How To File Bankruptcy for Free in New Hampshire

Collect Your New Hampshire Bankruptcy Documents

To get started, you’ll need to gather some important documents. Some are required, and others just make it easier to fill out your forms.

✅ Start with the documents you’ll need to submit to the court or your trustee:

• Your two most recent federal tax returns

• Pay stubs from the past six months

• Bank statements for all accounts, including one that shows your balance on the day you file

📂 Next, collect a few documents that can help you report your debts and expenses more accurately:

• Credit card and loan statements

• Letters or notices from collection agencies

• 6–12 months of bank statements

• A recent credit report

📄 You can get a free credit report every week from each of the three major credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, your credit report will be pulled for you automatically.

Take a Credit Counseling Course

Before you can file your bankruptcy case, you’ll need to take a credit counseling course. This course helps you explore all your debt relief options. It’s usually quick and straightforward and is one of the first steps toward getting a fresh start.

💡Here’s what to know:

• You must take the course within 180 days before filing.

• You can take it online, over the phone, or sometimes in person, but it must be from an approved provider.

• The cost is usually $10–$50, but you may qualify for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.

⚠️ Once you complete the course, you’ll get a certificate. You must file this certificate with your bankruptcy paperwork. If you don’t, your case may be dismissed.

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

To start your Chapter 7 case, you’ll need to fill out a set of bankruptcy forms. These are federal forms, so they’re the same in every state, including New Hampshire. You can download them for free as fillable PDFs from USCourts.gov, along with a detailed instruction manual.

👉 Some courts may also require local forms. You’ll find more information in the New Hampshire Districts & Filing Requirements section.

💻 If you use Upsolve’s free filing tool, you won’t need to fill out the forms by hand. Instead, you’ll answer a step-by-step questionnaire, and the software will populate your forms for you. This can save time and reduce stress.

Get Your Filing Fee

The fee to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $338. That can feel like a lot when money is already tight, but you do have options.

Many low-income filers qualify for a fee waiver. If you're using Upsolve’s filing tool, the software will help you fill out the waiver form as part of your paperwork. You’ll just need to turn it in when you file your case.

📆 If you don’t qualify for a waiver, you can ask the court for a payment plan instead. This lets you split the fee into smaller monthly payments. It’s a helpful option if you need to file quickly to stop something like a wage garnishment. Once you file your case, the automatic stay kicks in and temporarily stops most collection efforts.

❗Just know that if you miss a payment or fall behind, the court could dismiss your case — and your debts wouldn’t be erased.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

After you finish filling out your forms, you’ll need to print them and submit a signed paper copy to the court by mail or in person.  This is what officially starts your case. Many filers also print a second copy to keep for their own records.

🖨️ Follow these best practices when printing your forms:

• Use standard white 8.5” x 11” paper.

• Print everything single-sided.

• Use black ink.

• Don’t staple, bind, or hole-punch your pages.

🖊️ After printing, go through your forms and sign everywhere a signature is required.

🗂️ If you’re using Upsolve’s filing tool, you’ll get a ready-to-print packet with everything you need. The packet includes helpful dividers and clearly marks where to sign, so nothing gets overlooked.

File Your Forms With the New Hampshire Bankruptcy Court

Now you’re ready to file your forms with the court. You’ll need to deliver your signed forms to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Concord. You can file your forms by mail or by going to the court in person, either during regular business hours or by using the court’s dropbox. 

🗣️ Many people prefer to file in person if they can. It’s a chance to hand everything over directly and ask quick questions if anything feels confusing. The court staff can also let you know if something’s missing so you don’t run into surprises later.

📬 You can also file your forms via mail. Just know it may take longer for the court to receive and process your forms. It’s a good idea to use certified mail so you get confirmation of when the forms are received.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After you file your case, the court will assign a bankruptcy trustee to manage it. The trustee isn’t a judge. They’re a neutral person who reviews your forms, checks your documents, and leads your 341 meeting.

💡 The 341 meeting is a short meeting where you’ll answer a few simple questions about your case.

📌 After you file, you’ll get an official notice from the court with your trustee’s name, contact information, and the date and time of your 341 meeting.

📄 Before the meeting, your trustee needs some documents to confirm the information in your bankruptcy forms. Unless your trustee gives you different instructions, it’s best to send these at least 14 days before your 341 meeting:

• A copy of your most recent federal tax return (or a note explaining why you don’t have one)

• A bank statement for each account you had on the day you filed

• A clear copy of your government-issued photo ID

• Proof of your Social Security number (like your Social Security card, a W-2, or a pay stub with your full SSN)

• Copies of all pay stubs (or other proof of income) you received in the 60 days before you filed

Your trustee may also send you a letter asking for other documents or details. The sooner you send what’s needed, the smoother things tend to go from there.

Take a Debtor Education Course

After you file your case, you’ll need to complete a second course called debtor education (also known as a financial management course). This course helps you learn the skills to manage your money after bankruptcy and make the most of your fresh start.

🕒 Here’s what to know:

• You must take the course within 60 days of your 341 meeting, but many people choose to take it beforehand just to get it out of the way.

• You must use a court-approved provider.

• The course takes about an hour and costs $10–$50, unless you get a fee waiver.

• After finishing, you’ll need to file your certificate with the court.

Everyone who files Chapter 7 needs to take this course and file the certificate with the court. If you don’t, the court won’t issue your discharge. That’s the court order that officially wipes out your debts.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll have a short video call with your bankruptcy trustee. This is called the 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors. The name may sound intimidating, but the meeting is usually quick, straightforward, and stress-free.

📌 Most 341 meetings are held on Zoom. Your court notice will include the date, time, and login instructions, so keep an eye out for that after you file.

🔎 At the meeting, the trustee will place you under oath and ask a few basic questions to confirm your identity and make sure the information in your forms is accurate. Creditors are allowed to join, but in most cases, they don’t.

📄 It’s helpful to have these nearby during the meeting:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms

• Any documents you already sent to your trustee (like your tax return or most recent pay stub)

• The case notice you received from the court

🎉 Many people feel nervous going in, but most are surprised by how simple it is. Once your 341 meeting is done and you’ve submitted your debtor education certificate, the hard part is behind you. In most cases, you’ll receive your discharge within 2–3 months.

Deal With Your Car

Many people worry they’ll lose their car if they file bankruptcy, but that usually doesn’t happen. Most filers keep their cars, and you have a few options to do so.

🚗 If you own your car, you can usually keep it if it’s worth less than the New Hampshire motor vehicle exemption, which protects up to $10,000 in equity.

💡 Equity is the value of your car today minus what you owe. If you own the car outright, equity is equal to the car’s current fair market value.

Exemptions are legal protections that let you keep certain property when you file bankruptcy. We’ll go into more detail about them in the New Hampshire Exemptions section later in this guide.

💵 If you have a car loan, you have a few options:

• If the loan payment works for your budget, you’re up to date on payments, and you want to keep the car, you can sign a reaffirmation agreement with your lender. Both the lender and the judge must approve the agreement.

• If you owe a lot more than the car is worth, but you still want to keep the car, you can try to redeem it by paying its current value in one lump sum. The lender must agree to this.

• If the car no longer makes sense for your budget or situation, you can surrender it and wipe out the loan balance in your bankruptcy.

📄 If you’re leasing a car and you’re current on your payments, you may be able to keep the lease by continuing to pay each month. Leases work a little differently than loans, so it can help to read Upsolve’s Guide to Leases in Bankruptcy to learn more.