File Bankruptcy for Free in Colorado: Step-by-Step Guide

Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Colorado can eliminate debt and give you a fresh start. You may be able to do it for free without hiring a lawyer. This guide walks you through every step of the process.

You’ll learn how to gather documents and complete forms. You’ll discover how to apply for a fee waiver. You’ll understand how to protect your property using Colorado’s bankruptcy exemptions.

If your case is simple, you may qualify for free help filing on your own.

Steps to File Bankruptcy in Colorado for Free

Chapter 7 bankruptcy might offer the relief you need if you’re dealing with overwhelming debt. You don’t have to pay a lawyer thousands of dollars to file.

Many people file on their own successfully. You can wipe out credit card debt, medical bills, and other unsecured debts.

Some debts usually can’t be wiped out in Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Alimony, child support, and certain tax debts typically remain.

Collect Your Colorado Bankruptcy Documents

Before you start your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, gather key financial documents. Some are required when you file. Others aren’t mandatory, but they make the process easier.

Getting these papers together early reduces stress. You’ll feel more confident as you move through the process.

You’ll need these documents no matter how you file:

• Tax returns from the past two years
• Paycheck stubs from the last 60 days
• A bank statement that includes the date you file your case

The court and trustee require these documents to verify your income. They need to confirm your financial history.

Some documents aren’t required but help you fill out forms accurately:

• Bank statements from the past 6-12 months help with monthly income and expenses
• Bills or account statements from creditors show exactly what you owe
• Letters from collection agencies help identify all your creditors
• A recent credit report gives a full snapshot of your debts

You’re entitled to a free credit report from each major credit bureau every week at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Take the Required Credit Counseling Course

Before you can file your bankruptcy case, you must complete a credit counseling course. Under bankruptcy law, everyone who files must take this course first.

The course takes about one hour. You must complete it within 180 days before you file.

Once you finish, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. You must include this with your bankruptcy paperwork when you file.

The certificate is valid for six months from completion date.

The course typically costs less than $50. If your income is below the federal poverty guideline, you may qualify for a fee waiver.

You must take the course from a provider approved in Colorado. Most offer the course online or by phone.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Bankruptcy forms help the court understand your financial situation. The court uses them to decide whether to approve your case.

Even though you’re filing in Colorado, you’ll use the same forms as filers nationwide. These are federal forms available as free, fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov.

You have several options for completing these forms:

• If you’re filing on your own, download the forms and fill them out on your computer. You can also print them and use black ink to complete them by hand.
• If you’re working with a bankruptcy attorney, they’ll have you fill out a questionnaire. Their team will prepare and file the forms for you. You can speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to explore your options.

These forms will ask for details about your income and property. You’ll need to list your debts, expenses, and financial history.

Get Your Filing Fee

If you’re filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Colorado, the court charges a $338 filing fee. The fee is due when you submit your paperwork.

Your bankruptcy paperwork is usually referred to as your bankruptcy petition.

If you can’t afford the fee, you have options:

• Fee waiver: If your income is below 150% of the federal poverty guideline, you can ask the court to waive the filing fee completely. You’ll need to fill out a fee waiver application. The court must approve it. Check the Colorado Fee Waiver Eligibility table below to see if you qualify.
• Installment payments: If you don’t qualify for a waiver and can’t afford the full $338 up front, you can apply to pay in smaller chunks over time. When you file your case, the court will tell you how much you need to pay as a down payment and the deadline for installment payments.

If a creditor is threatening wage garnishment, foreclosure, or repossession, filing quickly helps. As soon as you file, creditors can’t contact you or collect from you. A protection called the automatic stay kicks in immediately.

Paying in installments allows some people to get relief through the automatic stay. But if you miss a payment, the court can dismiss your case. You won’t get a refund.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

Before you print your bankruptcy forms, download and review the court’s Chapter 7 document checklist. For Colorado filers, the full list of required forms is on page 6 of this pro se filer guide.

Pro se means you’re filing on your own without an attorney.

The checklist helps you stay organized as you gather and print paperwork. You can double-check that you aren’t missing any required forms.

When you’re ready to print, make sure you:

• Use white, letter-size paper (8.5 x 11 inches)
• Print in black ink
• Print single-sided only
• Don’t staple the pages — the court prefers loose pages
• Sign every form where a signature is required

File Your Forms With the Colorado Bankruptcy Court

If you’re filing bankruptcy on your own in Colorado, you can mail your bankruptcy forms to the court. You can also submit them in person at the courthouse in Denver.

Going in person is usually best. You can get your case number as fast as possible. Mailing your forms can cause delays.

If you go in person, you may be able to correct any mistakes the clerk spots. In Colorado, only attorneys can file bankruptcy cases online.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After you file your bankruptcy forms, the court will assign a bankruptcy trustee to your case. The trustee’s job is to review your paperwork. They make sure everything is accurate.

They also oversee the process to ensure fair treatment of your unsecured creditors.

One of the first things your trustee will do is schedule a short meeting with you. It’s called the 341 meeting or meeting of creditors.

To prepare for that meeting, the trustee needs to review your financial documents. At least seven days before your 341 meeting, send the trustee:

• A bank statement that includes your filing date
• Your two most recent federal income tax returns

In some cases, your trustee may also request pay stubs or other proof of income. They might want additional bank statements or other financial records.

Most trustees will send you a letter with a list of needed documents. The letter includes instructions on how to send them. Some accept documents by email. Others may ask you to mail physical copies.

Take the Required Debtor Education Course

After you file your case, you’ll need to take a debtor education course. It’s different from the credit counseling course you took before filing.

