How To File Bankruptcy for Free in North Dakota

Collect Your North Dakota Bankruptcy Documents

To get started with your Chapter 7 case, you’ll first need to gather some documents. These will help you fill out your bankruptcy forms accurately and provide the court with necessary information.

✅ Start by collecting:

• Pay stubs from the last six months (used to confirm your income and check eligibility)

• Federal tax returns from the last two years

• A bank statement that covers your bankruptcy filing date

These next items aren’t required, but they can make it easier to fill out your forms:

• Credit card and loan statements

• Letters or notices 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 from all three bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. These reports list your debts and creditor addresses — information you’ll need for your forms. 

If you use Upsolve’s free tool, we’ll pull a credit report for you automatically.

Take a Credit Counseling Course

Before you can file for Chapter 7 in North Dakota, you must complete a credit counseling course from an approved provider. The goal of the course is to make sure you understand your debt relief options before moving forward with bankruptcy.

🧠 Here’s what you need to know:

• You must take the course within 180 days before you file your case.

• Most people take the course online or by phone. Some providers also offer in-person options.

• The course usually costs $10–$50, but you can apply for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.

❗After you finish, you’ll get a certificate of completion. Be sure to file this with your other bankruptcy forms. If you don’t, the court may dismiss your case.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

To start your bankruptcy case, you’ll need to fill out a set of official forms. These forms are the same in every state and are available for free as fillable PDFs at USCourts.gov. There’s also a helpful, detailed instruction booklet you can review. 

👉 Some courts also require local forms. You can see what’s needed in the North Dakota Districts & Filing Requirements section of this guide.

If you use Upsolve’s filing tool, we’ll generate the forms for you based on your answers to a simple online questionnaire. You’ll get a PDF file with everything filled out and clear instructions for where to sign. 

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

Get Your Filing Fee

It costs $338 to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. If you can’t afford to pay this all at once, don’t worry — you have options.

Many people qualify for a fee waiver. If you're using Upsolve’s free filing tool, we’ll help you prepare the waiver form. You’ll just need to print and submit it to the court yourself.

📆 If you don’t qualify for a waiver, you can ask to pay the fee in installments. This lets you file your case right away, even if you don’t have the full $338 yet. Filing triggers something called an automatic stay, which can stop wage garnishments, foreclosures, and collection calls.

⚠️ Just keep in mind: If you’re approved for installments, the first payment of $100 is due when you file (or within 14 days), and you’ll need to make the rest of the payments on time. If you fall behind, the court can dismiss your case.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

If you're filing your bankruptcy forms by mail or in person in North Dakota, you'll need to print them out. Many people do this after finishing the credit counseling course to make sure everything is up to date. If you want to skip printing, you can file electronically.

🖨️ When printing your forms, follow these best practices:

• Use standard white letter-size paper (8.5" x 11").

• Print everything single-sided.

• Use black ink only.

• Don’t staple or hole-punch any pages.

🖊️ After you print, go through each page and sign everywhere a signature is required. Some spots are easy to miss, so take your time. Remember to add your daytime phone number under each signature.

✨ If you’re using Upsolve’s filing tool, you’ll get a ready-to-print packet with everything you need. There are also helpful dividers that show you exactly where to sign.

✅ There are a lot of forms, and many look alike. Having the federal checklist or North Dakota’s Chapter 7 checklist nearby can help you double-check that everything is ready to go.

File Your Forms With the North Dakota Bankruptcy Court

If you’re filing without a lawyer in North Dakota, you can submit your bankruptcy forms in person, by mail, or online through the court’s electronic filing system.

👥 In person: Many people choose to file in person because it’s fast and reliable. When you hand-deliver your forms, the clerk can check that everything is signed and complete before accepting them. This is the quickest way to start your case and get the protection bankruptcy offers. If you bring an extra copy, the clerk can stamp it with your case number for your records.

📬 By mail: You can also file by mailing your printed, signed forms to the court. Be sure to include all required documents and double-check for any missed signatures. Many people use certified mail or tracking so they have proof that the court received everything.

