How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Alabama

How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Alabama

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Alabama can help you hit reset if debt is weighing you down. It can wipe out credit cards, medical bills, payday loans, and old utility bills. Many people in Alabama file on their own without hiring a lawyer. 

This guide walks you through the process step by step. You’ll learn how to gather your financial documents, take the required courses, complete your bankruptcy forms, and file your case with the court. We’ll also cover what happens after you file and how to finish your case. 

It takes some time and effort, but many people file for free and get the relief they need.

Upsolve’s free filing tool is not currently available in Alabama.

Collect Your Alabama Bankruptcy Documents

To get ready for your Chapter 7 case, you’ll need to gather some important documents. These will help you fill out your bankruptcy forms and give the court a clear picture of your finances. Gathering everything up-front can make the rest of the process much smoother.

To start, you’ll need:

• Pay stubs or other proof of income for the past six months

• Tax returns from the last two years

• A bank account statement that includes your bankruptcy filing date

These will be used to check your income, confirm that you’re eligible to file, and make sure everything in your forms matches up.

Other helpful documents include:

• Credit card and loan statements

• Letters from debt collectors

• 6–12 months of bank statements

• A recent copy of your credit report

📄 Your credit report can help you accurately list all your debts. You can get a free copy at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Identify Your Alabama Bankruptcy District

Before you take the next steps in your bankruptcy journey, it’s important to know which district you’ll be filing in. Alabama has three bankruptcy districts: the Northern District, Middle District, and Southern District. Each district has slightly different rules for filing.

Your district is determined by the county you live in. It affects things like:

• Which credit counseling and debtor education courses you can take

• Where you file your bankruptcy forms

• Which rules apply to your case

Use the chart below to find your district:

Take a Credit Counseling Course

Before you file your case, you need to take a credit counseling course from an approved provider. This short class reviews your finances, explains possible alternatives to bankruptcy, and helps you understand what filing would mean for your future. It’s designed to give you the tools and information you need to make the best choice for your situation.

Here are some important course details:

• You must take the course six months before you file.

• You can take it online, over the phone, or sometimes in person.

• It typically costs $10–$50. Many providers offer a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.

• When you finish, you’ll get a certificate. You must file this with your bankruptcy forms, or your case could be dismissed without your debts being wiped out.

📌 Alabama is unique: Each district has its own list of approved course providers. Make sure you choose one that’s accepted in your district:

• Northern District of Alabama

• Middle District of Alabama

• Southern District of Alabama

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

After you finish your credit counseling course, you’re ready to dive into the bankruptcy forms. This is how you tell the court about your financial situation, including your income, expenses, debts, and property. Take your time and do your best to fill out everything accurately.

📄 The forms are the same across the country, and you can download them for free as fillable PDFs at USCourts.gov. 

If you’re working with a lawyer, they’ll handle the paperwork for you based on the information you provide.  

Get Your Filing Fee

There’s a $338 court fee to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, but many people qualify for a fee waiver and file for free.

If you don’t qualify for a waiver, you can apply to pay the fee in up to four installments. This allows you to get your case started even if you don’t yet have the full filing fee. You’ll get the protection of the automatic stay as soon as you file, which stops most debt collection, like wage garnishment and foreclosure.

⚠️ Just be sure to follow your payment plan closely. If you miss a payment, the court may dismiss your case.

Some people prefer to save up the full fee ahead of time so they don’t have to worry about installment deadlines. The right option depends on your situation and what you feel comfortable with.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

If you're filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Alabama without a lawyer, you'll usually need to print your forms and submit them to the court in person or by mail. Some courts allow online filing, but even then, a few forms may still need to be printed and delivered. 

🖨️ If you print the forms, use regular, white, letter-size paper (8.5" x 11") and print everything single-sided using black ink. Don’t staple or hole-punch your forms. 

Many of the forms look similar, so it helps to use a checklist to make sure you’re printing and organizing everything correctly.

✍️ Sign every page that has a signature line. These can be easy to miss.

👉 It’s a good idea to keep a copy of your forms for your records.

If you’re working with a lawyer, they’ll usually file everything electronically for you through the court’s system.

