Bankruptcy Petition - Chapter 13

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

FOR THE [EASTERN | WESTERN] DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

CHAPTER 13 VOLUNTARY PETITION & PLAN PACKAGE

(Comprehensive Attorney‐Use Template)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Document Header
2. Definitions
3. Voluntary Petition (Official Form 101)
4. Certificate of Credit Counseling (Official Form 101, Part 5)
5. Verification of Creditor Matrix (Local Form)
6. Schedules Summary (Official Form 106Sum)
7. Schedules A/B–J (Official Forms 106A/B through 106J)
8. Declaration About an Individual Debtor’s Schedules (Official Form 106Dec)
9. Statement of Financial Affairs (Official Form 107)
10. Chapter 13 Statement of Current Monthly Income (Official Form 122C-1)
11. Chapter 13 Calculation of Disposable Income (Official Form 122C-2)
12. Chapter 13 Plan (Missouri Local Form 13)
13. Plan-Related Certifications (if applicable)
14. Attorney Compensation Disclosure (Local Rule 2016-1)
15. Signature/Execution Block

1. DOCUMENT HEADER

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
FOR THE [EASTERN | WESTERN] DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

In re: ) Chapter 13
)
[DEBTOR FULL NAME] ) Case No. ___-______-___
[Joint Debtor Full Name] ) (To be assigned by Clerk)
)
Debtor(s). )

Effective Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Governing Law: 11 U.S.C. §§ 101 et seq. (the “Bankruptcy Code”) and Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure (“FRBP”); supplemented by Local Rules of the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Missouri (“MO L.B.R.”).

2. DEFINITIONS

(Alphabetical; delete terms not used.)

• “Automatic Stay” – The injunction arising under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) upon the Petition Date.
• “Chapter 13 Plan” or “Plan” – The payment and distribution proposal filed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. §§ 1321–1326 and MO L.B.R. 3015-1.
• “Petition Date” – The date this Voluntary Petition is filed with the Clerk.
• “Trustee” – The standing Chapter 13 Trustee appointed for the [EASTERN | WESTERN] District of Missouri.
• “Unsecured Base” – Aggregate amount payable to allowed unsecured claims under § 1325(b)(1)(B).

3. VOLUNTARY PETITION (OFFICIAL FORM 101)

[INSERT OFFICIAL FORM 101 HERE — replicate official headings and numbering exactly. Populate each field with bracketed placeholders, e.g.:

• Part 1: Identify the Debtor
– Debtor Name: [DEBTOR FULL LEGAL NAME]
– All other names used in past 8 years: [LIST / NONE]
– Social Security No.: [XXX-XX-____] (enter last 4 digits only for public copy)
– Residential Address: [STREET, CITY, COUNTY, MO ZIP]
– Mailing Address (if different): [...]

Continue through Part 8. Ensure both debtors sign if joint case. Include required statistical/administrative information (estimated assets/liabilities, filing fee disclosure, etc.).]

4. CERTIFICATE OF CREDIT COUNSELING (OFFICIAL FORM 101, PART 5)

• Provider: [APPROVED AGENCY NAME]
• Certificate Date: [MM/DD/YYYY] (must be within 180 days pre-petition per 11 U.S.C. § 109(h)(1)).
• Certificate Attached: ☐ Yes ☐ No (If “No,” explain exigent circumstances and request temporary waiver in Part 5.)

5. VERIFICATION OF CREDITOR MATRIX (LOCAL FORM)

“I, the undersigned debtor or attorney for debtor, declare under penalty of perjury that the attached Master Mailing Matrix, consisting of ☐ page(s), is complete, correct, and consistent with the debtor’s schedules.”

Signature: _______________________ Date: ___________

6. SCHEDULES SUMMARY (OFFICIAL FORM 106Sum)

Populate asset/liability totals drawn from Schedules A/B–J. Verify mathematical accuracy—errors trigger deficiency notice under FRBP 1007(i).

7. SCHEDULES A/B–J

Attach Official Forms 106A/B (Property), 106C (Exemptions – use Missouri exemption statutes, not federal, unless opted), 106D (Secured Claims), 106E/F (Unsecured Claims), 106G (Executory Contracts/Leases), 106H (Co-Debtors), 106I (Income), and 106J (Expenses).

8. DECLARATION ABOUT AN INDIVIDUAL DEBTOR’S SCHEDULES (OFFICIAL FORM 106Dec)

Both spouses must sign if joint filing.

9. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS (OFFICIAL FORM 107)

Answer every question completely. Incomplete SOFAs are the most common deficiency noted by the Trustee.

10. CHAPTER 13 STATEMENT OF CURRENT MONTHLY INCOME (OFFICIAL FORM 122C-1)

Calculate “Current Monthly Income” (CMI) and median-income comparison for Missouri. Indicate whether the commitment period is 36 or 60 months (§ 1325(b)(4)).

11. CHAPTER 13 CALCULATION OF DISPOSABLE INCOME (OFFICIAL FORM 122C-2)

Complete only if CMI exceeds state median. Attach detailed expense deductions.

