How to File Bankruptcy for Free in Nevada (2020 Guide)

Collect your Nevada Bankruptcy Documents

Collecting your Nevada bankruptcy documents will make it easier to make sure you’re not missing any important information when completing the bankruptcy forms. You’ll have to provide the bankruptcy court with information about who you owe, what you own, and what your financial situation has been like leading up to your bankruptcy filing. 

As part of this process, you’ll have to provide the Nevada Bankruptcy Court with up-to-date addresses for all of your creditors. Since that’s not something most people  know off the top of their head, start by getting a free copy of your credit report. Then, put together a list of your property, collect the last 6 months of your paycheck stubs, and find your copy of your most recent federal income tax return, and you’ll be off to a good start. 

Take Credit Counseling

Before you can file Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Nevada, you have to take a credit counseling course. The purpose of the course is to make sure you are aware of your debt relief options. Federal law requires everyone filing bankruptcy  to take a credit counseling course from a pre-approved provider. The certificate of completion you’ll receive when done will be good for 180 days. 

Money Management International offers the course in person in their Reno, Henderson, and Las Vegas, NV locations, though most complete the course online or by phone. There is a small cost associated with the class, so make sure to shop around for a provider that works for you. 

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Now that you have collected all of your Nevada bankruptcy documents and learned more about your debt relief options, it’s time to fill out your bankruptcy forms. If you’re eligible to use Upsolve’s free web app, you’ll provide all required information and documents through an online portal. If you’re working with a law firm, they’ll likely have you fill out a similar questionnaire to prepare your Nevada bankruptcy forms. 

But, there’s nothing that says you can't complete the forms needed for filing Chapter 7 in Nevada by yourself. They are all available for free online, and the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts have even published a detailed instruction manual you can download for free. 

Remember to be honest in answering all questions. No matter who prepares it, you’re the one signing the bankruptcy petition before it’s submitted to the bankruptcy court.

Get your Filing Fee

Even though it may seem strange that there’s a filing fee for bankruptcy, there is. Specifically, the filing fee for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $338. Remember no two cases are the same. Just because someone ends up filing bankruptcy in Nevada doesn’t automatically mean that paying this amount is a hardship for them. 

If it is for you, and your monthly income is below a certain threshold, you can ask the bankruptcy court to waive your fee. If you’re not eligible to have the fee waived, but can't wait to file and need the automatic stay to take effect, you can ask the court for an installment plan. 

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

The court’s electronic filing system is only available for bankruptcy attorneys. If you’re filing without one (“pro se”), you have to submit your bankruptcy petition in paper. One original plus one copy. If you’re using Upsolve’s free tool, you’ll receive a single PDF file to print on regular 8.5" x 11" white paper. If not, start by reviewing the Chapter 7 filing requirements for the District of Nevada, so you can make sure you have everything you need. 

Even though the Bankruptcy Code gives you some additional time to submit some of the forms, it’s best to plan on filing them all at once. That way, once you have filed your Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Nevada, you know you are done with filling out forms and won't have to worry about getting your case dismissed by missing an important filing deadline.

Go to Court to File your Forms

The Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada has offices in Las Vegas and Reno and is unofficially divided into a northern division and a southern division. If you live in the counties of Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln or Nye, the Las Vegas office will handle your case. If you are in any of the other counties, your case will be handled by the court on 300 Booth Street, in Reno, NV. 

You can either mail everything in, or drop it off in person. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, in-person bankruptcy filings are submitted through a dropbox, rather than by handing them to a clerk in person.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

Even though most of your work is done before filing bankruptcy, the Bankruptcy Code does make meeting with your trustee a part of the bankruptcy process. Every Chapter 7 case has a bankruptcy trustee assigned to it. It’s the person you’ll be meeting for your 341 meeting - but more on that later.  

After filing your case, your bankruptcy trustee may send you a letter asking you to submit certain documents, like your most recent income tax return, to their office. It’s important to follow the instructions and submit everything on time to avoid any unnecessary delays in your bankruptcy case. 

Take Bankruptcy Course 2

Before filing bankruptcy you had to complete credit counseling. Now that your bankruptcy case is filed, you’ll have to complete a financial management class. Without it, you’re not eligible for a fresh start through a bankruptcy discharge. 

Although there is no hard deadline to complete this course, it’s best to get it done before your 341 meeting. Otherwise, you risk having the bankruptcy court close your case without discharging your debts. 

Once done, you’ll receive a certificate of completion from your provider. Find out whether they’ll submit this to the Nevada Bankruptcy Court for you. Some of the companies approved to offer this course in Nevada handle that step as an added service for their customers. If not, simply use your certificate of completion to complete this form and submit that to the Nevada Bankruptcy Court instead.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

The 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors as it’s sometimes called, takes place about 30 days after your bankruptcy petition is filed with the court. Creditors rarely show up for this meeting, although they’re allowed to. As long as the filer remembers to bring their IDs, most of these meetings in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases take less than 10 minutes. 

Dealing with Your Car

Surprising to many, filing bankruptcy gives you more options to deal with your car than you otherwise have. Without a bankruptcy, if your car is worth less than what you owe, giving it back to the bank (voluntarily or through a repossession) will not get you out of the obligation to pay off the loan. 

After filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Nevada, on the other hand, you can surrender the vehicle and discharge the loan. Or, if you want to keep the car, you can keep everything the same by entering into a reaffirmation agreement. If you have the ability to raise some funds after filing bankruptcy in Nevada, you may also be able to redeem your car. If you do that, you get to keep the car, but instead of paying off the full loan balance, you only pay the bank the actual value of the vehicle as a lump sum.