Mineral County, Colorado

Which bankruptcy court hears a case from Mineral County?

Mineral County, Colorado falls within the District of Colorado, administered from Denver. The structure is unusual in a helpful way: "Colorado constitutes one judicial district," so there is no divisional map carving the state into county groupings. Cases are assigned to judges by random selection across the whole district rather than by where you live, and Grand Junction and Pueblo function as statutory places for holding court — hearing locations — not as county-assigning divisions.

Where a case may be commenced is a separate question from which judge hears it. Venue turns on where your domicile, residence, principal place of business in the United States, or principal assets in the United States have been located for the 180 days before filing, or for the greater part of that period than any other district (28 U.S.C. § 1408). Residence alone is not the whole rule. A move from another state within the last six months, or a business whose assets sit elsewhere, can change which district is proper, so the 180-day look-back is worth checking before anything is filed.

• One district, administered from Denver; no county-based divisions
• Judges assigned by random selection district-wide
• Grand Junction and Pueblo are hearing locations only
• Venue measured over the 180 days before filing (28 U.S.C. § 1408)

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, and it states plainly that any reference in the Colorado Local Bankruptcy Rules to "attorney" applies to you if you are filing on your own. The guide also notes that court staff are prohibited from providing advice to parties about their rights in a case.

Since June 2, 2025, the court has authorized an Electronic Self Representation module (eSR) exclusively for self-represented individual debtors preparing voluntary Chapter 7 cases. Submitting a package through eSR does not itself file a petition or commence a case — the court opens a Chapter 7 case 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 with the Clerk's Office or by mail, and individual debtors, creditors and parties to adversary proceedings may request permission to file electronically through CM/ECF using the Self-represented E-Filing Application; joint debtors must both apply (COB GPO 2026-1). Filed documents must carry your name, address, telephone number and email address below the signature line (D. Colo. L.B.R. 9011-4).

How does the meeting of creditors work in this district?

The meeting of creditors is a hearing every debtor must attend. Under federal law 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 concludes, the trustee orally examines a Chapter 7 debtor about the consequences of seeking a discharge, the option of filing under a different chapter, the effect of a discharge, and the effect of reaffirming a debt.

The District of Colorado describes its own format directly: the meeting is held outside the presence of the judge 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 trustee assigned to the case conducts it. All § 341 meetings of creditors in Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases are held by Zoom, and the court instructs debtors, counsel, creditors and parties in interest not to appear in person (COB official page — 341 Meetings of Creditors by Zoom).

What local rules and orders change the process here?

Several District of Colorado rules shape the mechanics rather than the substance of your case.

Continuances run through the trustee, not the court. A request to continue the § 341 meeting must be in writing and served on the appointed trustee, who must receive it no later than seven days before the scheduled meeting; it is the trustee, not the court, who approves it, so the request should not be filed with the court. If the trustee consents, the debtor must immediately file a notice of continued meeting, serve it, and file a certificate of service. A continuance does not automatically extend the deadline to object to a discharge or to the dischargeability of a particular debt (D. Colo. L.B.R. 2003-1).

Two other orders matter to consumer filers. The court has authorized attorneys, staff and volunteers associated with the Federal Pro Se Clinic to provide short-term limited legal services to self-represented litigants, amending Local Bankruptcy Rule 9010-1(c)(3) to allow pro bono assistance under a nonprofit or court-approved program without signing documents (COB Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3). And in Chapter 13, the court sets a presumptively reasonable fee allowance for a debtor's attorney by standing order (COB GPO 2021-1).

What does it cost to file, and what if you cannot pay?

The Chapter 7 filing fee is $245 (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1)) and the Chapter 13 filing fee is $235 (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B)). On top of the statutory fee, an administrative fee of $78 is collected in both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases, and Chapter 7 cases carry an additional trustee payment of $15 (Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Items 8 and 9).

Every petition must be accompanied by the filing fee, and an individual debtor meets that requirement by paying in full, by filing an application to pay in installments (Official Form 103A), or by applying for a waiver of the Chapter 7 filing fee (Official Form 103B) (COB GPO 2014-4(a)). Paper petitions missing one of those three options are returned and no case is opened; electronic filers must designate a payment option at case opening.

A waiver application must include pay advices or other evidence of income from the 60 days before filing, plus completed Schedules I and J, and any order granting it is conditional and subject to further investigation (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1). Confirm current amounts on the court's Fees page before paying.

Which Colorado questions should you settle before filing?

Two pre-filing steps are near-universal for individual filers, and both are documented by this court.

First, credit counseling. The court warns that if you have not completed a United States Trustee approved pre-filing credit counseling course ending on the date your petition is filed, and you do not meet the narrow requirements for completing it afterward, your case will be dismissed and you will not receive a discharge. Voluntary petitions are rejected if counseling was not completed during the 180-day period ending on the filing date, unless a statutory exemption applies (COB official material — Credit Counseling is required BEFORE you file for Bankruptcy; COB official page — Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Courses).

