If unsecured debt is crushing you (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, payday loans), Chapter 7 is the federal tool built to give you a clean slate. We file Chapter 7 cases across Idaho on a flat-fee basis: one number, quoted up front, with no hourly surprises.
What Chapter 7 actually does
Chapter 7 is a court-supervised liquidation of unsecured debt. In practice, for most Idahoans, almost nothing gets liquidated, because Idaho's exemptions protect the home, car, retirement, and household goods that real families actually own. What gets wiped out is the debt.
The moment we file your case, an automatic stay takes effect. By federal law, your creditors must stop calling, garnishing wages, suing, and collecting. About 90 days later, the bankruptcy court issues a discharge order: the debts are permanently wiped out, and the creditors are barred from ever collecting on them again.
Who qualifies in Idaho
Qualification turns on the Idaho means test, which compares your household's six-month average income to the state median. If you're below the median, you qualify automatically. If you're above, we run the long-form calculation, and most people still qualify after legitimate expenses are deducted.
We'll run the math for you at your free consultation. If Chapter 7 isn't the right fit, we'll tell you, and walk through whether Chapter 13 or a non-bankruptcy solution would serve you better.
What you keep
- Your home. Idaho's homestead exemption protects up to $175,000 of equity in your primary residence. The vast majority of Idaho homeowners are fully protected.
- Your vehicle. Idaho protects a substantial amount of vehicle equity. If your car is financed and you stay current, you keep it.
- Retirement accounts. 401(k), IRA, pension, Social Security: all fully protected.
- Household goods, clothing, tools of trade. Protected up to statutory limits that comfortably cover normal household belongings.
What gets wiped out
- Credit card balances
- Medical debt, every cent of it
- Personal loans, payday loans, and signature loans
- Repossession deficiency balances
- Most lawsuit judgments
- Old utility bills, gym memberships, and most collection accounts
What doesn't go away
- Recent tax debt (the rules vary; we review yours at the consultation)
- Child support and alimony
- Most federal student loans
- Debts incurred through fraud
- Secured debts you want to keep, like a mortgage or car loan, as long as you keep paying them
Timeline
- Day 0: Initial call. Free, confidential.
- Days 1–14: Document gathering and pre-filing credit counseling course.
- Day 14–21: We file. Automatic stay kicks in. Calls stop.
- Day ~45: 341 meeting of creditors. We attend with you. Usually 5 minutes.
- Day ~90: Discharge order. Debt is gone.
Cost
The court filing fee is $338. Our attorney fee is a single flat number, quoted to your specific case at your free consultation, with no hourly billing and no surprise charges for amendments or motions. Every case is different, so we give you a real number once we understand your situation.