Individuals who have filed for bankruptcy protection since Congress overhauled U.S. bankruptcy laws in 2005 have faced a more expensive process as attorneys' fees have risen by roughly half, according to a government report.

In a report issued Monday, the U.S. Government Accountability Office said attorneys' fees for individuals who file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy-court protection increased by 51% since the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act took effect in October 2005.

The...