Gunnison County, Colorado

Which bankruptcy court hears a case from Gunnison County?

Gunnison County sits in the District of Colorado, administered from the court's sole clerk's office at Denver. Colorado is one undivided judicial district, and cases are assigned to judges by random selection district-wide rather than by the county you live in; Grand Junction and Pueblo are statutory places for holding court, not county-assigning divisions. That means nothing about your case assignment turns on living in Gunnison rather than Denver.

Where a case may be filed is a separate question from which judge hears it. Venue follows the greater part of the 180 days immediately before filing, measured by your domicile, residence, principal place of business in the United States, or principal assets in the United States (28 U.S.C. § 1408) — so a recent move across state lines, or a business or principal assets located elsewhere, can change the answer, and residence alone is not the whole rule. A voluntary case begins when the petition is filed with the bankruptcy court (11 U.S.C. § 301).

What does this court require of someone filing without a lawyer?

The District of Colorado publishes a Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney, which states that any reference in the Colorado Local Bankruptcy Rules to "attorney" applies to you if you are filing on your own, and that any reference to "debtor" includes both debtors in a joint case. The court also says plainly that bankruptcy is a complex process and recommends retaining an attorney, while listing free and lower-cost options.

Since June 2, 2025, the court's Electronic Self Representation (eSR) module is authorized exclusively for self-represented individuals preparing voluntary Chapter 7 petitions. Submitting a package through eSR does not itself commence a case: the court states a case is opened only after it receives completed, hand-signed originals of the eSR Signature and Declaration Form and Official Form B121 (COB GPO 2025-1).

Unrepresented parties may also file in person or by mail, or apply to file electronically through CM/ECF using the Self-represented E-Filing Application (COB GPO 2026-1).

• Filing documents must carry your name, address, telephone number and email address below the signature line (D. Colo. L.B.R. 9011-4).
• A document filed through the court's website filing tool or by facsimile is considered filed on the date the court receives it (COB GPO 2026-1).
• Joint debtors must both apply if they want electronic filing privileges (COB GPO 2026-1).

How does the meeting of creditors work in this district?

The United States trustee convenes and presides at a meeting of creditors within a reasonable time after the order for relief, and the court may neither preside at nor attend it (11 U.S.C. § 341). Before the meeting ends, the trustee examines a Chapter 7 debtor orally to confirm you understand the consequences of seeking a discharge, your ability to file under a different chapter, the effect of a discharge, and the effect of reaffirming a debt.

The District of Colorado states that the meeting is a hearing all debtors must attend in any bankruptcy proceeding, is held outside the judge's presence, and usually occurs between 21 and 50 days after the petition is filed depending on the chapter. In Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases the assigned trustee conducts it; in Chapter 11 a representative of the United States Trustee does.

All § 341 meetings in Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases in this district are held by Zoom, and the court instructs debtors, counsel, creditors and parties in interest not to appear in person.

What local rules and orders change the process here?

Several District of Colorado rules shape practical steps a filer from any county will meet. Continuing a § 341 meeting before the scheduled date requires a written request served on the appointed trustee and received at least seven days before the meeting; the trustee, not the court, approves it, and a consenting continuance must then be noticed to the court, the trustee, creditors and parties in interest (D. Colo. L.B.R. 2003-1). A continuance does not automatically extend discharge or dischargeability objection deadlines.

Payment advices or other evidence of payment must be filed, or a substantially conforming statement filed instead (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1007-6). The court publishes required-forms checklists and a Chapter 13 Plan on Local Bankruptcy Form 3015-1.1, which its Chapter 13 petition packet lists as a required document.

For Chapter 13 attorney compensation, the court has set a presumptively reasonable fee allowance by general procedure order covering all costs through confirmation (COB GPO 2021-1); that figure is in the order itself.

How are filing fees paid, waived or spread out?

The federal fees are the same in every county. A Chapter 7 case carries a $245 filing fee (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1)), plus a $78 administrative fee and a $15 trustee surcharge (Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Items 8 and 9, effective December 1, 2023). A Chapter 13 case carries a $235 filing fee (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B)) plus the same $78 administrative fee.

Every petition must be accompanied by payment, an application to pay in installments, or — in Chapter 7 — a fee waiver application (COB GPO 2014-4(a)). An installment application uses Official Form 103A; a Chapter 7 waiver application uses Official Form 103B and must include pay advices or L.B.F. 1007-6.1 plus completed Schedules I and J (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1). Any waiver order is conditional and subject to further investigation.

The court states the Chapter 7 fee may be waived for an individual with income below 150 percent of the official poverty line for the household size who cannot pay in installments, and that the debtor carries the burden (COB official page — Chapter 7 Fee Waivers). Confirm current amounts on the court's Fees page.

Which Colorado questions should you settle before filing?

Two sets of decisions commonly need answers before a petition is ready, and they are separate from anything decided by the court's location.

The first is credit counseling. The District of Colorado warns that voluntary petitions will be rejected if counseling is not completed during the 180-day period ending on the date the individual voluntary petition is filed, or if a statutory exemption is not met, and that most debtors will not be able to meet the conditions for completing the course after filing because counseling is readily available in this district (COB official material — Credit Counseling is required BEFORE you file for Bankruptcy). The certificate is listed as a required document in both the Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 petition packets.

The second is what property you can protect and which exemption list applies. Debtor duties include scheduling assets and liabilities and claiming exemptions on Schedule C (11 U.S.C. § 521). This packet does not carry Colorado's exemption amounts or wage-protection rules, so this page cannot answer those from the supplied sources — our Colorado pages address them.

Where can a Gunnison County resident get help?

