Filing Bankruptcy in Missouri: Means Test, Exemptions and Courts

Missouri has two federal bankruptcy districts: the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Missouri (https://www.moeb.uscourts.gov) and the Western District of Missouri (https://www.mow.uscourts.gov/bankruptcy).

1 person: $64,972; 2 people: $82,075; 3 people: $100,228; 4 people: $118,530; add $11,100 for each additional person over 4. These figures apply to bankruptcy cases filed on or after July 15, 2026 (the Census median income data was last updated for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026).

Missouri filers must use Missouri (and federal non-bankruptcy) exemptions; no filer "is authorized to claim as exempt the property that is specified under Title 11, United States Code, Section 522(d)."

Until December 31, 2026: up to $15,000 in a dwelling house and the land used with it. For cases governed by the version effective January 1, 2027: up to $40,000. Multiple owners share one exemption per homestead.

Until December 31, 2026: motor vehicles up to $3,000 in aggregate. From January 1, 2027: up to $5,000 in aggregate, plus up to $10,000 of any unused household-goods exemption may be applied to a motor vehicle.

Until December 31, 2026: any other property up to $600 (rising to $1,700 from January 1, 2027). In addition, a head of a family may exempt any other property up to $1,250 plus $350 for each unmarried dependent child under 21 (or disabled dependent).

Money or assets in, or payable from, retirement plans, profit-sharing plans, health savings plans and similar plans (including inherited accounts) qualified under Internal Revenue Code sections 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A or 409 are exempt, except against alternate payees under a qualified domestic relations order. Pension and similar plan payments are exempt to the extent reasonably necessary for support.

Garnishment may not exceed the least of 25% of weekly earnings after required withholding, the amount above 30 times the federal minimum hourly wage, or 10% for a head of family who lives in Missouri. These limits do not apply to support orders, Chapter 13 bankruptcy orders, or tax debts.

E.D. Mo. has a "Don't Have an Attorney" section with "Representing Yourself in Bankruptcy," pro se forms, eSR petition software, an electronic document submission system, drop box procedures for pro se parties, and a "Speak With an Attorney for Free" page. W.D. Mo. has a "For Debtors & Self-Assistance" page and bankruptcy pro se forms.

Eastern District of Missouri: under L.R. 2016-3(A)(1) (local rules dated December 1, 2025), attorneys for chapter 13 debtors who elect the "Flat Fee Option" may, without application to the court, be paid attorneys' fees, including expenses, not to exceed $5,800.00 for cases filed on or after December 1, 2024 (plus the filing fee if advanced). Under the alternative "Fee Application Option," in cases filed on or after December 1, 2025, counsel may be paid up to $3,600 (plus the filing fee if advanced) under a confirmed plan, subject to approval, modification or disgorgement, with fee applications required for other fees. The election is made through the CM/ECF Attorney Fee Election Form event. Western District of Missouri: under Local Rule 2016-2(B) (local rules adopted January 5, 2026), if the debtor's attorney's total fee for pre-confirmation services is a flat fee of $4,100 or less in a below median family income case or $4,600 or less in an above median income case, no separate application to approve the fee agreement is needed (the "No Look Fee"); the court presumes it is a reasonable fee for the services required under the Rights and Responsibilities Agreement (Local Form MOW 2016-1.4) to obtain confirmation. Adversary proceedings needed for confirmation may be compensated up to $1000 each without an itemized application; post-confirmation flat amounts are set separately in the rule.