File Your Forms With the Alabama Bankruptcy Court

Each of Alabama’s three districts — Northern, Middle, and Southern — has its own rules about where and how to file your Chapter 7 paperwork. You’ll need to file in the district that covers the county where you live.

Most folks filing on their own will need to submit their forms either by mail or in person. The Southern District is the only one that offers online filing for people filing on their own, though it still requires a few forms to be delivered separately.

🏛️ Mailing your forms is allowed in every district, but many people prefer to hand-deliver their forms. When you file in person, a court clerk can check for missing signatures or documents, and you’ll get your case number right away. If you choose to mail your forms, consider sending them via certified mail so you have a record of when they were sent and received.

We’ll cover the rules and locations for each district later in the Alabama Districts & Filing Requirements section.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee/Administrator

After you file your bankruptcy case in Alabama, the court will assign someone to review your case. This person is usually called a bankruptcy trustee, but in Alabama, they're supervised by a bankruptcy administrator instead of the U.S. Trustee Program used in most other states. 

🔎 The administrator’s job is to make sure your paperwork is complete and accurate. They also oversee your 341 meeting, which is a short, required meeting that occurs about a month after you file. Before that meeting, they’ll ask you to send them some documents by mail.

Here’s what most reviewers ask for:

• Your two most recent federal tax returns

• A bank statement that covers the day you filed your case

• A copy of your photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport

• Proof of your Social Security number, such as a copy of your Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub

• Proof of your current income, like a recent pay stub

📅 It’s best to mail these at least 14 days before your 341 meeting. If you’re missing something, you can include a short note explaining why.

🗂️ You’ll get the name and mailing address of the person overseeing your case in an official notice from the court after you file. If they ask for more documents later, sending them promptly helps keep your case on track.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Before the court can wipe out your debts, you’ll need to complete a second required course called debtor education (also known as personal financial management). This course teaches basic money management skills to help you stay on track after bankruptcy and make the most of your fresh start.

Here’s what to know:

• You must take the course within 60 days of your 341 meeting.

• You can take it before or after the meeting, whichever works better for you.

• You must use a court-approved provider for your district.

Each district in Alabama has its own list of approved providers:

• Northern District of Alabama

• Middle District of Alabama

• Southern District of Alabama

📝 You must file your course completion certificate with the court. If you don’t, the court can close your case without erasing your debts.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file your bankruptcy case, you’ll have a short meeting called the 341 meeting (also known as the meeting of creditors). This may sound a little intimidating, but it’s usually simple and low stress. The goal is to confirm that everything in your paperwork is accurate.

👥 Even though creditors are allowed to attend, they rarely do. Most of the time, it’s just you and the person assigned to review your case having a quick conversation.

💻 These meetings are now almost always held by Zoom video, so you can join from home or anywhere you have a quiet space and an internet connection. The court will send you a notice with the date, time, and instructions for how to join your meeting.

🪪 To keep things moving smoothly, you’ll need two forms of identification:

• A government-issued photo ID, like a driver’s license or passport

• Proof of your Social Security number, such as your Social Security card, W-2, or pay stub with your full SSN

During the meeting, you’ll be placed under oath and asked a few standard questions. If something in your paperwork needs clarification, they may ask a few follow-ups. Most 341 meetings last about 10 minutes and go off without a hitch.

🏁 Once this step is done, you’re almost at the finish line.

Deal With Your Car

In Alabama, having a car is often essential. It’s common to worry about losing your vehicle when filing for bankruptcy, but many people are able to keep their car.

Whether or not you can keep yours depends on:

• How much your car is worth

• How much equity you have (your car’s value minus any loan balance)

• What exemptions you can use (these are legal protections that let you keep certain property during bankruptcy)

🔎 Alabama doesn’t have a specific motor vehicle exemption. But it does offer a $9,400 personal property exemption that works like a wildcard. You can use it to protect the equity in your car or other belongings. 

If you're making loan payments on your car, you have three main options:

1. Reaffirm the loan: You keep the car and continue making payments under your original loan agreement. Filers who are current on loan payments and don’t owe more than their car is worth often choose this option.