The debtor education course focuses on financial management. It offers practical tools to help you plan after bankruptcy. You’ll learn how to manage your money going forward.

Here’s what you need to know about the course:

• You must take it from a provider approved for Colorado
• It usually takes about 1-2 hours
• Many people complete it online
• Once you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion
• You must file this certificate with the court within 60 days of your 341 meeting

If you don’t complete the course on time or don’t file your certificate, the court can dismiss your case. Your debts won’t be wiped out, even if everything else is in order.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

Every bankruptcy filer must attend a 341 meeting. Many people get nervous about it. But it’s usually straightforward and nothing to worry about.

In Colorado, your 341 meeting typically takes place 4-6 weeks after you file. A few days after you submit your paperwork, the court will send you a notice. The notice tells you:

• The date and time of your meeting
• Whether it will be held in person, by phone, or over video
• The location or call-in information

Read any notices you receive carefully. You’ll know exactly how to attend.

Make sure to have your government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number. The trustee will check your ID to start the meeting. They’ll place you under oath.

Then you’ll answer a few standard questions about your finances. You’ll discuss the information in your forms. Most meetings last only 5-10 minutes.

Creditors are allowed to attend, but they rarely do.

Once your 341 meeting is complete, you’re one step closer to getting your debts discharged!

Deal With Your Car

If you have a car when you file bankruptcy in Colorado, you’ll need to decide what to do with it. That can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re still making payments. But you have options, and many people keep their vehicle.

If you’re still paying off a car loan, you have a few options:

• Surrender the car: You return the car to the lender. You don’t have to pay the rest of the loan, even if you owe more than the car is worth.
• Redeem the car: You pay the lender the current value of the car (not the full loan balance). You’ll usually pay in one lump sum. After that, the car is yours. The remaining loan is wiped out.
• Reaffirm the loan: You keep the loan and continue making payments as usual. This might make sense if you’re current on your payments. You may want this option if you’re happy with your loan terms and want to avoid changes.

If you stick with the loan and keep making payments, you can usually keep the car.

If you own your car outright (meaning it’s fully paid off), it may be considered an asset in your case. But Colorado law protects up to $15,000 of your car’s value. The protection increases to $25,000 if you’re elderly or disabled.

If your car is worth less than the exemption amount, it’s protected. You can keep it.

If you’re leasing a car, you may have the option to return it or keep the lease.

Colorado Bankruptcy Means Test

To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you’ll need to take the means test. The means test helps the court decide if you’re eligible to file Chapter 7. The decision is based on your income and ability to repay debt.

The means test has two parts.

Part one looks at your income. You’ll compare your average monthly income over the past six months to the median income for a household of your size in Colorado. If your income is below the median, you pass the means test. You can usually file Chapter 7.

Many people pass the means test on the first part. If you don’t, you can move on to the next part.

Part two applies if your income is above the median. Part two looks more closely at your expenses and financial obligations. The court wants to see if you have enough disposable income to repay some debts over time.

If your budget shows that you don’t have money left over after covering basic needs, you may still qualify for Chapter 7. If not, Chapter 13 bankruptcy might be a better fit.

Colorado Districts & Filing Requirements

There’s only one Colorado bankruptcy court. It’s located in Denver and services every county in the state.

You can go to the court in person to file your forms. You can also mail them to the courthouse if you live far away.

The mailing address is:

721 19th St.
Denver, CO 80202

The court offers a few options for paying your filing fee:

• Pay online via debit, PayPal, or ACH
• Pay in person at the courthouse with a cashier’s check, money order, or exact cash (no change provided)
• Pay via mail with a cashier’s check or money order (don’t send cash via mail)

All cashier’s checks and money orders should be made payable to “Clerk, USBC”. The court doesn’t accept personal checks or credit cards.

Colorado Local Forms & Requirements

If you don’t have 60 days of paycheck stubs (also called “payment advices”) to submit with your bankruptcy petition, you need to submit this local form to explain why.

You’ll also need to submit information about your creditors. The Colorado Bankruptcy Court makes this easy to do electronically by using the Online Creditor Entry program.

Colorado Bankruptcy Exemptions

Bankruptcy exemptions protect the things you need to live. They prevent these items from being sold to pay your debts. Exemptions can help protect your home, car, clothes, and household items.

If something you own isn’t covered by an exemption, the trustee could sell it to repay your creditors. But don’t panic. Most people who file Chapter 7 in Colorado keep all of their property.

Here are a few key Colorado exemptions:

• Homestead exemption: Protects up to $250,000 of equity in your home, or up to $350,000 if you’re 60 or older or have a disability
• Vehicle exemption: Protects up to $15,000 of equity in a car, or $25,000 if you’re over age 60 or have a disability
• Household goods: Protects up to $6,000 in household goods like furniture and appliances

Colorado Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

Most bankruptcy attorneys in Colorado charge a flat fee for Chapter 7 cases. They offer a free initial consultation. The total cost usually ranges from $599 to $1,200, depending on case complexity.

You might pay more if you have many creditors. Cases with valuable property or past legal issues related to finances cost more. A simpler case with just a few debts and no major assets usually costs less.

While price matters, finding an experienced lawyer is also important. Look for someone who explains things clearly. You want someone who makes you feel comfortable asking questions.

A good attorney can make the process less stressful, especially if your case is more complicated. You can speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to see if hiring help is right for you.

Colorado Legal Aid Organizations

Even in the best of circumstances, filing bankruptcy can be stressful. Some filers will feel confident filing for bankruptcy without the help of an attorney. But it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.

If you need help but can’t afford an attorney, you may qualify for free or low-cost legal help. Nonprofit legal aid organizations in Colorado can assist.