How To File Bankruptcy for Free in Oregon

Collect Your Oregon Bankruptcy Documents

Before you fill out your bankruptcy forms, it helps to gather some financial documents you'll need. Having everything in one place can save you time and make the process feel more manageable.

📂 Start with the documents that are either required when you file or will be requested soon after. These include:

• Your pay stubs from the last six months

• Your two most recent federal tax returns

• A bank statement that includes the date you plan to file your bankruptcy case

🗃️ These other documents aren’t required, but they can help you as you fill out information about your debts, expenses, and creditors. These include:

• Credit card and loan statements

• Letters or notices from debt collectors

• 6–12 months of bank statements

• A recent credit report

📄 You can get a free credit report every week from each of the three credit bureaus at AnnualCreditReport.com. 

If you’re filing with Upsolve, we’ll pull your credit report for you automatically.

Take Credit Counseling

Before you file your bankruptcy case, you’ll need to take a credit counseling course. This course reviews your debt relief options, so you can decide if bankruptcy is the best choice for you.

✅ Here are some important course details:

• You can take the course online, by phone, or sometimes in person.

• It usually takes about 1–2 hours.

• The cost ranges from $10–$50, but you can apply for a fee waiver if you can’t afford it.

• Make sure to choose a provider that’s approved in Oregon.

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

After you complete the course, you’ll get a certificate of completion. This must be filed with your other bankruptcy forms. 

If you don’t file the certificate, the court can dismiss your case (which means it ends without wiping out your debt).

Complete the Bankruptcy Forms

Once you’ve taken the credit counseling course and gathered your documents, the next step is filling out your bankruptcy forms. These forms tell the court about your income, debts, property, and financial history. 

🖥️ Most of the forms are federal forms, and you can download them for free at USCourts.gov. 

If you’re using Upsolve’s free filing tool, you’ll answer a step-by-step questionnaire, and we’ll use this information to populate your forms for you. 

📝 If you’re filing on your own, you can fill out the official PDFs using the court’s instructions.

Get Your Filing Fee

The fee to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy is $338, but many low-income filers qualify for a fee waiver.

You can ask the court to waive the $338 fee by filling out a fee waiver application.

If you use Upsolve’s filing tool, we’ll help you prepare this form, but you’ll still need to file it with the court yourself.

📆 You can also ask to pay the fee in a 90-day payment plan.

The court must approve the payment plan. This can be helpful if you need to file quickly to stop a wage garnishment, foreclosure, or car repossession. As soon as you file, the automatic stay kicks in. That means creditors have to pause most collection actions right away.

👉 Just keep in mind that if you miss a payment or don’t pay the full amount within the time limit, the court can dismiss your case.

Print Your Bankruptcy Forms

Unless you're filing online, you’ll need to print your bankruptcy forms to file with the court.

🖨️ Here’s how to get your forms ready:

• Use regular white 8.5" × 11" paper.

• Print everything single-sided.

• Use black ink.

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

🖊️ Be sure to double-check that you’ve signed everywhere a signature is required.

📁 You’ll turn in one full set of forms to the court. It’s also a good idea to print a second copy for yourself, just in case you need to look back at anything later. The court’s checklist can help you keep track as you go.

✨ If you’re using Upsolve’s free filing tool, you’ll get a ready-to-print packet with everything in order. Each signature page is clearly flagged so nothing gets missed.

If you’re working with a lawyer, you probably won’t need to print anything. They’ll usually file everything for you online.

File Your Forms With the Oregon Bankruptcy Court

Once your bankruptcy forms are ready, it’s time to file your case with the court. 

You have several options for filing:

• 💻 Online: Oregon offers two tools for filing your case without a lawyer:

  • eSR (Electronic Self-Representation): A free, step-by-step tool that helps you prepare and file a new Chapter 7 case

  • Public Document Upload: For filers who have already completed their forms and want to upload them as PDFs

• 📬 By mail: You can send your completed forms to the court through the mail. Just double-check that everything is signed and included before you seal the envelope.

🏛️ In person at the courthouse: You can hand-deliver your forms to the clerk’s office. Filing in person is a great option if you’re able to go. A clerk can do a quick review to make sure your forms are complete and signed. Plus, your case gets filed right away.

Mail Documents to Your Trustee

After your case is filed, the court will assign a bankruptcy trustee to review it. The trustee isn’t a judge, but they play an important role in your case. They’ll check your paperwork, request supporting documents, and lead your 341 meeting. This is a short meeting where they’ll ask a few questions about your forms.

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

📄 To help your trustee prepare, you’ll need to send them some documents before the meeting. Most trustees ask for these at least 14 days before your 341 meeting:

• Your most recent federal tax return (or a written explanation if you don’t have it)

• A bank statement showing your balance on the day you filed

• A copy of your photo ID

• Something that shows your full Social Security number, like your Social Security card, W-2, or a pay stub

• A recent pay stub or other proof of income

Your trustee may ask for more documents to confirm the information in your forms. It helps to respond quickly so your case doesn’t get delayed.

Take a Debtor Education Course

Before your debts can be erased, you need to complete one final required class called the debtor education course. It covers basic money skills, like budgeting and using credit, to help you build a stronger financial future after bankruptcy.

📚 Here’s what to know:

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

• You can take it online, by phone, or sometimes in person.

• You must use a court-approved provider.

🚨 You’ll also need to file your certificate with the court. Without it, the court can’t issue your discharge — the official order that clears your debts.

Attend Your 341 Meeting

About a month after you file, you’ll meet with your bankruptcy trustee in a short Zoom video call. This is called the 341 meeting, or meeting of creditors. It’s a routine part of every bankruptcy case and usually lasts less than 10 minutes.

🔍 The trustee will verify your identity and ask a few basic questions about your bankruptcy forms. You’ll be placed under oath, but you won’t speak to a judge. Creditors can attend and ask questions, but they rarely do.

🧾 It can be helpful to have these documents nearby just in case:

• A copy of your bankruptcy forms

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

• Your official case notice from the court

💡 Many people feel nervous before the meeting, but it’s usually quick and low-stress. If you don’t understand a question, it’s okay to ask the trustee to repeat or explain it. Just answer honestly, and you’ll be one step closer to getting your discharge.

Deal With Your Car

Many people worry about what will happen to their car during bankruptcy. The good news is that most people have options that allow them to keep it.

🚗 In Oregon, state exemptions can help you protect up to $10,000 in equity in one car. The federal exemption protects up to $5,025.  We’ll cover this in more detail in the Oregon Exemptions section later.

If you own your car outright and it’s worth less than the exemption you’re using, you can usually keep it.

💵 If you’re still paying off a car loan and want to keep the car, you can:

• Reaffirm the loan: With reaffirmation, you agree to continue making the same monthly payments and keep the loan. Many filers choose this when they are happy with their car and the loan terms. The judge and lender must agree to the reaffirmation.

• Redeem the car: With redemption, you pay the lender the current market value for the car in one lump sum. Many filers choose to do this when they owe more than their car is worth and when they can access a lump sum. The lender must agree to the redemption.

If you don’t want to keep your car, you can also surrender it. This means you give the car back to the lender. Then the loan is wiped out in bankruptcy. This can be a good option if the payments don’t fit your budget or the car is worth less than what you owe.

📄 If you’re leasing your car, you can choose to either return it or keep the lease going by staying current on payments. Read more in Upsolve’s Bankruptcy Guide to Leases.