Where to get the forms
All official bankruptcy forms are free at uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms. Never pay for forms -- they are public documents. Your court may also require local forms from its website.
Do not use outdated forms. Forms are updated periodically. Always download the latest version. Filing on outdated forms can result in rejection.
Core forms for Chapter 7
| Form | Name | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Voluntary Petition | Name, address, SSN, chapter, prior filings |
| 106A/B | Schedule A/B: Property | Everything you own -- real estate, vehicles, bank accounts, personal property |
| 106C | Schedule C: Exemptions | Property claimed as exempt from liquidation |
| 106D | Schedule D: Secured | Mortgages, car loans, secured debts |
| 106E/F | Schedule E/F: Unsecured | Credit cards, medical bills, priority debts |
| 106G | Schedule G: Contracts | Leases, service contracts |
| 106H | Schedule H: Codebtors | Anyone jointly responsible for your debts |
| 106I | Schedule I: Income | Current monthly income from all sources |
| 106J | Schedule J: Expenses | Current monthly expenditures |
| 106Dec | Declaration | Signature under penalty of perjury |
| 107 | Financial Affairs | Income, payments, transfers, lawsuits, gifts |
| 122A-1 | Means Test (Income) | Current monthly income vs state median |
| 122A-2 | Means Test (Full) | Full calculation if income exceeds median |
Tips for completing the forms
- Be thorough: List every asset, every debt, every income source. Omissions can deny your discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 727(a)(4).
- Use your credit reports as a checklist: Pull all three from annualcreditreport.com and cross-reference every account.
- Err on disclosure: When unsure whether to list something, list it. Over-disclosure is far safer than under-disclosure.
- Double-check addresses: The court notifies creditors using your schedules. Wrong addresses mean missed notices.
- Research your state's exemptions: Schedule C is critical. Each state has its own exemption scheme. Some allow choosing between state and federal exemptions.
- Use the instructions: Each form has official instructions. Read them carefully before filling out the form.
Free preparation tools exist. Upsolve offers a free Chapter 7 preparation tool for income-qualifying filers. Some courts provide fillable PDFs with built-in calculations. Check your court's pro se resources page.