12. CHAPTER 13 PLAN (MISSOURI LOCAL FORM 13)

[Insert the most recent MO Local Form 13 template. Key customizable sections appear below. Bold headings reflect Local Form numbering; retain form’s exact layout to ensure court acceptance.]

Part 1. Notices

1.1 Debtor(s) certify Plan complies with MO L.B.R. 3015-1 and the Bankruptcy Code.
1.2 Mortgage Conduit ☐ Yes ☐ No
1.3 Domestic Support Obligation ☐ Yes ☐ No
1.4 Nonstandard Provisions ☐ Yes ☐ No — if Yes, list in Part 10.

Part 2. Plan Payments and Length

• Monthly Plan Payment: $ ☐, commencing within 30 days of Petition Date per 11 U.S.C. § 1326(a)(1).
• Payroll Deduction Order: ☐ Requested ☐ Direct Pay
• Commitment Period: [36 | 60] months.

Part 3. § 1326(c) Disbursements

Trustee Fee: [INSERT % per Standing Trustee’s current notice].
Estimated Attorney Fees: $ ☐ (subject to MO L.B.R. 2016-3 “No-Look” amounts).

Part 4. Treatment of Secured Claims

4.1 Mortgage Arrearage:
Claimant: [NAME] — Arrearage $[___] to be cured @ [0–__]% interest.
4.2 Motor Vehicle Claims (910-Day):
[LIST each vehicle, claim amount, interest rate, monthly conduit payment].
4.3 Lien Avoidance: [Specify judicial liens to be avoided under § 522(f)].

Part 5. Priorities (§ 507)

Domestic Support Obligations, Taxes, etc. to be paid in full. Provide creditor names and estimated claim amounts.

Part 6. Nonpriority Unsecured Claims

Pot Plan ☐ yes Base Plan ☐ yes
Projected Distribution: [___] %. Minimum to unsecured creditors shall not be less than Debtor’s disposable income over the commitment period (§ 1325(b)(1)(B)).

Part 7. Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases

Assume ☐ Reject ☐ — list each.

Part 8. Vesting of Property

Property of the estate revests in Debtor upon: [___] Plan Confirmation ☐ Discharge.

Part 9. Plan Modifications

Any post-confirmation modification shall comply with § 1329 and MO L.B.R. 3015-2.

Part 10. Non-Standard Provisions

[Draft additional clauses here. Non-standard provisions must be clearly identified or they are unenforceable (FRBP 3015(c)).]

13. PLAN-RELATED CERTIFICATIONS (IF APPLICABLE)

• Certification Regarding Domestic Support Obligations (if debtor is current).
• Certification of Direct Mortgage Payments (Western District requirement when conduit not used).

14. ATTORNEY COMPENSATION DISCLOSURE (MO L.B.R. 2016-1)

Attach completed “Disclosure of Compensation of Attorney for Debtor” (Official Form 2030). If seeking “no-look” fee, affirm services included and any additional hourly rate for post-confirmation work.

15. EXECUTION BLOCK

Respectfully submitted,

/s/ [ATTORNEY NAME] Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
[LAW FIRM NAME]
[MO BAR #]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]
Attorney for Debtor(s)

/s/ [DEBTOR NAME] Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Debtor

/s/ [JOINT DEBTOR NAME] (if any) Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Joint Debtor
Notary Acknowledgment (if required for specific exhibits):
State of Missouri, County of ____________
Subscribed and sworn before me on ____/____/20__, by __________________.
Notary Public: ____________________ My commission expires: ___________

RISK MANAGEMENT & COMPLIANCE CHECKLIST

1. Automatic Stay: Confirm no prior pending/dismissed cases within preceding 12 months (11 U.S.C. § 362(c)(3)).
2. Means Test Accuracy: Verify household size and income figures against current U.S. Trustee census data.
3. Exemptions: Cross-check Schedule C with RSMo § 513.430 limits; attach spousal consent for tenancy by the entirety transfers if applicable.
4. Plan Feasibility: Ensure projected disposable income supports proposed distributions; include tax refund intercept language where advisable.
5. Post-Petition Real Estate Taxes: Address direct payment or conduit in Plan Part 4.
6. Local Rule Deadlines:
   • 14 days to file missing schedules or risk dismissal (FRBP 1007(c)).
   • 7 days before § 341 meeting to provide Trustee with pay advices and tax returns (MO L.B.R. 4002-1).

OPTIONAL NON-STANDARD CLAUSES (USE WITH CAUTION)

1. Special Provision for Surrender of Real Property
   “Upon confirmation, and notwithstanding § 1327(b), the Automatic Stay is modified to permit secured creditor [NAME] to pursue in rem relief against the surrendered collateral located at [ADDRESS].”

2. Student Loan Forbearance
   “Debtor shall make no distribution on non-priority student loans pending determination of undue hardship or receipt of discharge.”

ATTORNEY NOTES

END OF TEMPLATE