How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Oregon

Medical bills, credit cards, and payday loans can pile up fast. When you live paycheck to paycheck, catching up feels impossible.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy offers a powerful reset. It erases many types of debt and gives you a clean slate.

You can file Chapter 7 in Oregon without paying legal fees. You just need to qualify for a fee waiver and file without a lawyer.

This guide walks you through each step.

Steps To File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Oregon

Collect Your Oregon Bankruptcy Documents

Before you fill out bankruptcy forms, gather your financial documents. Having everything in one place saves time and makes the process manageable.

Start with documents that are required when you file:

• Pay stubs from the last six months
• Your two most recent federal tax returns
• A bank statement that includes the date you plan to file

These other documents help you fill out information about debts and creditors:

• Credit card and loan statements
• Letters or notices from debt collectors
• Six to 12 months of bank statements
• A recent credit report

You can get a free credit report every week from each bureau at AnnualCreditReport.com.

Take Credit Counseling

Before you file your case, you need to take a credit counseling course. The course reviews your debt relief options. It helps you decide if bankruptcy is your best choice.

Important course details:

• You can take the course online, by phone, or sometimes in person
• It usually takes about one to two hours
• The cost ranges from $10 to $50
• You can apply for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it
• Choose a provider that’s approved in Oregon
• You must take the course within 180 days before filing

After you complete the course, you get a certificate of completion. You must file this certificate with your bankruptcy forms.

Without the certificate, the court can dismiss your case. That means it ends without wiping out your debt.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

After taking credit counseling and gathering documents, fill out your bankruptcy forms. These forms tell the court about your income, debts, property, and financial history.

Most of the forms are federal forms. You can download them for free at USCourts.gov.

You can also speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to help you navigate the process. If you fill out forms on your own, use the court’s instructions as your guide.

Get Your Filing Fee

The fee to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $338. Many low-income filers qualify for a fee waiver.

You can ask the court to waive the $338 fee. Fill out a fee waiver application and submit it with your forms.

You can also ask to pay the fee in a 90-day payment plan. The court must approve the plan.

Filing quickly can help stop a wage garnishment, foreclosure, or car repossession. As soon as you file, the automatic stay kicks in. Creditors have to pause most collection actions right away.

If you miss a payment or don’t pay the full amount within the time limit, the court can dismiss your case.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

Unless you’re filing online, you need to print your bankruptcy forms. Here’s how to get your forms ready:

• Use regular white 8.5″ × 11″ paper
• Print everything single-sided
• Use black ink
• Don’t staple or hole-punch the pages

Double-check that you’ve signed everywhere a signature is required. Turn in one full set of forms to the court.

Print a second copy for yourself, just in case you need to look back at anything later.

File Your Forms With the Oregon Bankruptcy Court

Once your bankruptcy forms are ready, file your case with the court. You have several filing options:

• Online: Oregon offers two tools for filing without a lawyer:
  • eSR (Electronic Self-Representation): A free, step-by-step tool that helps you prepare and file a new Chapter 7 case
  • Public Document Upload: For filers who have already completed their forms and want to upload them as PDFs
• By mail: Send your completed forms to the court. Double-check that everything is signed and included before you seal the envelope.
• In person at the courthouse: Hand-deliver your forms to the clerk’s office. A clerk can review your forms to make sure they’re complete and signed. Your case gets filed right away.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After your case is filed, the court assigns a bankruptcy trustee. The trustee reviews your paperwork, requests supporting documents, and leads your 341 meeting.

After you file, you get a notice with your trustee’s name and contact information. You also get the date and time of your 341 meeting.

You need to send documents to your trustee before the meeting. Most trustees ask for these at least 14 days before your 341 meeting:

• Your most recent federal tax return
• A bank statement showing your balance on the day you filed
• A copy of your photo ID
• Something that shows your full Social Security number
• A recent pay stub or other proof of income

Your trustee may ask for more documents. Respond quickly so your case doesn’t get delayed.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Before your debts can be erased, you need to complete one final class. It’s called the debtor education course.

The course covers basic money skills, like budgeting and using credit. It helps you build a stronger financial future after bankruptcy.

What to know:

• You must take it within 60 days of your 341 meeting
• You can take it online, by phone, or sometimes in person
• You must use a court-approved provider

You need to file your certificate with the court. Without it, the court can’t issue your discharge. The discharge is the official order that clears your debts.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you meet with your bankruptcy trustee. The meeting happens in a short Zoom video call.

This is called the 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors. It’s a routine part of every bankruptcy case. It usually lasts less than 10 minutes.

The trustee verifies your identity and asks a few basic questions. You’ll be placed under oath, but you won’t speak to a judge.

Creditors can attend and ask questions, but they rarely do. Have these documents nearby just in case:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms
• The documents you already sent to your trustee
• Your official case notice from the court

Many people feel nervous before the meeting. It’s usually quick and low-stress. If you don’t understand a question, ask the trustee to repeat or explain it.

