US Bankruptcy Forms
Should you be determined to "go the bankruptcy process alone" you may file a bankruptcy petition without being represented by an attorney. You can access bankruptcy forms below or, if you wish, access your Bankruptcy Forms through the Clerk's office which also offers typing, paralegal and "bankruptcy petition preparers" services.
Find a Bankruptcy Court Clerk's Office near you, these people can assist you in filling out bankruptcy forms but are prohibited from giving you legal advice.
Chapter Specific U.S. Bankruptcy Forms
Dependent upon the Chapter of the Bankruptcy Code you will be filing under, you can access the appropriate bankruptcy documents by following the chapter specific bankruptcy links below. Clear instructions to assist you in completing the bankruptcy forms correctly has been provided.
- Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Forms
- Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Forms
- Chapter 12 Bankruptcy Forms
- Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Forms
Or if you prefer, you can navigate directly to our Individual State Bankruptcy Forms pages.
Bankruptcy Forms
For all Types of US Bankruptcy Cases...
In addition to the forms listed above, the following local forms must also be filed:
- A mailing matrix (a list of the companies or individuals that you owe money to and their mailing addresses)
- A verification of the mailing matrix
- If applicable for chapter 7, 11 or 13, an application to pay the filing fee in installments
As of December 1, 2003, a Form B-21 is required disclosing the full social security number of the debtor. These bankruptcy forms are required for all new cases regardless of the chapter under which you are filing.
Please assemble the documents in the order in which they are listed in the Chapter Bankruptcy Forms Sections above. Keep in mind that only the original bankruptcy petition and supporting forms must be filed. Copies are no longer necessary. Likewise, only an original mailing matrix is required.
"Fast Track" Filing for Bankruptcy in the U.S.
If you need to start your case quickly and do not have time to fill out all the supporting documents, you may file your voluntary petition (both pages), a list of creditors (in lieu of the schedules) and your mailing matrix with the accompanying verification. The remaining supporting documents, usually the Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs, must be filed within fifteen (15) days.
The second page of your petition is a signature page which requires your original signature as well as the original signature of any non-attorney petition preparer assisting you in any way with the preparation of your petition or any of the schedules or statements that are/or will be filed to support it.
Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs
In addition to the Petition and Mailing Matrix, more detailed documents must also be filed. These documents, with the exception of the List of the 20 Largest Unsecured Creditors in a Chapter 11 case, must be filed within 15 days of the filing of the bankruptcy petition.
Failure to file the required support documents within 15 days of the filing of your bankruptcy petition may result in the dismissal of your case.
Certificate of Service
When you file a motion or pleading with the Court, you must file a Certificate of Service. A Certificate of Service is simply your written statement that you have provided a copy of the pleading to the respondent and other interested parties in your case.
A Certificate of Service must list the name and address of each person and attorney being served with the motion and also the name of the party or parties that an attorney represents. The certificate of service must specifically state whether all creditors have been served and must list the names and addresses of the parties served.
You should also indicate by what means you forwarded a copy of the pleadings to the other parties, for example, via first class postage pre-paid mail, facsimile, etc. Even when you file a document by facsimile transmission, you must still submit a certificate of service with the pleading.
Filing a Certificate of Service with your pleadings is very important. The Court may deny the relief you seek in a pleading if you do not file a Certificate of Service.
Mailing Matrix
Prepare your Mailing Matrix (the mailing list of your creditors) according to the matrix formatting instructions which can be found in the Mailing Matrix section of this web site.
Most Clerks' Offices uses an optical character reader. If you do not follow the instructions exactly, the scanner will not be able to read the matrix correctly. The Clerk's Office will reject any matrix that does not conform to the proper format.
Proofs of Claim
If there are no assets in a chapter 7 case, it is not necessary for creditors to file a Proof of Claim unless notified by the court to do so. In chapter 7 asset cases and in chapter 13 cases, creditors must file their proofs of claim within ninety (90) days of the first date set for the meeting of creditors under Section 341, unless that date has been extended by the Court.
The Clerk's Office does not verify the receipt of a Proof of Claim by telephone. To verify that it has been received, the creditor must provide an extra copy at the time of filing along with a self-address, stamped return envelope. The file-stamped copy of the Proof of Claim will be mailed back to the creditor.
Adversary Cases
To file an Adversary Proceeding you must file an original complaint, a summons for each defendant, and an adversary cover sheet. The filing fee is $150, unless the debtor is the plaintiff in which case the fee does not apply.
Should it be decided that you have cause to file an Adversary Case, one must consider engaging the services of an Experienced Litigation Attorney.
Filing Motions
Motions and pleadings should be accompanied by a Certificate of Service, a Notice of Opportunity to Object, and a Proposed Order which lists the parties to be served. The documents filed should be printed on 8.5" X 11" paper.
Payment of Bankruptcy Filing Fees
Payment of filing fees or miscellaneous fees can be made by exact change in cash or by money order or an attorney's business check made payable to "Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court". Personal checks are not accepted.
You may pay the filing fee by cash, money order, or certified bank check. The Clerk's Office does not accept personal checks. There is a provision to pay your fees in installments. Go to our Application and Order to Pay Filing Fee in Installments.
NOTE: The court may dismiss your case and prevent you from filing a new case for 180 days if you fail to file the additional required documents on time (or fail to obtain an extension of time to do so).
Make sure you put a response to every question on the forms. If your answer is "none" or "not applicable," make sure you indicate that in writing. Use continuation pages if you run out of room. Make sure you sign each form where required. If you are filing a joint case, make sure that your spouse also signs.
US Bankruptcy Filing Locations
You may file bankruptcy petitions, pleadings, and other papers by mail or in person at the Clerk's Office. Submit all documents for filing during business hours. When extraordinary, compelling circumstances require delivery of a document to the Clerk's Office after hours, you can arrange for an emergency filing by contacting the appropriate Clerk's Office during business hours.
After completing and assembling the original and all copies of your bankruptcy petition, mail or deliver them to the appropriate Clerk's Office accompanied by the filing fee payment. If you cannot pay the entire fee at once, you may complete an application to pay the filing fee in installments. The Court may approve installment payments under certain circumstances, as governed by Federal Rule of Bankruptcy Procedure 1006(b). Installment payments are limited to individual debtors who have not made any payments for services in connection with the case.
The Clerk's Office will file stamp and return one copy of your bankruptcy petition to you. If you mail your petition, you must include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage and of sufficient size to obtain your file-stamped copy.
Find a Bankruptcy Court Clerk's Office near you.
Navigate directly to our Individual State Bankruptcy Forms pages, for more information about bankruptcy forms in your state of residence.
Learn more about Individual State Bankruptcy Law, Code and Exemptions.
