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- 1). Complete an approved credit counseling course. This may be done over the telephone, online or in person. A list of approved providers is available in the bankruptcy clerk’s office in your district. Once you choose a company, a trained counselor will review your financial information with you to determine if bankruptcy is your best option. Upon completion of the course, you will be provided with a certificate to file with your bankruptcy petition.
- 2). Prepare the petition, verification of creditor matrix, and matrix. These are the documents that you file with the court to begin the bankruptcy process. These forms are available online at the United States Courts’ website.
- 3). File the petition, verification of creditor matrix, and matrix with the bankruptcy clerk’s office in your district. You may either do this in person or by mailing the completed documents to the clerk’s office. At the time of filing, you will also have to pay a filing fee, request that the fee be waived, or request that the fee be paid in installments. These requests are filed in writing and the forms are available online and at the local clerk’s office. The fees, if not waived, must be paid by cash or certified funds.
- 4). File schedules, statements and other supporting documentation within 15 days of filing the petition. Many debtors choose to file these documents at the same time as the petition, but if you wait, they must be filed within 15 days of the original filing. Just as with the petition, the required forms are available on the United States Courts’ website.
- 5). Attend the creditors meeting. After you file, a meeting will be scheduled in which the bankruptcy trustee has the opportunity to ask you questions, as do any creditors that attend. Once this is complete, simply abide by all the rules set forth to you by the trustee’s office.
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