2. Redeem the car: You pay the lender the car’s current value in one lump sum and the rest of the loan is wiped out. Filers whose car is worth less than what they owe on it may choose this option.

3. Surrender the car: You return the car and erase the remaining loan balance. Filers who owe more than their car is worth or can’t keep up with payments often choose this option.

🚗 If you own your car outright, you can usually keep it if the car’s current fair market value is less than $9,400 and you use Alabama’s personal property exemption. You can find the current fair market value using a site like Kelley Blue Book.

Leased vehicles work a little differently. You may be able to keep the lease or return the car, depending on what fits your budget. Read more about leases in bankruptcy

Alabama Bankruptcy Means Test

To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ll need to pass something called the means test. This test looks at your income to make sure you’re eligible to have your debts erased without a repayment plan.

The means test has two parts.

First, you compare your household income to the median income for a similar household in Alabama. If your income is below the state median, you automatically pass and can file for Chapter 7.

If your income is over the limit, you’ll move on to the second part. This part looks at your monthly expenses and calculates how much disposable income you have left. If you don’t have much left over after covering your basic needs, you may still qualify for Chapter 7.

💡 Many people pass the means test at Step 1. But even if you don’t, that doesn’t mean you’re out of options. You may still qualify based on your actual expenses, or you might explore filing for Chapter 13 instead.

📞 If you’re not sure where you stand, it can be helpful to talk to a bankruptcy lawyer. Upsolve can connect you with a local attorney for a free consultation.

Data on Median Income Levels for Alabama

Data on Poverty Levels for Alabama

Alabama Districts & Filing Requirements

Earlier in this guide, we explained how to figure out which bankruptcy district you're in. Now that you're ready to file, here's how the districts are organized and where to send your forms based on your county.

Northern District of Alabama Requirements

The Northern District is divided into four divisions. Each one has its own courthouse, and where you file depends on the county you live in. 

If you're filing on your own without a lawyer, you'll need to submit your forms in person or by mail. Online filing isn't available in this district.

🏛️📬 Northern Division (Huntsville)

• Serves: Colbert, Cullman, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Morgan, and Winston counties

• In-person and mailing address:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office

660 Gallatin Street SW

Huntsville, AL 35801

🏛️📬 Eastern Division (Anniston)

• Serves: Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, DeKalb, Etowah, St. Clair, and Talladega counties

• In-person address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court 1100 Gurnee Avenue Anniston, AL 36201

• Mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office 1100 Gurnee Avenue, Room 288 Anniston, AL 36201

🏛️📬 Southern Division (Birmingham)

• Serves: Blount, Jefferson, and Shelby counties

• In-person and mailing address:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office

1800 Fifth Avenue North

Birmingham, AL 35203

🏛️📬 Western Division (Tuscaloosa)

• Serves: Bibb, Fayette, Greene, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, Sumter, Tuscaloosa, Walker, and Winston     counties

• In-person address: Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse 2005 University Boulevard Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

• Mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office 2005 University Boulevard, Room 2300 Tuscaloosa, AL 35401

Pay Your Filing Fee in the Northern District

💰 If you're paying the $338 filing fee, you’ll need to mail a money order or cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court to the court’s main office in Birmingham.

❌ Payments aren’t accepted in person at any courthouse.

Mail your payment to: U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Southern Division 1800 5th Avenue North Birmingham, AL 35203

✍️ Include your name and case number on the payment. 

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

📄 If you’re applying for a fee waiver or asking to pay in installments, include that request when you file your bankruptcy forms.

Middle District of Alabama Requirements

The Middle District has three divisions, but only the Montgomery courthouse accepts bankruptcy filings. Even if you live closer to Opelika or Dothan, you’ll need to file your forms — by mail or in person — in Montgomery. 

Online filing isn’t available in this district.

🏛️📬 Montgomery

• Serves: Autauga, Barbour, Bullock, Butler, Chilton, Coosa, Covington, Crenshaw, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, and Pike counties

• In-person and mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk’s Office Middle District of Alabama Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Courthouse One Church Street Montgomery, AL 36104

You can also use the after-hours drop box at the main entrance if the clerk’s office is closed.

