Many questions must be answered to the satisfaction of those who must file this legal action, including “How do I file for bankruptcy?” The costs for filing chapter 7 or 13 petitions have gone up in the last two years with a chapter 7 filing now costing around $300 and chapter 13 costing around $200. Those who ask the question, “How do I file for bankruptcy? must be aware before submitting any bankruptcy petition that the new bankruptcy laws have increased submission fees. The cost of submitting petitions could climb even higher in the years to come as the government is always looking for new sources of income.