The court distinguishes sharply between help with the law and help with typing. It states that court staff are prohibited from providing advice to parties regarding their rights in a case or proceeding before the court, and from ex parte communications with creditors, debtors and attorneys.

The District of Colorado's Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney lists the Colorado Bar Association's Pro Se Bankruptcy Clinic — described as counseling on eligibility, drafting petitions and schedules, court procedures and forms, and preparation for meetings of creditors — along with Colorado Legal Services, Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Southwest Bar Volunteer Legal Aid and Weld County Legal Services. By administrative order, Federal Pro Se Clinic attorneys, staff and volunteers may provide short-term limited legal services to self-represented litigants before the court (COB Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3).

Non-attorney petition preparers are a different thing. The court states they are barred by law from giving legal advice and cannot explain how to answer legal questions, and it publishes a list of preparers barred in this district (COB official page — Bankruptcy Petition Preparers).

• A credit counseling agency may charge a reasonable fee and provide services without regard to ability to pay it (COB credit counseling warning).
• Arthur, our AI Navigator, can walk you through the structure and build a roadmap; he explains process, never legal advice.
• If you ask for an introduction, we can pass your details to a participating firm admitted in this district — never your conversation.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a bankruptcy court in Gunnison County?

No. Colorado constitutes one judicial district, administered from the sole clerk's office at Denver, so there is no Gunnison County bankruptcy court and no county-based division. Grand Junction and Pueblo are statutory places for holding court — hearing locations — rather than divisions that assign cases. Judge assignment is by random selection district-wide, not by county of residence.

Do I have to travel to Denver for my meeting of creditors?

Not for the § 341 meeting itself. The District of Colorado states that all § 341 meetings of creditors in Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases are held by Zoom and that debtors, counsel, creditors and parties in interest should not appear in person. Other appearances can differ, so read every notice the court sends you and follow the instructions in it.

Can I file my Chapter 7 petition online without a lawyer?

The court's eSR module is authorized exclusively for self-represented individuals preparing and submitting voluntary Chapter 7 petitions. Electronic submission through eSR does not by itself commence a case: the court opens a case only after receiving completed, hand-signed originals of the eSR Signature and Declaration Form and Official Form B121 for each debtor (COB GPO 2025-1).

What happens if I skip credit counseling before filing?

The District of Colorado states that voluntary petitions will be rejected if counseling is not completed during the 180-day period ending on the filing date, or if a statutory exemption is not met. Its warning adds that most debtors will not be able to meet the conditions for completing the course after filing, because counseling is readily available in this district.

Does moving to Gunnison County recently change where I can file?

It can. Venue looks at the greater part of the 180 days immediately before filing, measured by domicile, residence, principal place of business in the United States, or principal assets in the United States (28 U.S.C. § 1408). Residence on the filing date alone is not the whole rule, so a recent move or a business located elsewhere is worth checking before you file.

Can I pay the filing fee over time?

An individual debtor may apply to pay the filing fee in installments using Official Form 103A (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1). Every petition must arrive with full payment, an installment application, or a Chapter 7 waiver application (COB GPO 2014-4(a)). The court's online payment form accepts installment payments by debit card, PayPal or ACH.

Sources

• 28 U.S.C. § 1408 — Venue of cases under title 11
• 11 U.S.C. § 341 — Meetings of creditors and equity security holders · official source
• 11 U.S.C. § 301 — Voluntary cases
• 11 U.S.C. § 521 — Debtor's duties · official source
• 28 U.S.C. § 85: "Colorado constitutes one judicial district." The District of Colorado is a single, undivided district administered from the sole clerk's office/divisional seat at Denver; cases are assigned to judges by random selection district-wide (L.B.R. 1073-1, "Cases are assigned to judges by random selection to the extent possible"), not by county. Grand Junction and Pueblo are statutory places for holding court (hearing locations) only, not county-assigning divisions.
• COB official material — Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney
• COB GPO 2025-1 — Implementing Electronic Self Representation (eSR) for Self-represented, Individual Chapter 7 Debtors
• COB GPO 2026-1 — Implementing Electronic Filing for Certain Self-represented Parties
• COB official page — 341 Meetings of Creditors by Zoom
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 2003-1 — Continuance of Meeting of Creditors and Equity Security Holders
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 9011-4 — Signatures and Contact Information
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1 — Installment Payments and Filing Fee Waivers
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 1007-6 — Employee Payment Advices
• COB GPO 2014-4(a) — Installment Payment Requests and Additional Delegation to the Clerk of the Court
• COB GPO 2021-1 — Chapter 13 Fee General Procedure Order
• COB official page — Chapter 7 Fee Waivers
• COB official page — Fees
• COB official page — Online Payments
• COB official material — Credit Counseling is required BEFORE you file for Bankruptcy
• COB official page — Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Courses
• COB official page — Chapter 7 Voluntary Petition Packet
• COB official page — Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition Packet
• COB Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3 — In the Matter of Federal Pro Se Clinic Operations
• COB official page — Bankruptcy Petition Preparers
• COB official page — Filing Without an Attorney

Related

• Build your personalised roadmap
• Find your local bankruptcy court
• The 341 Meeting of Creditors: What Actually Happens
• Continuance in Bankruptcy: Moving a Meeting or Hearing
• Bankruptcy tools and screeners
• Statutes and rules library

What it costs to file here

Chapter 7 — total court charges at filing

$338

28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8; Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 9

Chapter 13 — total court charges at filing

$313

28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B); Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8

Court charges only. What a lawyer charges is separate and varies by district and by case. Estimate the full cost →

Colorado median income

Median annual income, household of one

$87,940

USTP Median Family Income (2026-07-15 period)

The means test compares household income to the published median for the same household size. Being above it is not a bar to filing. Compare your household →