📘 The Middle District’s Pro Se Debtors Guide walks you through each step of the process if you're filing without a lawyer.

Pay Your Filing Fee in the Middle District

💰 If you're paying the $338 filing fee, you can either bring a money order or cashier’s check to the courthouse in Montgomery or mail it to the same address. Make it out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Send or deliver your payment to: U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Middle District of Alabama Frank M. Johnson Jr. Federal Courthouse One Church Street Montgomery, AL 36104

Include your name and case number on the payment. 🚫 The court doesn’t accept credit cards, personal checks, cash, or online payments.

If you’re applying for a fee waiver or asking to pay in installments, include that request when you file your bankruptcy forms. 

Southern District of Alabama Requirements

The Southern District has courthouses in Mobile and Selma, but only the Mobile courthouse accepts bankruptcy filings. 

🏛️📬 Mobile Division

• Serves: Baldwin, Choctaw, Clarke, Conecuh, Dallas, Escambia, Marengo, Mobile, Monroe, Perry, Washington, and Wilcox counties

• In-person and mailing address: U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Southern District of Alabama 201 St. Louis Street Mobile, AL 36602

💻 If you’re filing without a lawyer in the Southern District, you can use the Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system to prepare and submit your Chapter 7 forms online. This tool helps you complete your paperwork and send it to the court electronically. 

After you submit your forms through eSR, you’ll need to mail or hand-deliver a few required documents within 10 days. Your case won’t be opened until the court receives all of the following:

• A copy of your photo ID (like a driver’s license or passport) 

• Your Certificate of Credit Counseling

• A signed Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing

• Your Statement About Your Social Security Numbers

• A Verification of Official Creditor List

• The $338 filing fee — or a fee waiver or installment request instead of payment

📬 Send or deliver these documents to: U.S. Bankruptcy Court Attn: Electronic Pro Se Filing 113 St. Joseph St. Mobile, AL 36602

🕓 Your case won’t be officially filed until all of these documents are received by the court.

Pay Your Filing Fee in the Southern District

💰 The Chapter 7 filing fee is $338. You can pay with a money order, cashier’s check, or exact cash at the Mobile courthouse. Make checks payable to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Include your name and case number on the payment.

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

If you’re applying for a fee waiver or asking to pay in installments, include that request when you file your bankruptcy forms.

Alabama Bankruptcy Exemptions

When you file for bankruptcy, exemptions help protect the things you need to move forward. They make sure you don’t have to start over with nothing.

Some states let you choose between state and federal bankruptcy exemptions. Alabama isn’t one of them. If you file here, you’ll use Alabama’s state exemptions.

Here are three important Alabama exemptions:

• 🏠 Homestead: You can protect up to $18,800 of equity in your home if it’s your primary residence.

• 🚗 Vehicle: Alabama doesn’t have a specific motor vehicle exemption, but…

• 🎯 Wildcard (personal property): You can protect up to $9,400 of personal property. Many people use this to protect a car, household items, or other belongings that aren’t covered elsewhere.

Most people who file for Chapter 7 in Alabama can keep everything they own because their property is fully covered by exemptions.

Alabama Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

In Alabama, bankruptcy lawyers usually charge a flat fee between $815 and $1,500 for a Chapter 7 case. This is often the biggest cost in the bankruptcy process.

Hiring a lawyer isn’t always necessary, but it can be worth it,  especially if you own a home, have a more complex financial situation, or just feel better having legal support.

Most attorneys offer a free consultation. This can be a good way to get guidance on your case and decide whether filing on your own feels right for you.

Alabama Legal Aid Organizations

There are numerous legal aid organizations in Alabama that provide low-cost or free legal services to Alabama residents who qualify. 

If you’d like some legal advice about your case but can’t afford an attorney, contact a legal aid organization to see if they can help you with your bankruptcy filing.

Legal Services Alabama, Inc. (334) 223-0240 2567 Fairlane Drive, Suite 300, Montgomery, AL 36116

Alabama Court Locations

Alabama Judges

Alabama Trustees