Although it is possible to file bankruptcy without a lawyer, it is not recommended. It is best to file Chapter 7 bankrutpcy with the help of an experienced attorney, while filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy is even more complicated and most likely cannot be done by someone without the knowledge of a bankruptcy attorney. In general, your chances of a more smooth, successful filing are increased if you hire an attorney.
You may be able to find an attorney who will give you a free or low-cost initial consultation by contacting a local bar association or lawyer referral service - both can be found with an online search. If you have very limited or no funds to out toward an attorney, there may be a legal aid office in your area that can locate someone to represent you for free. It's worth looking into.
While ordinary people can sometimes handle a very simple Chapter 7 case on their own, without an attorney, the average person who is not a laywer probably cannot handle a Chapter 13 case pro se, or without a lawyer. These cases require close attention to detail in drafting a debt repayment plan, negotiating with creditors and with the Chapter 13 trustee’s office, and can get complicated along the way. If paperwork is not filed correctly, a filing can be dismissed and another bankruptcy won't be able to be filed for a specified amount of time.
If you own a home or other very valuable property, it’s a very bad idea to represent yourself in a bankruptcy case under any chapter. You might save a couple of thousand dollars in attorney’s fees only to learn that you’ve made a mistake that will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
For more information about when to hire a bankruptcy attorney, how to find one, and what to expect, visit our Bankruptcy Lawyer section.