The filing fee for a Chapter 7 case is identified on the fee schedule, under Court Resources, Fee Schedule.

If an individual debtor is unable to submit the full filing fee at the time of filing, the debtor may request to pay the fee in installments.  A completed Application to Pay Filing Fee in Installments – EDVA must be filed with the petition and approved by the court.  The form is available on the Court’s web site, at http://www.vaeb.uscourts.gov, under Forms – Bankruptcy Forms.

If an individual debtor is unable to pay the filing fee either in full or in installments, the Court may “waive” the filing fee, as provided in 28 U.S.C. Section 1930(f), and as further provided that the debtor meets certain requirements.  An Application for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee for Individuals Who Cannot Pay The Filing Fee in Full or In Installments (Official Form 103B), must be filed with the petition.  The form is available on the Court’s web site, at http://www.vaeb.uscourts.gov,  under Forms – Bankruptcy Forms.  By statute, the Court must first make a determination that the individual debtor “has income less than 150% of the official poverty line applicable to a family of the size involved, and is unable  to pay the fee in installments.”  If the case is a joint case, both debtors must provide the requested information, sign and date the application.

Acceptable forms of payment of the filing fee are cash, money order, cashier’s check, signed check, non-debtor personal check, credit card and internet credit card (where the debtor is represented by an attorney).  Personal checks and credit cards from the debtor, two-party checks and post-dated checks are not accepted.  Payment made by cashier’s check or money order must be made payable to:  Clerk, U. S. Bankruptcy Court.  Note:  The Newport News Divisional Office does not accept cash.  In addition, exact change only is accepted for cash payment of fees and services in the Alexandria, Richmond and Norfolk offices.