To file for bankruptcy in Nevada, you complete an approved credit counseling briefing, decide between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 based on your income, prepare a petition and schedules listing your debts, assets, and finances, and submit the package to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada in either Las Vegas or Reno. Nevada’s exemption laws then determine what you keep: up to $605,000 in home equity, $15,000 in one vehicle, retirement accounts, and more. A straightforward Chapter 7 wraps up in roughly four months; Chapter 13 runs on a three- to five-year repayment plan.
Pick Your Chapter Before Anything Else
Your income largely dictates which chapter is available to you, and the choice shapes every step after.
Chapter 7 erases most unsecured debts, including credit cards, medical bills, and personal loans, in about four months. A court-appointed trustee reviews your assets, sells anything Nevada’s exemptions do not cover, and distributes the proceeds. In practice, most Chapter 7 cases in Nevada are “no-asset” cases because exemptions cover everything the filer owns. To qualify, you must pass the means test, which compares your household income to Nevada’s median.
Chapter 13 lets you keep all your property in exchange for a three- to five-year repayment plan. Below-median income usually means a three-year baseline plan; at or above the median, the plan runs up to five years.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 1322 – Contents of Plan Chapter 13 is usually the better option for homeowners behind on mortgage payments because the plan lets you catch up on arrears while keeping the house. It has its own eligibility ceiling: total debts must fall under federal limits that Congress adjusts periodically, so confirm the current cap with the court or an attorney before filing.
Nevada Median Income Thresholds
For cases filed on or after November 1, 2025:2U.S. Department of Justice. Census Bureau Median Family Income by Family Size
- 1 person: $70,370
- 2 people: $85,660
- 3 people: $99,032
- 4 people: $111,184
- Each additional person: add $11,100
Below the applicable threshold, you pass the means test and can file Chapter 7. Above it, a detailed expense analysis decides whether Chapter 7 is still available.
Complete Credit Counseling First
Federal law requires a briefing with an approved nonprofit credit counseling agency within the 180 days before your filing date.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 109 – Who May Be a Debtor Sessions run 60 to 90 minutes, cover alternatives to bankruptcy, and can be done by phone or online. Agencies charge a fee but must provide the briefing at no cost if you cannot afford it. You receive a certificate at the end, and you file it with your petition. No certificate, no case.
Gather Your Documents
Paperwork is the slowest part of filing. Accuracy matters: an unlisted asset can create legal problems, and a creditor with a wrong address will not receive notice of your case.
The filing package includes:
- The Petition (Official Form 101), with your identifying information, chosen chapter, and any prior filing history.4United States Courts. Official Form 101 – Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy
- Asset schedules listing everything you own at realistic current values, so the court can match each item against your claimed exemptions.
- A complete creditor list with current mailing addresses and account numbers.
- Income and expense statements (Forms 106I and 106J).
- Means test forms: 122A-1 (and 122A-2 if needed) for Chapter 7, or 122C for Chapter 13.
- Your credit counseling certificate.
- Pay stubs from the last 60 days.
- Federal tax returns for the last four tax years.
Failure to file required tax returns can get your case dismissed, and Chapter 13 filers must stay current on taxes throughout the plan.5Internal Revenue Service. Declaring Bankruptcy All official forms are free on the U.S. Courts website.
Where to File in Nevada
You submit everything to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Nevada. The office depends on your county:6United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Nevada. Where to File for Bankruptcy
- Las Vegas (300 Las Vegas Blvd. South): Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, and Nye counties.
- Reno (300 Booth Street): Carson City, Churchill, Douglas, Elko, Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lyon, Mineral, Pershing, Storey, Washoe, and White Pine counties.
Attorneys file electronically through the court’s CM/ECF system. Self-represented filers typically submit the packet in person or by mail.
Filing fees are $338 for Chapter 7 and $313 for Chapter 13. If your household income falls below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, you can apply for a fee waiver; otherwise, you can request to pay in installments. Attorney fees for a straightforward Chapter 7 generally run $800 to $3,000, with Chapter 13 costing more because of ongoing plan administration.
What Happens After You File
The moment your petition reaches the clerk, the automatic stay takes effect. It halts most collection activity against you, including lawsuits, wage garnishment, foreclosure, repossession, and creditor calls.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 362 – Automatic Stay It does not stop family court proceedings involving child support, custody, visitation, or domestic violence, and criminal cases also continue normally.
About 30 days after filing, the court holds a meeting of creditors, often called the 341 meeting.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 341 – Meetings of Creditors and Equity Security Holders Creditors rarely attend. The trustee places you under oath and asks about the information in your petition, your income, recent transactions, and any property transfers in the past two years. Bring a government-issued photo ID and proof of your Social Security number.
In Chapter 7, the trustee decides whether any non-exempt assets exist to liquidate. In a no-asset case, a discharge order typically enters about 60 days after the meeting. In Chapter 13, the trustee reviews your proposed plan, may negotiate adjustments, and the court then holds a confirmation hearing. Once confirmed, you pay the trustee monthly for three to five years.
Before any discharge issues, you must complete a financial management course from an approved provider.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 727 – Discharge This is a separate requirement from the pre-filing credit counseling. Skipping it means no discharge.
What Nevada Lets You Keep
Nevada is an opt-out state, which means you use Nevada’s exemption laws rather than the federal list. Getting these right is the difference between keeping your home and car or losing them.
Homestead
Up to $605,000 in equity in your primary residence is protected, including a mobile home.10Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes 115.010 – Exemption From Sale If you owe $300,000 on a home worth $850,000, your $550,000 in equity is fully shielded.
Vehicle, Household Goods, and Tools
One motor vehicle is exempt up to $15,000 in equity; recreational vehicles, boats, and extra cars do not qualify. Household goods, furniture, appliances, electronics, clothing, and yard equipment share a combined $12,000 exemption. Private libraries, artwork, musical instruments, and jewelry share a separate $5,000 exemption. Family pictures and keepsakes are fully exempt with no dollar cap. Professional tools, equipment, supplies, and books are protected up to $10,000.11Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 21 – Enforcement of Judgments
Wildcard
A $10,000 wildcard exemption covers any personal property not protected by another category, which is how most filers shield cash, bank accounts, and stocks.11Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 21 – Enforcement of Judgments
Retirement Accounts and Public Benefits
Tax-exempt retirement plans such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and defined benefit plans are protected, along with public employee retirement benefits. Social Security, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, and public assistance are also exempt.11Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 21 – Enforcement of Judgments
The 730-Day Residency Rule
To claim Nevada’s exemptions, you must have lived in the state for at least 730 days (roughly two years) before filing. If you moved more recently, the court applies the exemptions of the state where you lived during the 180 days before that two-year window. If that leaves you with no eligible exemptions, you can fall back on the federal list.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 11 USC 522 – Exemptions
Debts That Survive Bankruptcy
Not everything gets wiped out. Several categories of debt survive both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 discharges:13United States Courts. Chapter 7 – Bankruptcy Basics
- Child support and alimony, under any circumstances.
- Recent income taxes and taxes where a return was filed late or fraudulently.
- Government-backed student loans, unless you prove “undue hardship” in a separate adversary proceeding, a notoriously difficult standard.
- Debts from injuries you caused while driving under the influence.
- Court-ordered criminal restitution.
- Debts obtained through fraud or misrepresentation, if a creditor files a timely challenge in the bankruptcy case.
If most of what you owe sits in these categories, bankruptcy may cost you time and money without delivering real relief. Take stock of your debt mix before you commit to filing.