How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Wyoming (2025 Guide)
You can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Wyoming without hiring an expensive lawyer. The $338 filing fee can often be waived for low-income filers. Wyoming's exemptions protect your car (up to $5,000), home equity (up to $20,000), and household goods (up to $4,000).
Get Free ConsultationDebt doesn’t have to control your life. Chapter 7 bankruptcy can give you a fresh start by erasing credit card debt, medical bills, payday loans, and utility bills. It stops collection calls, wage garnishments, and other aggressive actions immediately.
You don’t need to hire an expensive lawyer. Many Wyoming residents file Chapter 7 bankruptcy on their own and successfully eliminate their debts. The $338 filing fee can often be waived if you qualify. Here’s how to file bankruptcy for free in Wyoming.
Qualify for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Wyoming?
Find out if you qualify for Chapter 7 debt discharge in Wyoming. Get a free consultation with a bankruptcy attorney who can help you navigate the means test, protect your assets, and eliminate debt. Most Wyoming filers complete the process in 4-6 months.
Check Eligibility NowStep-by-Step: Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Wyoming
Collect Your Wyoming Bankruptcy Documents
Before you file, gather these required documents:
- Pay stubs from the past six months
- Tax returns from the last two years
- A bank statement that includes your filing date
These additional documents make the process easier:
- Bank statements from the last 6-12 months
- Credit card and loan statements
- Letters from collection agencies
- A recent credit report
You can get a free credit report from each major bureau weekly at AnnualCreditReport.com.
Take a Credit Counseling Course
You must complete credit counseling before filing. The course explains your debt management options, including bankruptcy.
Key details:
- Complete it within 180 days before filing
- Use a provider approved for Wyoming
- Takes 1-2 hours and costs $10-$50
- Fee waivers available if you can’t afford it
You’ll receive a certificate of completion. File it with your bankruptcy forms or the court may dismiss your case.
Complete the Bankruptcy Forms
Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires official forms that explain your financial situation. The main forms are the same nationwide and available free at USCourts.gov. Wyoming requires a few additional local forms.
You’ll answer questions about your income, debts, assets, and expenses. Accuracy is critical. Double-check every entry before filing.
Get Your Filing Fee
Filing Chapter 7 costs $338. Many low-income filers qualify for a fee waiver. If approved, you won’t pay anything to file.
Can’t get a waiver? Request permission to pay in installments. You’ll make an initial payment when filing, then monthly payments until complete. The automatic stay still protects you from collections immediately.
Warning: Missing an installment payment could get your case dismissed. Your debts won’t be erased if that happens.
Print Your Bankruptcy Forms
Print your completed forms following these rules:
- Use standard 8.5″ x 11″ white paper
- Print in black ink, single-sided only
- Don’t staple or hole-punch pages
- Sign every signature page before filing
Review everything one final time for accuracy and completeness.
File Your Forms With the Wyoming Bankruptcy Court
Submit your forms in person or by mail to the bankruptcy court in Cheyenne.
Filing in person is faster. The clerk can immediately check for missing items or signatures. You can fix problems on the spot.
Mailing works too. Use tracking so you can confirm arrival. Double-check signatures and required forms before sealing the envelope.
Mail Documents to Your Trustee
After filing, the court assigns a bankruptcy trustee to oversee your case. The trustee reviews your paperwork and leads your 341 meeting.
You’ll receive an official notice with your trustee’s name, contact information, and 341 meeting date.
Send these documents to your trustee at least 14 days before your meeting:
- Your most recent federal tax return
- Bank statement from your filing date
- Photo ID
- Proof of Social Security number
- Most recent pay stub or income proof
Your trustee may request additional documents. Respond promptly to keep your case on track.
Take a Debtor Education Course
You must complete a second course called debtor education. It covers budgeting, saving, and money management skills. These help you maximize your fresh start.
Course requirements:
- Use an approved provider for Wyoming
- Takes 1-2 hours and costs $10-$50
- Complete within 60 days of your 341 meeting
- File your certificate with the court
Some providers file the certificate automatically. Others don’t. Check with your provider. Without the certificate, the court can dismiss your case before discharging debts.
