FREE Bankruptcy Forms - Six Options
Free Bankruptcy Forms Download of all (over 390) official bankruptcy forms, schedules and instructions plus a Free Bonus Copy of the Bankruptcy Basic Pamphlet.
Filing a chapter 7, 11, 12, or 13 bankruptcy petition requires specific official federal forms and schedules and certain procedural forms as well. In addition, some bankruptcy courts require the filing of one or more local forms. These district and/or court-specific forms are usually available at the court house in hard-copy or from the court's web site in electronic copy. To find out if you need additional forms, call the clerk of the court and ask if you'll need any forms beyond the standard federal bankruptcy forms or see our state bankruptcy guides.
Option 1: Complete Bankruptcy Forms Package (Only $5)
The most complete package found anywhere for five bucks! It includes ALL Official Bankruptcy Forms for filing chapters 7, 11, 12 or 13 under the Bankruptcy Code plus all instructions, schedules, procedural forms and four special forms designed to help you avoid the Top 10 filing mistakes. (Note: forms comply with 2005 Act and all revisions for December 2007 and January 2008 and where allowed, forms are PDF fill-in and save format. This allows for saving and editing as needed.
Option 2: Get the FREE Basic Kit for Chapters 7 and 13 in one convenient package via E-mail using this Free Request Form
Note: The Basic Kit includes forms and instructions (30 in all) plus four additional documents to help you avoid these Top 10 Filing Mistakes The kit does NOT contain any procedural forms! See Kit Contents
Option 3: Download only the bankruptcy forms and procedural forms you need from this site: cost is FREE!
Option 4: Purchase pre-made kits from stationary stores. Costs range from $14.95 to $49.95 (not all stores carry bankruptcy forms, so consider calling ahead. These pre-made kits rarely include all forms and procedural forms and they must be filled out by hand. Consider making copies to practice on.)
Option 5: Download individual forms from the official government site: cost is free however, the forms are listed in alphabetical/numerical order, with no instructions explaining which forms go with which chapter of the bankruptcy code. Very confusing and time-consuming.
Option 6: Utilize one of the 8 million web sites that sell the forms: cost ranges from $12.95 per individual form to over $50 for a chapter-specific kit. Forms come in Word, Rich Text, and in PDF formats. Many are not the fill and save type which means you have to print and fill in manually. (Consider making copies to practice on)
WARNING! If you plan to file your personal bankruptcy on-line, then for security reasons, you should "flatten" the electronic file (i.e., make the field data indistinguishable from the rest of the text in the form). Do this by printing the form to PDF (can be done in Word) and file the resulting document.
Note: Don't be fooled by sites claiming you have to use state-specific forms. The federal bankruptcy code requires that all bankruptcy courts accept the official forms. In addition, the bankruptcy courts accept most homemade forms as long as they conform to the courts requirements. Put another way, many state courts develop their own forms for convenience, and post them on their websites, but they cannot reject your petition because you failed to use their forms.
See these additional resources elsewhere on this site:
- Bankruptcy Exemptions (see what you get to keep)
- List of Federal Bankruptcy Courts and their locations
Special Bankruptcy Instructions
After downloading the forms to your computer, print two or three copies of each form. Download the instructions for each form as well and, using the first copy for practice, follow the instructions. After you've filled out a complete practice set of forms, transfer the information to fresh forms for filing with the court. Your goal is to file a petition that is clear and legible, has no mistakes and includes all the necessary forms.
Instructions for some of the forms are unavailable because they are under revision. The revised instructions will be posted as they become available.
To enhance usability, some of the forms can be filled in electronically. After completion, such "fillable forms" should be printed and filed by using the "print" button at the bottom of the form. If additional space is needed to complete a field in a fillable form, use a separate sheet of paper and include the case name, case number (if known), and a description or the number of the field being continued.
Warning for electronic filers: Certain versions of Adobe Acrobat and other PDF editing software allow the user to save a fillable form after data has been entered, and edit that information at a future date. If a form with saved data is filed electronically, (by someone with internet filing privileges in CM/ECF), the data can be easily extracted. To "flatten" the electronic file (i.e., to make the field data indistinguishable from the rest of the text in the form), "print" the form to PDF (using the print dialogue box), and file the resulting document.
FREE Bonus
Bankruptcy Basics is an information-packed pamphlet written in plain easy-to-understand language. With over 60 pages, it provides a wealth of information to debtors, creditors, court personnel, the media, and the general public on different aspects of the federal bankruptcy laws. Produced by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, it covers:
Introduction to Bankruptcy
The Discharge in Bankruptcy
Chapter 7. Liquidation Under the Bankruptcy Code
Chapter 13. Individual Debt Adjustment
Chapter 11. Reorganization Under the Bankruptcy Code
Chapter 12. Family Farmer Bankruptcy
Chapter 9. Municipality Bankruptcy
SIPA. Securities Investor Protection Act
Bankruptcy Terminology