How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Montana
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If you're dealing with debt that feels impossible to get out from under, Chapter 7 bankruptcy may be the fresh start you need. It can erase eligible debts like credit cards, medical bills, and payday loans — and many Montanans file without a lawyer or any filing costs. This guide covers everything you need to know to file in Montana.
Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer.
Updated October 28, 2026
5 Steps To File Chapter 7 in Montana
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 Montana 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.
If your income is below Montana’s median for a household your size, you'll likely pass the means test and qualify to file with Upsolve.
| Household Size | Monthly Income | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| Loading... | ||
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, which we cover in the Local Forms/Requirements section below. Montana Law Help offers a helpful guide for filing bankruptcy on your own.
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 →
Montana has one federal bankruptcy district with four divisions: Butte, Missoula, Great Falls, and Billings. In Montana, you can file in person, by mail, or online.
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.
You may be eligible for a fee waiver if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level and you can't afford to pay the fee in installments. A bankruptcy judge will review your income and expenses and decide whether to grant it.
| Household Size | State Poverty Level | Fee Waiver Limit (150% PL) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330.00 | $1,995.00 |
| 2 | $1,803.33 | $2,705.00 |
| 3 | $2,276.67 | $3,415.00 |
| 4 | $2,750.00 | $4,125.00 |
| 5 | $3,223.33 | $4,835.00 |
| 6 | $3,696.67 | $5,545.00 |
| 7 | $4,170.00 | $6,255.00 |
| 8 | $4,643.33 | $6,965.00 |
| 9 | $5,116.67 | $7,675.00 |
| 10 | $5,590.00 | $8,385.00 |
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.
💰 In Montana, you can pay the $338 filing fee with a money order or cashier’s check made out to Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court.
🚫 The court doesn’t accept cash, credit cards, or personal checks.
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? →
Montana Bankruptcy Divisions
Montana has four bankruptcy divisions, and your case is assigned to one based on the county you live in. You can find your county below to see your division and the courthouse that serves it.
If you’re filing by mail, send your forms to the Butte division, no matter where you live. If you’re filing in person, you can drop off your forms at any of the four courthouses, though most people choose the one that serves their county.
📍 Butte
Serves Beaverhead, Broadwater, Deer Lodge, Jefferson, Gallatin, Granite, Lewis & Clark, Madison, Park, Powell, and Silver Bow counties
In-person and mailing address: Mike Mansfield Federal Courthouse 400 North Main Street, Room 273 Butte, MT 59701
📍 Missoula
Serves Flathead, Lake, Lincoln, Mineral, Missoula, Ravalli, and Sanders counties
In-person address: Russell Smith Federal Courthouse 201 E. Broadway Missoula, MT 59802
📍 Great Falls
Serves Blaine, Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Glacier, Hill, Judith Basin, Liberty, Meagher, Phillips, Pondera, Teton, and Toole counties
In-person address: Missouri River Federal Courthouse 125 Central Avenue West Great Falls, MT 59404
📍 Billings
Serves Big Horn, Carbon, Carter, Custer, Daniels, Dawson, Fallon, Garfield, Golden Valley, McCone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Powder River, Prairie, Richland, Roosevelt, Rosebud, Sheridan, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Valley, Wheatland, Wibaux, and Yellowstone counties
In-person address James F. Battin Federal Courthouse 2601 2nd Avenue North Billings, MT 59101
Local Forms/Requirements for Montana
In addition to the standard bankruptcy forms, Montana requires a few local forms for Chapter 7 filers:
Trustee Document Checklist: lists the documents you must send to your trustee before your 341 meeting
Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury: confirms that everything in your paperwork is true and complete
Notice of Compliance: states that you’ve submitted all the required documents for your case
Creditor Matrix: lists the names and mailing addresses of everyone you owe money to so the court can send official notices to your creditors. Montana has specific formatting requirements.
You can download all of these from the Montana Bankruptcy Court’s local forms page. These forms must be filled out, signed, and submitted with your other paperwork when you file.
✏️ One more note: Don’t leave any questions blank on your bankruptcy forms. If a question doesn’t apply to you, write “none” or “not applicable.” Montana requires every line to be completed.
Free Legal Aid in Montana
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 Montana.
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 Montana.
Montana Legal Services Association - Helena office 1-800-666-6899 616 Helena Ave #100 Helena, MT 59601
Montana Legal Services Association - Missoula office 1-800-666-6899 1535 Liberty Ln #110d Missoula, MT 59808
Common Questions About Filing Bankruptcy in Montana
