The cost to file bankruptcy in Tennessee is $338 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Tennessee and $313 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy based on that US bankruptcy court fee schedule.

When filing for bankruptcy in Tennessee, it’s crucial to consider all your options. Will you be seeking legal representation? Are you eligible for a fee waiver? These are essential questions to address.

As of 2024, the range of Chapter 7 attorney fees in Tennessee can vary significantly, from $800 to $2442. However, our free bankruptcy cost calculator, based on your specific city in Tennessee, can provide a more accurate estimate. This tool is derived from our expenditure of approximately $1,000 on PACER, a public records database containing bankruptcy attorney fees.

If you’re concerned about how to afford the bankruptcy cost in Tennessee, especially with the ongoing challenges of paying bills in 2024, there’s good news. Many bankruptcy attorneys offer free initial consultations and flexible payment plans, making it easier to manage the cost of your bankruptcy.

Many bankruptcy costs, such as the filing fee and the credit counseling courses, are relatively similar. That said, bankruptcy attorney fees may range dramatically whether you are in Nashville or Memphis. The purpose of this article is to provide you with estimated all-in costs:

1. Bankruptcy Attorney Fees
2. Bankruptcy Filing Costs

Estimate the All-In Bankruptcy Cost in Your Zip Code

We received the question of how much bankruptcy costs in Tennessee so often that we built a database of attorney fees. Use your zip code below to estimate the bankruptcy cost in your city in Tennessee.

1. Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Tennessee

A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is often less expensive than a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. You usually have to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy based on the Tennessee bankruptcy means test. As stated above, Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorneys in Tennessee can cost between $800 – $2442. The cost may increase or decrease based on the following factors:

The bankruptcy lawyer cost is often based on the following attributes:

1. Which type of chapter are you filing (i.e., Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13)
2. The complexity of your case (i.e., no asset vs asset)
3. Your location (i.e., Nashville vs Memphis
4. Level of attorney connection
5. Attorney expertise (i.e., how many years of experience)

Here are some of the ranges of cost in major cities in Tennessee.

Attorney Fees in Nashville

Nashville is the most populated city in Tennessee, with a population of 681,928. Bankruptcy attorneys in Nashville can cost an estimated $1,200.

Attorney Fees in Memphis

Bankruptcy attorneys in Memphis can cost an estimated $1,170.

Attorney Fees in Knoxville

Bankruptcy attorneys in Knoxville can cost an estimated $1,170.

1. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney Fees Tennessee

Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorney fees in Tennessee can cost $3,000. The payment can depend on the district.

While Chapter 7 attorney fees have variability, many Chapter 13 fees are relatively similar based on no-look fees, a reasonable cost for the service provided. You may still want to see whether the attorney charges an hourly rate for any additional work after filing the Chapter 13

1. Bankruptcy Filing Costs

Bankruptcy filing costs are pretty similar across the United States, not just in Tennessee. Here are the other costs to consider.

Bankruptcy Filing Fees

The US Courthouse has a fee schedule and a bankruptcy form that provides the filing fee.

The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fee is $338 ($245 filing fee, $78 administrative fee + $15 trustee surcharge).

The Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fee is $313 ($235 filing fee + $78 administrative fee).

If you cannot afford the filing fee, you may be able to pay it in installments, or it could be waived altogether. For more information, please see the Tennessee filing fee information and the information below. 

Tennessee Filing Fee Waiver Guidelines

You may be eligible to have your Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fees waived if you are below 150% of Tennessee poverty guidelines. For example, the guidelines below for cases filed within Tennessee in 2022. 

# of People 150% Poverty Guideline

1 $15,060

2 $20,440

3 $25,820

4 $31,200

5 $36,580

6 $41,960

7 $47,340

8 $52,720

9 $58,100

* Add $5,380 for each individual over 9.

Mandatory Course Costs

When you file bankruptcy, you must take a debtor education course and an approved credit counseling course in Tennessee. You can often take both courses online. The average cost may be around $10 to $50 per course. Please note that the courses must be approved, so here is the list of approved Tennessee credit counseling courses and Tennessee debtor education courses that should also have the cost associated with the course.

Miscellaneous Costs

You may have to pay for transportation to the meeting of creditors at the courthouse, but most 341 meetings of creditors are still online even after COVID. You may also have to pay for a credit report for your attorney (although they may be able to help you with the credit report).

You can estimate the cost of transportation to one of the bankruptcy courts below:

Eastern District

• 220 West Depot Street, Suite 200
• Greeneville, Tennessee 37743

Middle

• 801 Broadway, Room 800
• Nashville, TN 37203
• 815 South Garden Street
• Columbia, TN 38401

Western

• 167 N. Main Street
• Room 242
• Memphis, TN 38103
• 111 South Highland Avenue
• Room 262
• Jackson, TN 38301

Will Inflation Affect the Cost To File Bankruptcy in Tennessee?

With subsiding inflation in 2024, I’ve heard that inflation will slow to the extent that attorney fees may not rise. Let’s examine whether inflation may affect the filing fee and attorney costs in Tennessee.

The Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing fee was updated from $335 to $338, and the Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing fee was updated from $310 to $313, effective December 1st, 2020. Based on the slight change, I would not expect the filing fee to negatively impact you.

You may see some inflation in attorney fee costs, as inflation may force bankruptcy attorneys to pay more to employees and face higher costs of living themselves in cities such as Memphis, Knoxville, or across Tennessee.

Would My Bankruptcy Cost Be Higher in Nashville Than in Knoxville?

You may live in a suburb in Tennessee and wonder if you should hire a local attorney or an account in a bigger city like Memphis to save on bankruptcy costs.

Nashville has the highest population in Tennessee, at 681,928, so you may expect that the cost of bankruptcy attorney fees may be higher in Nashville than Knoxville.

While the cost may be higher in Nashville, there also may be more bankruptcy attorneys, increasing competition and dropping prices. So, you could find that the total cost to file bankruptcy, including bankruptcy fees, could be much higher in your city than in Nashville.

One thing to be aware of is that most bankruptcy attorneys offer free consultations so you can get multiple perspectives. Our bankruptcy cost calculator below takes into consideration those variables when providing you with an all-in cost estimate.

Why Do Some Attorneys Charge Higher Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Fees?

You may compare prices from two different bankruptcy attorneys in Memphis and find that attorney costs vary between them.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys often charge the same amount regardless of whether they are in Knoxville due to the no-look fee (a standard fee for the services provided). The Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney fee can vary greatly, so it’s essential to understand what you are getting for the additional cost.

For example, let’s say you make $10,000 above the median income for Tennessee and still want to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. The attorney may then have to spend additional time reviewing your expenses to see whether you qualify for a Chapter 7 even though you are above the median. Additional attorney time generally means a higher overall bankruptcy cost.

Conclusion

As you can see, the cost of filing for bankruptcy in Tennessee is often based on the city where you live and the type of bankruptcy you are filing. The most significant variable that affects all-in bankruptcy costs is the attorney fee, which may range between  $800 – $2442 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy and $3,000 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Hopefully, this article provides helpful information to help you understand the costs of filing bankruptcy with a bankruptcy lawyer. Please reach out if you have any questions or take the free Tennessee bankruptcy cost calculator.