How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Colorado

5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in Colorado

If you're feeling overwhelmed by bills, collection calls, or the stress of making ends meet, you're not alone. Many people turn to bankruptcy when they've tried everything else and still can't get ahead. 

Filing Chapter 7 in Colorado involves a few steps — gathering your financial documents, completing two short courses, filing your paperwork, and attending a brief meeting with a trustee — and many people do it successfully without a lawyer. This guide walks you through each step so you know exactly what to expect.

Step 1: See If You Qualify

Chapter 7 has income limits, but most people who need it meet them. You'll answer a few questions about your household size and income. If you use Upsolve's free tool, it just takes two minutes to see if you qualify. 

Start here →

If your income is below Colorado’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.

Step 2: Gather Your Documents

Before you file, you'll need to pull together a few key documents. One of those is a certificate from a short credit counseling course, which you'll complete online. It takes 1–2 hours and costs $10–$50 (fee waivers available).

See the full document checklist →

Step 3: Complete Your Forms and File 

The forms you'll fill out are federal, so they're the same across the country. You can find them as free fillable PDFs at uscourts.gov. Some courts also require local forms. We’ll cover Colorado’s in the Local Forms/Requirements section later.

If you use Upsolve, your forms are generated for you based on your answers and organized so they’re ready to print and sign.

How filing works with Upsolve →

📍The Colorado Bankruptcy Court has one filing office:

U.S. Bankruptcy Court Custom House 721 19th Street Denver, CO 80202

You can file your forms by mail or in person at the Denver courthouse, or online using the court's Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) tool. 

Filing Fee Information & Fee Waiver Eligibility

There’s a $338 filing fee for Chapter 7. If you can’t afford it, you can ask the court to waive the fee when you file your paperwork.

People whose income falls below 150% of the federal poverty level may be eligible. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant the fee waiver.  

If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver, you’ll need to pay the full filing fee or an installment payment (if approved) when you file your forms.

💰  You can pay the filing fee with a money order or cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court. If you file in person at the Denver courthouse, you can also pay with exact cash. The clerk can’t make change.

Another option is to pay online with a debit card, PayPal, or bank account.

🚫 The court does not accept personal checks or credit cards.

Step 4: Attend Your 341 Meeting 

About a month after you file, you'll have a short meeting with your bankruptcy trustee on Zoom. It typically takes about five minutes. The trustee will verify your identity and ask a few basic questions about your paperwork.

Upsolve can help you prep for your 341 meeting →

Step 5: Get Your Discharge

After your 341 meeting, you'll need to take one more short course — a debtor education course on budgeting and managing credit. Once that's done and any follow-up is resolved, the court erases your eligible debts. That's your fresh start, usually within 3–4 months of filing.

What debts does Chapter 7 discharge? →

Local Forms/Requirements for Colorado

For the most part, Colorado uses the standard federal forms, but there are a couple of local 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 need to submit a list of your creditors and their mailing addresses, too. You have three ways to submit it:

• Online: Enter your creditors using the court's Online Creditor Entry program. This is the easiest option.

• By email: Send your list to COB_Matrix@cob.uscourts.gov. Include your name, phone number, and case number (if you have one) in the subject line.

• By mail: Send a printed copy of your list with your other documents, or save it to a thumb drive or CD and mail it in a padded envelope.

If you email or mail your list, it must follow specific formatting requirements. That same page explains what to do if you need to add a creditor or change your list after you file.

The court also offers a Chapter Voluntary Petition Packet that puts the petition and required forms into one download, so you don't have to track them down one by one. 

Free Legal Aid in Colorado

If your case is more complex — or you'd just feel better having an attorney review it — free and low-cost legal help is available across Colorado.

Colorado Legal Services (303) 866-9399 1905 Sherman Street, Suite 400 Denver, CO 80203

Metro Volunteer Lawyers (303) 860-1115 1290 Broadway, Suite 1700 Denver, CO 80203

Common Questions About Filing Bankruptcy in Colorado