Second, documents. Federal law requires an individual debtor to file a certificate from the approved credit counseling agency describing the services provided, along with schedules, a statement of financial affairs, and copies of payment advices received within 60 days before filing (11 U.S.C. § 521). This district requires those advices or a statement in substantial conformity with L.B.F. 1007-6.1 (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1007-6). The chapter-specific checklists live in the court's Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition Packets.

• Which exemption list applies to you, and on what conditions
• How much homestead equity Colorado protects, and under which rules
• What portion of wages Colorado shields from garnishment

Where can a Mineral County resident get help?

The court's own materials point to several routes. Its Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney describes the Colorado Bar Association's free Pro Se Bankruptcy Clinic, which gives limited scope legal advice by phone or video appointment to individuals without lawyers, counseling on eligibility, drafting petitions and schedules, court procedures and preparation for meetings of creditors. The same guide lists legal aid organizations, including Colorado Legal Services and Metro Volunteer Lawyers, and states that while you may be able to prosecute your own case, bankruptcy is a complex process and the court highly recommends retaining an attorney.

Be careful about paid non-attorney help. Petition preparers must follow 11 U.S.C. § 110, are barred by law from giving legal advice, cannot explain how to answer legal questions, and cannot receive payment from you for court fees; the court publishes a list of preparers barred in this district (COB official page — Bankruptcy Petition Preparers).

Arthur, the Bankruptcy.law AI Navigator, can walk through your situation and build a free roadmap. Where a participating firm covers this area, you can ask for an introduction.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to travel to Denver for my bankruptcy case?

Not for the meeting of creditors. All § 341 meetings in Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases in this district are held by Zoom, and the court instructs debtors, counsel and creditors not to appear in person. Other appearances depend on what happens in your case. Grand Junction and Pueblo are statutory places for holding court, meaning hearing locations, not separate county-based divisions.

Can I file my Mineral County case online without a lawyer?

Partly. Since June 2, 2025, the court's eSR module is authorized exclusively for self-represented individuals preparing voluntary Chapter 7 cases, but submitting a package through eSR does not file the petition or commence the case — the court opens a case only after receiving hand-signed originals of the eSR Signature and Declaration Form and Official Form B121 (COB GPO 2025-1). Self-represented parties may also apply to e-file through CM/ECF.

When will my meeting of creditors happen?

The District of Colorado states the meeting usually occurs between 21 and 50 days after the petition is filed, depending on the chapter. Federal law requires the United States trustee to convene it within a reasonable time after the order for relief, and bars the court from presiding at or attending it (11 U.S.C. § 341). In Chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases, the trustee assigned to your case conducts the meeting.

What happens if I cannot pay the filing fee all at once?

An individual debtor may apply to pay the filing fee in installments using Official Form 103A, or apply to have the Chapter 7 filing fee waived using Official Form 103B (COB GPO 2014-4(a)). A waiver application must include pay advices or other evidence of income from the 60 days before filing, plus completed Schedules I and J, and any order granting a waiver is conditional and subject to further investigation (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1).

Does this page cover Colorado's exemptions and wage protections?

No. Those questions are answered from Colorado-specific sources this packet does not include, so this page cannot answer them from the materials it relies on. Exemption choices, homestead conditions and wage protection are worth settling before you file, and the Colorado pages linked below address them. Nothing here should be read as a conclusion about what Colorado or federal law provides on those points.

Can someone who is not a lawyer prepare my petition for me?

A bankruptcy petition preparer may type information onto bankruptcy forms, which are available free from the courts. Preparers must comply with 11 U.S.C. § 110, must sign documents they prepare and furnish copies to you, and are barred by law from providing legal advice — they cannot explain how to answer legal questions or assist in court proceedings. They also cannot sign on your behalf or take payment from you for court fees.

Sources

• 28 U.S.C. § 1408
• 11 U.S.C. § 341 · official source
• 11 U.S.C. § 521 · official source
• COB GPO 2025-1 — In the Matter of Implementing Electronic Self Representation (eSR) for Self-represented, Individual Chapter 7 Debtors
• COB GPO 2026-1 — In the Matter of Implementing Filing for Certain Self-represented Parties
• COB official material — Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney
• 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) — In the Matter of Installment Payment Requests and Additional Delegation to the Clerk of the Court
• COB GPO 2021-1 — In the Matter of Chapter 13 Fee General Procedure Order
• COB Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3 — In the Matter of Federal Pro Se Clinic Operations
• COB official page — Fees
• COB official material — Credit Counseling is required BEFORE you file for Bankruptcy
• COB official page — Credit Counseling & Debtor Education Courses
• COB official page — Bankruptcy Petition Preparers
• COB official page — Chapter 7 Voluntary Petition Packet
• COB official page — Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition Packet

Related

• Build your personalised roadmap
• Find your local bankruptcy court
• The 341 Meeting of Creditors: What Actually Happens
• 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 →