San Miguel County, Colorado

Which bankruptcy court hears a case from San Miguel County?

A San Miguel County case is filed in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado. Colorado constitutes one judicial district, administered from the sole clerk's office and divisional seat at Denver. Because the district is undivided, there is no county-by-county division assignment; cases are assigned to judges by random selection district-wide to the extent possible, and Grand Junction and Pueblo function as statutory places for holding court rather than as divisions that claim particular counties.

Venue is a separate question from geography. Under 28 U.S.C. § 1408, a case may be commenced in the district where your domicile, residence, principal place of business in the United States, or principal assets in the United States were located for the 180 days before filing, or for a longer part of that period than anywhere else — so a recent move or a business elsewhere can change the answer, and current residence alone is not the whole rule.

• Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado, administered from Denver
• Judge assignment: random selection district-wide (L.B.R. 1073-1), not by county
• Venue test: the greater part of 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 a Filing Without an Attorney page listing the forms required to start a case. The guide states that any reference in the Colorado Local Bankruptcy Rules to "attorney" applies to you if you are filing on your own, and that court staff are prohibited from giving advice about your rights in a case. It also says that while you may be able to prosecute your own case, bankruptcy is complex and the court highly recommends retaining counsel.

Several district-specific mechanisms exist for self-represented filers. General Procedure Order 2025-01 authorizes an Electronic Self Representation (eSR) module on the court's website for self-represented individuals preparing voluntary chapter 7 petitions, and General Procedure Order 2026-01 adds a Self-represented E-Filing Application allowing individual debtors, creditors and adversary parties to request CM/ECF filing privileges.

• Local rule references to "attorney" apply to you when you file on your own (Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney)
• eSR submission is not itself a filing — the case opens only after the clerk receives hand-signed originals of the eSR Signature and Declaration Form and Official Form B121 (COB GPO 2025-1)
• Joint debtors must both seek permission to file electronically (COB GPO 2026-1)
• Filed documents must carry your name, address, telephone number and email below the signature line (D. Colo. L.B.R. 9011-4)

How does the meeting of creditors work in this district?

Under 11 U.S.C. § 341(a), the United States trustee convenes and presides at a meeting of creditors after the order for relief, and the court may not preside at or attend it. The District of Colorado's official page states the meeting is a hearing all debtors must attend, that it is held outside the judge's presence, and that in chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases the trustee assigned to the case conducts it.

The district's published practice is remote. All section 341 meetings of creditors are held by Zoom for chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases, and the court states that debtors, counsel, creditors and parties in interest should not appear in person. Because the format is virtual, there is no 341 location for San Miguel County residents to travel to.

If the date does not work, Local Bankruptcy Rule 2003-1 governs continuances: a debtor's written request must reach the appointed trustee no later than seven days before the scheduled meeting, and it is the trustee — not the court — who approves it.

• A continuance does not automatically extend the deadlines to object to discharge or dischargeability (D. Colo. L.B.R. 2003-1)
• If the trustee consents, the debtor must immediately file and serve a notice of continued meeting

What local rules and orders change the process here?

Several District of Colorado orders shape what a filer actually experiences. Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3 amended Local Bankruptcy Rule 9010-1(c)(3) so that an attorney may provide pro bono services and advice through a nonprofit or court-approved program without signing documents, entering an appearance, or representing the person on an ongoing basis — the rule that allows the Federal Pro Se Clinic to help bankruptcy filers at all.

Payment procedure is also local. General Procedure Order 2014-4(a) requires every voluntary petition to be accompanied by full payment, an installment application, or a fee waiver application, and authorizes the clerk to reject or dismiss filings that do not satisfy one of those options. General Procedure Order 2015-1 stays automatic dismissal for nonpayment for 180 days where the trustee has filed a Notice of Possible Dividends.

Chapter 13 filers use a district-wide plan form, Local Bankruptcy Form 3015-1.1, listed in the court's Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition Packet.

• Paper petitions missing a payment option are returned and no case is opened (COB GPO 2014-4(a))
• A fee waiver application must include pay advices or L.B.F. 1007-6.1, plus completed Schedules I and J (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1)
• Petition preparers may not give legal advice and must sign and identify themselves on documents they prepare (COB official page — Bankruptcy Petition Preparers)

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

The statutory filing fee is $245 for a chapter 7 case (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1)) and $235 for a chapter 13 case (28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B)). A $78 administrative fee is collected on top of each (Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8), and chapter 7 cases also carry a $15 trustee payment (Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 9).

An individual debtor who cannot pay at filing may apply to pay in installments using Official Form 103A, or, in a chapter 7 case only, apply for a waiver using Official Form 103B (D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1). The court's Chapter 7 Fee Waivers page explains the waiver standard: income less than 150 percent of the official poverty line for the family size involved, and inability to pay in installments, with the burden on the debtor.

The court accepts installment payments by debit card, PayPal or ACH through its Online Payments page; confirm current amounts there before paying.

Which Colorado questions should you settle before filing?