💻 Online: North Dakota lets people filing without a lawyer use the Electronic Self-Representation (eSR) system. This free tool walks you through a step-by-step questionnaire to help you complete and submit your initial bankruptcy petition online. After you submit it, the court will email instructions to finish your filing — including mailing in your signed forms and paying the court fee.

⏱️ No matter which method you use, your bankruptcy case doesn’t officially begin until the court receives your paperwork and assigns a case number.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After you file your bankruptcy case, the court will assign a trustee to manage it. The trustee isn’t a judge. They’re a neutral person who reviews your paperwork, makes sure everything is accurate, and oversees the next steps in your case.

📌 You’ll get a court notice a few days after filing with your trustee’s name, contact info, and the date and time of your 341 meeting. This meeting is a short conversation where the trustee asks questions about your forms. 

📄 To help the trustee prepare, you’ll need to send them some documents at least 14 days before your 341 meeting. Unless your trustee gives you other instructions, send:

• Your most recent federal tax return

• A bank statement for each account 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 extra documents based on your situation. If they do, be sure to follow their instructions carefully so your case stays on track.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Before your debts can be officially wiped out, you’ll need to complete a second required course called debtor education. This short class teaches everyday money skills, like budgeting. It’s designed to help you move forward feeling more in control and less stressed about money. 

📚 Here’s what to know:

• You must take the course within 60 days of your 341 meeting.

• It costs $10–$50 unless you qualify for a fee waiver.

• It takes about an hour to complete.

• You must use a court-approved provider.

• You’ll need to file a certificate of completion with the court (some providers do this for you, but it’s still a good idea to confirm it was received).

Just like the first course you took before filing, this one is required. The court can’t grant your discharge until you’ve taken the course and filed your completion certificate.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll have a short video meeting with your bankruptcy trustee. This is called the 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors. It’s a required part of the process and is usually quick. Most meetings last less than 10 minutes.

Despite the name, creditors almost never attend, even though they’re allowed to.

💻 Most 341 meetings happen on Zoom. Your court notice will include the date, time, and login details. You won’t need to appear in person unless the court tells you otherwise.

During the meeting, the trustee will place you under oath and ask a few simple questions to confirm your identity and check that your forms are accurate. You may be asked about your income, assets, or any recent financial changes. These questions aren’t meant to trick you — they’re just part of the process.

📄 Have these items nearby to reference just in case:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms

• The documents you sent your trustee (like your tax return or bank statement)

• Your case notice from the court

• A government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number

🌱 It’s normal to feel nervous before this meeting, but many people are surprised by how easy it is. Just answer truthfully, and you’ll be one step closer to a fresh start.

Deal With Your Car

Many people worry they’ll lose their car if they file bankruptcy in North Dakota. The good news is that many filers can keep their car.

What happens to your car depends on a few things: how much it’s worth, how much you still owe (if anything), and how much of that value you can protect using North Dakota’s exemption laws.

🚗 If you own your car outright, you can usually keep it as long as it's protected by an exemption. We’ll go over how exemptions work later in the North Dakota Exemptions section of this guide.

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

• If your payments are current and the car’s equity is protected, you can usually keep the car by signing a reaffirmation agreement. This means you agree to keep paying the loan as usual. The court and lender must agree to the reaffirmation.

• If you owe a lot more than your car is worth, you can surrender the car and have the rest of the loan wiped out. Many filers choose to do this when their car isn’t worth what they owe or the payments no longer fit their budget.

• If your car is worth much less than what you owe, but you want to keep it, you may be able to do so by paying the current market value in one lump sum. This is called redemption. This is less commonly used since it often requires a hefty lump-sum payment as well as the lender’s approval.

📄Leasing a car works differently. If you’re leasing your car and want to keep it, you can keep making payments and assume the lease. Or you can return the car and end the lease without having to pay what’s left. Learn more in our Bankruptcy Guide to Car Leases.