Attend Your 341 Meeting
About a month after filing, you’ll have a video meeting with your trustee. The 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors, is required. Creditors rarely attend despite the name.
Most meetings happen on Zoom. Your court notice includes login instructions. The trustee places you under oath and asks questions about your paperwork. The goal: confirm everything is accurate and current. Most meetings take under 10 minutes.
Have these items ready:
- A copy of your bankruptcy forms
- Documents sent to your trustee
- Your court notice with case number and meeting details
If everything checks out, you’ll typically receive your debt discharge 2-3 months later. That’s your fresh financial start.
Deal With Your Car
Filing bankruptcy doesn’t mean losing your car. Most people keep their vehicles.
Wyoming’s vehicle exemption protects up to $5,000 of equity. If your equity is at or below this amount, you’ll likely keep your car.
Own your car outright? You can keep it if its value is under the exemption amount.
Still making payments? You have options:
- Reaffirm the loan: Keep making payments as usual. You stay responsible for the loan after bankruptcy. The lender and court must agree.
- Redeem the car: Pay the lender a lump sum equal to the car’s current value, not the full loan balance. The lender must agree. You need access to the lump sum.
- Surrender the car: Return it to the lender. Stop making payments. The remaining loan gets wiped out in bankruptcy.
Lease your car? Assume the lease (keep it and stay current) or reject it (return the car and walk away).
Wyoming Bankruptcy Means Test
The means test determines if you qualify for Chapter 7. It examines your income to establish eligibility.
The test has two parts. First, compare your monthly income to Wyoming’s median income for your household size. Income below that number? You qualify. You’re done.
Income above the limit? Part two examines monthly expenses to calculate disposable income. The court determines if you can repay some debts.
Many people qualify at part one. If you need part two, eligibility gets more complicated. Consider speaking with a bankruptcy attorney for free to confirm eligibility and explore options.
Wyoming Districts & Filing Requirements
Wyoming has one federal bankruptcy court district: the District of Wyoming. The court handles all Chapter 7 cases from every county.
The court’s website includes a guide for people filing without attorneys. It also links to forms and instructions.
File your forms in person or by mail at the Cheyenne courthouse:
U.S. Bankruptcy Clerk’s Office
2120 Capitol Avenue, Suite 6004
Cheyenne, WY 82001
Local Forms
Wyoming requires one local form if you didn’t receive pay stubs during the 60 days before filing. It’s called the Statement Concerning Payment Advices.
You’ll also need a creditor mailing matrix. Wyoming has specific formatting rules. Review the court’s instructions before submitting.
Filing Fee Payment Options
Pay the $338 filing fee with a cashier’s check or money order made to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. You can pay cash with exact change if filing in person.
The court doesn’t accept credit cards, debit cards, or personal checks from people filing without lawyers.
Can’t afford the full fee? Apply to pay in installments or request a fee waiver.
Wyoming Bankruptcy Exemptions
Exemptions protect things you need to live. Examples include your home, car, and basic household items. You don’t lose everything when filing for debt relief.
Wyoming is an opt-out state. Most people who’ve lived in Wyoming for at least two years must use state exemption laws. Lived here less than two years? You may use federal bankruptcy exemptions instead.
Key Wyoming exemptions:
- Homestead: Protect up to $20,000 in home equity
- Motor vehicle: Protect up to $5,000 in one car
- Household goods: Protect up to $4,000 in furniture, bedding, and provisions
Wyoming Bankruptcy Lawyer Cost
Many Wyoming residents file Chapter 7 without a lawyer, especially with simple cases. Own a home or have complex finances? Hiring a lawyer can help.
Most bankruptcy lawyers in Wyoming charge flat fees for Chapter 7. Fees typically range between $1,400 and $1,900. Attorney fees are usually the biggest case expense.
Wyoming Legal Aid Organizations
Legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost help to people who can’t afford lawyers. Need support with your Chapter 7 case? Contact Wyoming legal aid or explore resources for low-income filers on the Wyoming State Bar’s website.
Legal Aid of Wyoming
2617 E. Lincoln Way, Ste. K
Cheyenne, WY 82001
(877) 432-9955
https://www.lawyoming.org/