Two things are worth settling before you file, and the first is credit counseling. The court's published warning states that if you have not completed the required United States Trustee approved pre-filing credit counseling course ending on the date your petition is filed, and you do not meet the requirements for an extension, your case will be dismissed and you will not receive a discharge. The court adds that most debtors will not be able to meet the narrow exception because counseling is readily available in this district.

The second is your property picture. Colorado filers face choices about which exemption list applies, how the homestead conditions work, and how much of a paycheck wage protection reaches. This packet of court documents does not supply those state-law amounts, so this page cannot answer them from the supplied sources — that is a limit of the evidence here, not a statement that the law is silent. The Colorado pages linked below address those questions directly.

• Complete counseling before filing, and file the certificate with or soon after your petition (COB official material — Credit Counseling is required BEFORE you file for Bankruptcy)
• Schedule C is where you claim exempt property (COB official page — Chapter 7 Voluntary Petition Packet)

Where can a San Miguel County resident get help?

The court's own Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney names free and lower-cost options based on income and assets, including Colorado Legal Services, Metro Volunteer Lawyers, Southwest Bar Volunteer Legal Aid, and Weld County Legal Services, and notes that more resources are available through the Colorado Bar Association. The same guide describes the Colorado Bar Association's Pro Se Bankruptcy Clinic, which offers limited scope legal advice by phone or video appointment on eligibility, drafting petitions and schedules, court procedures and preparation for meetings of creditors. The court's Filing Without an Attorney page also points to a Colorado Legal Help Center. Availability and intake procedures change, so check each organization directly.

If you would rather talk it through first, Arthur, the Bankruptcy.law AI Navigator, can walk you through your situation and build a free personalised roadmap. If you then want a local firm, we can ask for your consent and pass your details to one admitted in the District of Colorado.

• Court staff cannot advise you on your rights in a case (Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney)
• Limited scope clinic help is permitted without the attorney entering an appearance (COB Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3)

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to travel to Denver to file or attend my meeting?

Not for the meeting of creditors. The District of Colorado holds all section 341 meetings by Zoom in chapter 7, 12 and 13 cases and states that debtors and creditors should not appear in person. For filing, unrepresented parties may file in person with the clerk's office, by mail, or electronically once the court grants a Self-represented E-Filing Application under General Procedure Order 2026-01.

Does San Miguel County have its own division or assigned judge?

No. Colorado constitutes one judicial district with a single clerk's office and divisional seat at Denver, and Local Bankruptcy Rule 1073-1 provides that cases are assigned to judges by random selection to the extent possible. Grand Junction and Pueblo are statutory places for holding court — hearing locations — rather than divisions that claim particular counties, so no county-level assignment applies.

What happens if I submit my petition through the court's eSR tool?

Submitting an eSR petition package does not itself file a petition or commence a case. Under General Procedure Order 2025-01, 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 for each debtor. The eSR module is authorized exclusively for self-represented individuals preparing voluntary chapter 7 cases.

Can I file if I have not finished credit counseling?

The court's published warning says a case filed without completed pre-filing counseling will be dismissed unless you meet a narrow statutory exception requiring that you tried to get counseling within a five-day period ending on the filing date, that exigent circumstances existed, and that you file a certification with your petition. The court states most debtors cannot meet those conditions because counseling is readily available here.

Can a non-attorney prepare my bankruptcy paperwork?

A bankruptcy petition preparer may type information onto bankruptcy forms, which are available free online. The District of Colorado states preparers are barred by law from providing legal advice, cannot explain how to answer legal questions or assist in court proceedings, must sign and identify themselves on documents they prepare, and cannot receive payment from you for court fees. The court publishes a list of preparers barred in this district.

What if I cannot pay the filing fee when I file?

Every voluntary petition must arrive with full payment, an installment application, or a fee waiver application; a paper petition missing all three is returned and no case is opened. Individual debtors apply for installments on Official Form 103A. Chapter 7 debtors may apply for a waiver on Official Form 103B, which must include pay advices and completed Schedules I and J under Local Bankruptcy Rule 1006-1.

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
• 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 page — 341 Meetings of Creditors by Zoom
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 2003-1 — Continuance of Meeting of Creditors and Equity Security Holders
• COB official material — Guide for Debtors Filing Bankruptcy Without an Attorney
• COB official page — Filing Without an Attorney
• COB GPO 2025-1
• COB GPO 2026-1
• COB Administrative Order of the Chief Judge 2020-3
• COB GPO 2014-4(a)
• COB GPO 2015-1
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 1006-1 — Installment Payments and Filing Fee Waivers
• D. Colo. L.B.R. 9011-4 — Signatures and Contact Information
• COB official page — Chapter 7 Fee Waivers
• COB official page — Online Payments
• COB official material — Credit Counseling is required BEFORE you file for Bankruptcy
• COB official page — Bankruptcy Petition Preparers
• COB official page — Chapter 13 Voluntary Petition Packet
• COB official page — Chapter 7 Voluntary Petition Packet
• 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(A), (f)(1) · official source
• 28 U.S.C. § 1930(a)(1)(B) · official source
• Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 8
• Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule, Item 9

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
• Find a Bankruptcy Lawyer by State

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 →