Bankruptcy Petition - Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7 VOLUNTARY PETITION PACKET

United States Bankruptcy Court – District of Delaware

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Document Header & Caption
2. Definitions
3. Voluntary Petition (Official Form 101)

4. Exhibits to Petition
   4.1. Certificate of Credit Counseling
   4.2. Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Official Form 121)
   4.3. Creditor Mailing Matrix & Verification (Del. LF 1007-2)

5. Schedules A/B – J Summary (Official Forms 106A/B – 106J-2)
   5.1. Schedule A/B – Property
   5.2. Schedule C – Claim of Exemptions (Delaware Scheme)
   5.3. Schedule D – Secured Claims
   5.4. Schedule E/F – Unsecured Claims
   5.5. Schedule G – Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases
   5.6. Schedule H – Co-Debtors
   5.7. Schedule I – Income
   5.8. Schedule J – Expenses
   5.9. Declaration Concerning Schedules (Official Form 106Dec)

6. Statement of Financial Affairs (Official Form 107)

7. Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income & Means Test (Official Forms 122A-1 & 122A-2)
8. Debtor’s Statement of Intention (Official Form 108)
9. Local Rule Certifications & Disclosures
10. Execution Block
11. Attorney Certification & Signature
12. Notary Acknowledgment (if required for local rule compliance)

1. DOCUMENT HEADER & CAPTION

IN THE UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF DELAWARE

In re:                                       Chapter 7
                                             Case No. [__-_____ (____)]
[LEGAL NAME OF DEBTOR 1],                    (Joint Administration Requested ☐ Yes ☐ No)
[Secondary Line for Joint Debtor, if any],
                        Debtor(s).

Effective Petition Date: [MM/DD/YYYY]
Jurisdiction: Federal Bankruptcy Code, Title 11, with venue proper in this District pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1408.

2. DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Petition Packet:

“Automatic Stay” means the injunction arising upon the filing of this Petition under 11 U.S.C. § 362.
“Bankruptcy Code” means Title 11 of the United States Code.
“Court” means the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.
“Debtor” or “Debtors” means the individual(s) identified in the caption.
“Petition Date” means the date on which this Voluntary Petition is filed with the Court.
“Trustee” means the Chapter 7 panel trustee appointed pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 701.

3. VOLUNTARY PETITION – OFFICIAL FORM 101

[Populate each field exactly as appears on Official Form 101; key placeholders are provided for convenience.]

1. Personal Information
   a. Full Legal Name of Debtor 1: [___]
   b. Prior Names (last 8 years): [___]
   c. SSN / ITIN (last 4 digits): [___]
   d. Address: [Street, City, State, ZIP, County]
   e. Debtor 2 identical data points, if joint case.

2. Chapter Selection: ☑ Chapter 7 (Liquidation).

3. Nature of Debts: ☐ Consumer ☐ Business ☐ Both.

4. Statistical/Administrative Information
   • Estimated Assets: ☐ $0–$50k ☐ $50k–$100k ☐ …
   • Estimated Liabilities: [range].
   • Number of Creditors: [range].

5. Certification of Credit Counseling (11 U.S.C. § 109(h)):
   ☑ Certificate attached – received on [MM/DD/YYYY] within 180 days.

6. Bankruptcy Case of Any Affiliate, Partner, or Business Associate Pending?
   ☐ No ☐ Yes – Case No. [___]

7. Venue Statement – Debtor has had domicile, residence, principal place of business, or principal assets in this District for 180 days immediately preceding Petition Date.

8. Signature Blocks
   Debtor(s) sign under penalty of perjury.
   Attorney signs and certifies accuracy under FRBP 9011.

4. EXHIBITS TO PETITION

4.1. Certificate of Credit Counseling – attach PDF.
4.2. Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Official Form 121).
4.3. Creditor Mailing Matrix & Verification (Del. L.F. 1007-2).

5. SCHEDULES – OFFICIAL FORMS 106 SERIES

[Each schedule must be signed and dated by Debtor(s). Deadlines: FRBP 1007(c) – 14 days from Petition Date.]

5.1. Schedule A/B – Property
• Real Property: address, value, lien data.
• Personal Property: bank accts, vehicles, household goods, etc.

5.2. Schedule C – Claim of Exemptions (Delaware Opt-Out)
a. Homestead: up to $125,000 equity – 10 Del. C. § 4914.
b. Personal Property & Tools: see 10 Del. C. § 4915.
c. Federal non-bankruptcy exemptions also available (11 U.S.C. § 522(b)(3)).

5.3. Schedule D – Secured Claims
5.4. Schedule E/F – Priority & Non-priority Unsecured Claims
5.5. Schedule G – Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases
5.6. Schedule H – Co-Debtors
5.7. Schedule I – Current Income
5.8. Schedule J – Current Expenses
5.9. Declaration Concerning Schedules (Official Form 106Dec)

6. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL AFFAIRS – OFFICIAL FORM 107

Twenty-eight (28) questions covering income history, payments to insiders, lawsuits, garnishments, property transfers, business interests, environmental issues, etc. Answer “None” where applicable.

7. CHAPTER 7 MEANS TEST – OFFICIAL FORMS 122A-1 & 122A-2

Step 1: Current Monthly Income (CMI) vs. Delaware median.
Step 2: Allowable deductions; determine Presumption of Abuse.

[PLACEHOLDER] Household Size ☐; Median Income Threshold [$____].

☐ Presumption does not arise.
☐ Presumption arises – add detailed explanation Part 3.

8. DEBTOR’S STATEMENT OF INTENTION – OFFICIAL FORM 108

Identify collateral to be:
☐ Surrendered ☐ Redeemed ☐ Reaffirmed (11 U.S.C. § 524(c))
Deadline: within 30 days of Petition Date or on/before § 341 Meeting, whichever is earlier.

9. LOCAL RULE CERTIFICATIONS & DISCLOSURES

9.1. Payment Advices Certification – FRBP 4002(b)(2).
9.2. Domestic Support Obligation (DSO) Certification – if applicable.
9.3. Delaware Local Rule 1007-1(e) Affidavit of Compliance re document production to Trustee.

10. EXECUTION BLOCK

Debtor 1: _________________________ Date: ____/____/20__
Debtor 2: _________________________ Date: ____/____/20__

Address: [___]

Telephone: [____-____-____] Email: [___]

11. ATTORNEY CERTIFICATION & SIGNATURE

I, [Attorney Name], Bar No. [DE Bar #____], certify that:

1. I have no knowledge that the information in the foregoing documents is incorrect.
2. I have informed the Debtor of the remedies and consequences under 11 U.S.C. §§ 521, 707.
3. I have provided the Debtor with the notice required by 11 U.S.C. § 527(b).

Signature: ____________________________ Date: ____/____/20__
Law Firm: [___] Address: [___] Phone: [___]

12. NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT (Only if local practice or specific exhibit requires)

State of ____________
County of __________

On this ___ day of __________, 20__, before me, the undersigned Notary Public, personally appeared ______________________, proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are signed on this instrument, and acknowledged executing the same.

Notary Public: _____________________
My Commission Expires: _____________

ADDITIONAL DRAFTING NOTES

CORE STATUTORY REFERENCES (select, foundational)

• 11 U.S.C. § 362 – Automatic Stay
• 11 U.S.C. § 522 – Exemptions
• 11 U.S.C. § 541 – Property of the Estate
• 11 U.S.C. § 707(b) – Dismissal for Abuse (Means Test)
• 11 U.S.C. § 727 – Discharge

[All citations in Bluebook format; only foundational provisions included in accordance with Citation Policy.]

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