Upsolve Surpasses $1 Billion in Debt Relief for Low-Income Families

Nonprofit's free, AI-powered bankruptcy tool has helped thousands of families get a fresh financial start.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Upsolve, a nonprofit that helps low-income families file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, announced that it has surpassed $1 billion in total debt relief for its users. Founded in 2016 at Harvard Law School, Upsolve provides a free, technology-driven platform that combines AI-powered guidance with trained support staff to help people navigate the bankruptcy process when they cannot afford a lawyer.

Why it matters

Upsolve's work is significant because bankruptcy can be a crucial pathway for low-income families to escape crippling debt and regain financial stability. By providing free, accessible bankruptcy assistance, Upsolve is helping to remove barriers that have historically kept many struggling families from accessing the legal system.

The details

Upsolve's typical user earns about $22,000 per year and eliminates roughly $52,000 in debt through the bankruptcy process. The organization has received over 2,000 Google reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars, reflecting strong satisfaction among the families it serves. Support from leading philanthropies, including the GitLab Foundation, is helping Upsolve expand its AI-powered bankruptcy tool to reach more families nationwide.

  • Upsolve was founded in 2016 at Harvard Law School's Access to Justice Lab.
  • Upsolve announced it has surpassed $1 billion in total debt relief on March 9, 2026.

The players

Upsolve

A nonprofit that provides a free platform to help low-income Americans file Chapter 7 bankruptcy when they cannot afford a lawyer.

Jonathan Petts

Co-Founder and Executive Director of Upsolve.

Kay Farley

An Upsolve user in Brooklyn, New York.

Matt Zieger

Chief Programs Officer at GitLab Foundation, a leading philanthropic supporter of Upsolve.

GitLab Foundation

A leading philanthropic organization that is supporting Upsolve's expansion of its AI-powered bankruptcy tool.

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What they’re saying

“For many low-income families, bankruptcy isn't just about relief; it's about removing the barriers that keep people stuck and reopening a path to the middle class.”

— Jonathan Petts, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Upsolve (PRNewswire)

“Before filing, I felt like I was stuck and falling further behind every month. After my case was over, I could finally breathe and start planning for the future again.”

— Kay Farley (PRNewswire)

“Behind every dollar of that billion is a family finally getting the kind of expert guidance once reserved for people who could afford it. That's what thoughtfully deployed AI can unlock at scale.”

— Matt Zieger, Chief Programs Officer at GitLab Foundation (PRNewswire)

What’s next

Upsolve plans to continue expanding its AI-powered bankruptcy tool to reach more low-income families nationwide with support from leading philanthropies like the GitLab Foundation.

The takeaway

Upsolve's milestone of $1 billion in debt relief demonstrates the significant impact that accessible, technology-driven legal assistance can have in empowering low-income families to overcome crippling debt and regain financial stability.