

Eastern District Local Forms/Requirements

If you live in the Eastern District of Missouri, you can file your bankruptcy paperwork in person, by mail, or online using Electronic Self-Representation (eSR).

📍 St. Louis

• Serves Adair, Audrain, Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Chariton, Clark, Crawford, Dent, Dunklin, Franklin, Gasconade, Iron, Jefferson, Knox, Lewis, Lincoln, Linn, Macon, Madison, Maries, Marion, Mississippi, Monroe, Montgomery, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pike, Ralls, Randolph, Reynolds, Ripley, Schuyler, Scotland, Scott, Shannon, Shelby, St. Charles, St. Francois, St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Warren, Washington, and Wayne counties, plus the City of St. Louis

• Filing address: Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse 111 South 10th St., 4th Floor St. Louis, MO 63102

📥 A drop box is available at the courthouse if you need to submit your paperwork and filing fee after-hours.

When you submit your paperwork to the court, you’ll need to include a creditor matrix — a simple list of everyone you owe money to, with mailing addresses. In the Eastern District, you’ll also need to file a signed Verification of Creditor Matrix form. You can see the full list of required documents on the court’s website.

Additional requirements for eSR filers: After you submit your packet online, the court will email you two forms you'll need to print, sign, and return:

• A Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing

• A Statement About Your Social Security Number

You'll also need to submit your credit counseling certificate and your filing fee, fee waiver request, or installment application to complete your filing.

💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee by bringing exact cash to the courthouse. You can also pay with a cashier’s check or money order made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

🚫 The court doesn't accept personal checks or credit cards.

Western District Local Forms/Requirements

If you live in the Western District of Missouri, you can file your bankruptcy paperwork in person, by mail, or online using Electronic Self-Representation (eSR).

📍 Kansas City

• Serves Andrew, Atchison, Barry, Barton, Bates, Benton, Boone, Buchanan, Caldwell, Callaway, Camden, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Christian, Clay, Clinton, Cole, Cooper, Dade, Dallas, Daviess, DeKalb, Douglas, Gentry, Greene, Grundy, Harrison, Henry, Hickory, Holt, Howard, Howell, Jackson, Jasper, Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Lawrence, Livingston, McDonald, Mercer, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Newton, Nodaway, Oregon, Osage, Ozark, Pettis, Platte, Polk, Pulaski, Putnam, Ray, Saline, St. Clair, Stone, Sullivan, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Webster, Worth, and Wright counties

• Filing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 400 E. 9th Street Kansas City, MO 64106

📥 A drop box is available in the courthouse lobby if you need to submit your paperwork and filing fee after-hours. 

All filers need to include a creditor matrix with their paperwork — a list of everyone you owe money to, with mailing addresses. In the Western District, the matrix must follow specific formatting rules, and you'll also need a signed Verification of Mailing Matrix form. You can find both in this guide. 

Additional requirements for eSR filers: After you submit your packet online, the court will email you two forms you’ll need to print, sign, and return:

• A Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing

• A Statement About Your Social Security Number

You'll also need to submit your credit counseling certificate and your filing fee, fee waiver request, or installment application to complete your filing. 

💰 You can pay the $338 filing fee with a cashier’s check or money order made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

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

Free Legal Aid in Missouri

If your case is more complex — or you'd just feel better having an attorney review it — free and low-cost legal help is available across Missouri. Legal Aid of Western Missouri (816) 474-6750 4001 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 300 Kansas City, MO 64130

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc. (314) 534-4200 701 Market Street St. Louis, MO 63101

Legal Services of Southern Missouri (417) 881-1397 3130 South Delaware Springfield, MO 65804

Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation (573) 442-0116 117 N. Garth Avenue Columbia, MO 65203

Common Questions About Filing Bankruptcy in Missouri