Credit Counseling

• The U.S. Bankruptcy Code requires consumers to seek credit counseling in advance of filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition.
  
  

Means Test

• A debtor considering filing for bankruptcy must also complete a "means test" analyzing income and necessary expenses to determine if bankruptcy is necessary.
  
  

Filing Fee

• The local bankruptcy rules in Nevada set filing fees in 2009 for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case at $299 and $274 for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. The court clerk provides up to date information on fees.
  
  

Petition

• A petition must be filed by the debtor to commence a case. A petition form can be downloaded from the Nevada Bankruptcy Court's website at nvb.uscourts.gov.
  
  

Warning

• Although pursuing a bankruptcy without a lawyer is permissible, the court recommends a debtor hire an attorney. The Court provides a list of bankruptcy attorneys at its website.