Just answer honestly, and you’ll be one step closer to getting your discharge.

Deal With Your Car

Many people worry about what will happen to their car during bankruptcy. Most people have options that allow them to keep it.

In Oregon, state exemptions can help you protect up to $10,000 in equity in one car. The federal exemption protects up to $5,025.

If you own your car outright and it’s worth less than the exemption, you can usually keep it.

If you’re still paying off a car loan and want to keep the car, you can:

• Reaffirm the loan: You agree to continue making the same monthly payments and keep the loan. Many filers choose this when they are happy with their car and the loan terms. The judge and lender must agree to the reaffirmation.
• Redeem the car: You pay the lender the current market value for the car in one lump sum. Many filers choose this when they owe more than their car is worth and when they can access a lump sum. The lender must agree to the redemption.

If you don’t want to keep your car, you can surrender it. You give the car back to the lender. Then the loan is wiped out in bankruptcy.

Surrendering can be a good option if the payments don’t fit your budget. It also helps if the car is worth less than what you owe.

If you’re leasing your car, you can choose to either return it or keep the lease going. Just stay current on payments.

Oregon Bankruptcy Means Test

To qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Oregon, you need to pass the means test. The means test is part of your bankruptcy paperwork.

It looks at your income to make sure you truly can’t afford to repay your debts.

The first step compares your current household income to the median income. The court looks at the median income for a household of your size in Oregon.

If your income is below the state median, you pass the test. You can file Chapter 7. Most people qualify at this stage.

District of Oregon Requirements

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon handles all Chapter 7 cases in the state. There are two courthouse locations: one in Portland and one in Eugene.

Where you file depends on the county you live in.

Filing Online

Oregon offers two online filing options:

• Electronic Self-Representation (eSR): This free online tool guides you step by step through the forms. It lets you electronically submit your petition package. You have 45 days to complete your forms once you start.
• Public Document Upload: This tool lets you upload completed PDFs directly to the court. It doesn’t guide you through the forms. It’s just a way to send your documents electronically.

You need to follow the court’s formatting rules for your creditor mailing list. Submit your list electronically using the court’s online form.

Filing Fee Information

Oregon accepts payments in three ways:

• Online through Pay.gov: You can use a bank account, PayPal, or a card
• In person: Bring exact cash, a money order, or a cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court to the courthouse where you’re filing your case
• By mail: Send a money order or cashier’s check to the court (do not mail cash)

You can pay the $338 filing fee in full, apply for a fee waiver, or ask the court to approve a payment plan.

To request a payment plan, submit an installment application with a proposed schedule. After your first payment to open the case, you need to pay at least $50 within 30 days. Pay another $50 within 60 days, and the full balance within 90 days of court approval.

Oregon Bankruptcy Exemptions

Filing Chapter 7 doesn’t mean you’ll lose everything you own. Bankruptcy exemptions are laws that protect the things you need to get back on your feet.

Exemptions protect your home, car, and basic household belongings.

In Oregon, you can choose between state or federal exemptions. Choose the ones that protect what matters most.

Here’s how the federal and Oregon exemptions compare:

Homestead (Home Equity)

• Oregon: Protects up to $150,000 in equity for one person or $300,000 for married couples filing together
• Federal: Protects up to $31,575 in home equity for an individual, or $63,150 if you’re married and filing jointly

Vehicle (Car Equity)

• Oregon: Protects up to $10,000 in one car per filer
• Federal: Protects up to $5,025 in one car per filer

Wildcard (Flexible Protection)

• Oregon: Offers a much smaller wildcard—$400 for individual filers or $800 for joint filers. It only applies to personal property. You can’t use it to boost the value of other exemptions.
• Federal: Offers a larger wildcard—$1,675 plus up to $15,800 of any unused homestead exemption. You can use this for cash, furniture, or anything else you need to protect.

Oregon Bankruptcy Attorney Costs

Hiring an attorney is usually the biggest expense in a Chapter 7 case. In Oregon, bankruptcy attorneys typically charge a flat fee between $1,170 and $1,600.

The exact cost depends on how complex your case is.

You don’t have to hire an attorney to file Chapter 7. But it can be helpful if you own a home or have a complex financial situation.

If you need professional guidance, you can speak with a bankruptcy attorney for free to explore your options.

Oregon Legal Aid Organizations

If you think Chapter 7 is right for you but don’t have money for an attorney, look into legal aid options.

Legal aid organizations provide low-cost or free legal services for civil cases. Getting legal advice can help if you aren’t comfortable filing on your own.

The Oregon Bankruptcy Court has a list of low-cost legal organizations on its website.

Oregon Court Locations

The District of Oregon operates two bankruptcy court locations:

• Portland: 1050 SW 6th Ave. #700, Portland, OR 97204
• Eugene: 405 E 8th Ave. #2600, Eugene, OR 97401