How To File Bankruptcy for Free in North Dakota (2025 Guide)

A job loss, medical emergency, or unexpected expense can crush your budget. Debt piles up fast. You feel overwhelmed.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy can give you a fresh start. It wipes out credit card balances, medical bills, and payday loans. You can move forward with a clean slate.

Many people file Chapter 7 without hiring a lawyer. The process is straightforward when your case is simple.

This guide walks you through 10 steps to file bankruptcy in North Dakota. You’ll learn how to gather documents, complete forms, and attend your trustee meeting.

10 Steps To File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in North Dakota

1. Collect Your North Dakota Bankruptcy Documents

You need specific documents to fill out your bankruptcy forms accurately. Gathering these items first makes the process smoother.

Start by collecting:

• Pay stubs from the last six months
• Federal tax returns from the last two years
• A bank statement covering your filing date

These items help but aren’t required:

• Credit card and loan statements
• Letters from debt collectors
• 6-12 months of bank statements
• A recent credit report from Experian, TransUnion, or Equifax

You can get free weekly credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. These reports list your debts and creditor addresses.

2. Take a Credit Counseling Course

Federal law requires you to complete credit counseling before filing. The course explains your debt relief options.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Take the course within 180 days before filing
• Most people complete it online or by phone
• The course costs $10-$50, but fee waivers are available
• Choose an approved provider from the Justice Department’s list

After finishing, you’ll receive a certificate. File this with your bankruptcy forms or the court may dismiss your case.

3. Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

You need to fill out official bankruptcy forms. These forms are the same nationwide.

Download free fillable PDFs at USCourts.gov. A detailed instruction booklet is also available.

Some courts require local forms too. Check the Districts & Filing Requirements section below for North Dakota specifics.

North Dakota requires anyone filing without a lawyer to write their daytime phone number under every signature line.

4. Get Your Filing Fee

Filing Chapter 7 costs $338. You have options if you can’t pay this upfront.

Many people qualify for a fee waiver. If your income is below 150% of the poverty level, you likely qualify.

Can’t get a waiver? Request to pay in installments. Filing triggers an automatic stay immediately. The stay stops wage garnishments, foreclosures, and collection calls.

Your first installment of $100 is due when you file or within 14 days. You must make remaining payments on time or risk dismissal.

5. Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

If you’re filing by mail or in person, print your completed forms. Many people do this after finishing credit counseling.

Follow these guidelines:

• Use standard white letter-size paper (8.5″ x 11″)
• Print everything single-sided
• Use black ink only
• Don’t staple or hole-punch pages

Sign everywhere a signature is required. Add your daytime phone number under each signature.

Keep the North Dakota Chapter 7 checklist nearby. Double-check that everything is ready before filing.

6. File Your Forms With the North Dakota Bankruptcy Court

You can file in person, by mail, or online through the court’s electronic system.

In person filing is fast and reliable. Hand-deliver your forms to the clerk. They’ll check that everything is signed and complete. Bring an extra copy for your records.

Filing by mail works too. Include all required documents. Use certified mail or tracking for proof of delivery.

North Dakota offers Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) for online filing. The system walks you through a questionnaire. After submitting, you’ll receive instructions to mail signed forms and pay the fee.

Your case begins when the court receives your paperwork and assigns a case number.

7. Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After filing, the court assigns a trustee to manage your case. The trustee reviews your paperwork and oversees next steps.

You’ll get a notice with your trustee’s name and your 341 meeting date. The meeting is a short conversation about your forms.

Send these documents to your trustee at least 14 days before the meeting:

• Your most recent federal tax return
• Bank statements for accounts you had on your filing date
• A copy of your photo ID
• Proof of your Social Security number
• Your most recent pay stub or proof of income

Your trustee might request additional documents based on your situation. Follow their instructions carefully.

8. Take a Debtor Education Course

You must complete a second course before your debts can be discharged. This class teaches money management skills like budgeting.

Course requirements:

• Complete it within 60 days of your 341 meeting
• Costs $10-$50 unless you qualify for a waiver
• Takes about one hour
• Use a court-approved provider

File your certificate of completion with the court. Some providers file it automatically, but confirm receipt yourself.

The court cannot grant your discharge until you complete this course and file the certificate.

9. Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after filing, you’ll meet with your trustee via video. Most 341 meetings last less than 10 minutes.

Creditors rarely attend, even though they’re allowed to participate.

Most meetings happen on Zoom. Your court notice includes the date, time, and login details.

The trustee will place you under oath. They’ll ask simple questions to confirm your identity and verify your forms. Questions cover your income, assets, and recent financial changes.

Have these items nearby:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms
• Documents you sent your trustee
• Your case notice from the court
• Government-issued photo ID and Social Security proof

Answer truthfully. Many people are surprised by how easy this meeting is.

10. Deal With Your Car

Many filers worry about losing their car. The good news? Most people can keep their vehicle.

What happens depends on your car’s value, what you owe, and North Dakota’s exemption laws.

If you own your car outright, you can usually keep it if it’s protected by an exemption. North Dakota protects up to $2,950 in vehicle equity.

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

• Keep making payments and sign a reaffirmation agreement if your payments are current and equity is protected
• Surrender the car and wipe out the remaining loan balance if you owe more than it’s worth
• Pay the current market value in one lump sum through redemption (requires lender approval)

If you’re leasing a car, you can keep making payments and assume the lease. Or return the car and end the lease without paying what’s left.

North Dakota Bankruptcy Means Test

You must pass the means test to qualify for Chapter 7. The test ensures you’re eligible based on income.

The means test has two parts. First, you compare your household income to North Dakota’s median income for your household size. If your income is below that amount, you pass. Many people qualify here.

If your income exceeds the limit, you move to part two. Part two considers your monthly expenses. Cases become legally complex at this stage. Speaking with a bankruptcy attorney helps if you reach this point.

North Dakota Median Income Standards

Income limits vary by household size. If your income falls below these amounts, you likely qualify for Chapter 7.

Fee Waiver Eligibility

You may qualify for a fee waiver if your income is below 150% of the poverty level.

Here are the 2025 monthly income limits:

• 1 person: $1,882.50
• 2 people: $2,555.00
• 3 people: $3,227.50
• 4 people: $3,900.00
• 5 people: $4,572.50

North Dakota Districts & Filing Requirements

North Dakota has one federal bankruptcy district: The District of North Dakota in Fargo.

File in person or by mail at:

Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office
Quentin N. Burdick U.S. Courthouse
655 1st Ave. North, Suite 210
Fargo, ND 58102-4932

You can also file online using the court’s free Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool.

Local Forms Required

Submit these documents regardless of filing method:

• Certificate of Credit Counseling
• Signed Statement About Your Social Security Numbers
• Creditor Mailing List with addresses and signed Verification of Creditor Mailing List
• The full filing fee, fee waiver application, or installment payment form
• Statement Concerning Payment Advices if you didn’t receive paychecks in the past 60 days

If you file online using eSR, mail a Declaration Regarding Electronic Filing within 14 days. Your case isn’t officially filed until the court receives these documents.

Filing Fee Payment Options

Pay the $338 filing fee via:

• Cash (exact change)
• Money order or cashier’s check made out to: Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court
• Online at Pay.gov with a bank account, PayPal, or debit card

If approved for installments, your first payment of $100 is due upfront.

North Dakota Bankruptcy Exemptions

When you file Chapter 7, everything you own becomes part of your case. Exemptions protect certain property so you don’t lose everything.

Most people keep all their property because of these protections.

North Dakota filers must use state exemptions. You cannot choose federal exemptions.

Main North Dakota exemptions include:

• Homestead: Up to $100,000 in equity in your home or mobile home
• Motor vehicle: Up to $2,950 in equity (more if modified for disability)
• Wildcard: Up to $3,750, or up to $10,000 if you don’t use the homestead exemption

North Dakota Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost

You don’t need a lawyer to file bankruptcy in North Dakota. Some filers find legal help useful, especially homeowners or those with complex finances.

Most bankruptcy lawyers charge a flat fee for Chapter 7 cases. In North Dakota, fees typically range from $1,170 to $2,250.

The exact cost depends on your case complexity. Need free legal advice? Speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to understand your options.

North Dakota Legal Aid Organizations

Legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost legal help to people who can’t afford a lawyer. These nonprofits may assist with your bankruptcy case or other legal needs.

The State Bar Association of North Dakota offers useful self-help resources for people representing themselves.