The Chapter 12 bankruptcy filing fee is $278 in 2026
Chapter 12 is for family farmers and family fishermen with regular income. Filing costs $278: a $200 filing fee plus a $78 administrative fee.
Chapter 12 court fees
| Filing fee | $200 |
|---|---|
| Administrative fee | $78 |
| Motion to reopen a Chapter 12 case | $200 |
| Converting Chapter 12 to Chapter 7 | $60 ($45 plus the $15 trustee fee) |
| Chapter 12 petition, all in | $278 |
|---|
Individuals can ask the court to pay the filing fee in installments, or in some cases to waive it. The fee does not include a lawyer, the required credit counseling course or the debtor education course. Sources: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (effective Dec 1, 2023); US Bankruptcy Court, District of Nebraska, Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (effective Dec 1, 2023).
What this price covers
Chapter 12 works like Chapter 13 but with rules built for farm and fishing income.
What changes your price
- Paying over time. Individuals can apply to pay in installments.
Ways to pay less
- Compare with Chapter 11. Chapter 12 costs $1,460 less to file.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the federal courts' own fee schedules or from federal law. The fees are set nationally by the Judicial Conference of the United States and by Congress, so they are the same in every federal court. Where we show a total, we only add up fees the courts list, so you can see the full amount in one place. We do not add our own guesses, and lawyer fees are not included. The schedules we used took effect on December 1, 2023 and were still the current versions when we last checked on September 26, 2026.
Common questions
How much is the Chapter 12 filing fee?
$278.
Who can file Chapter 12?
Family farmers and family fishermen with regular annual income.