Chapter 7 Means Test Worksheet - Maine

IMPORTANT: THIS IS A PREPARATION GUIDE — NOT THE OFFICIAL COURT FORM

Federal bankruptcy filings require Official Bankruptcy Forms 122A-1, 122A-1Supp, and 122A-2 (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9009). Transfer your figures to the official forms or your court's e-filing system before filing. Official forms: https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms. Do not file this worksheet with the court.

CHAPTER 7 MEANS TEST WORKSHEET — MAINE

The means test under 11 U.S.C. § 707(b)(2) determines whether a presumption of abuse arises that would bar Chapter 7 relief for a debtor whose debts are primarily consumer debts. This worksheet implements Official Forms 122A-1 and 122A-2 for debtors filing in the District of Maine.

HEADER / IDENTIFICATION

United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maine

☐ District of Maine — Bangor Division
☐ District of Maine — Portland Division

PART 1: MARITAL / FILING STATUS AND EXCLUSIONS

Section A: Marital and Filing Status

☐ Not married
☐ Married, filing jointly
☐ Married, filing individually — spouse's income included (no declaration of separate households)
☐ Married, filing individually — claiming the marital adjustment (spouses living in separate households; complete the non-filing-spouse marital deduction on Form 122A-2)

Section B: Nature of Debts

☐ Debts are primarily consumer debts (more than 50%) — MEANS TEST APPLIES
☐ Debts are primarily non-consumer / business debts — MEANS TEST DOES NOT APPLY (the § 707(b) presumption does not arise; document the debt analysis and retain it)

Section C: Military and Veteran Exclusions (Form 122A-1Supp)

☐ Disabled-veteran exclusion — Debtor is a disabled veteran (as defined in 38 U.S.C. § 3741(1)) and the indebtedness was incurred primarily during active duty or while performing a homeland defense activity (10 U.S.C. § 901(1))
☐ Reservist / National Guard exclusion — Debtor was a member of the National Guard or reserves called to active duty or homeland defense activity for at least 90 days; exclusion applies during service and for 540 days thereafter
☐ Non-consumer debtor (Section B) claiming exemption from the presumption

If any exclusion applies, complete Form 122A-1Supp; the presumption of abuse does not arise and the Part 4 calculation may be skipped.

PART 2: CURRENT MONTHLY INCOME (CMI) — 6-MONTH LOOKBACK

Lookback period: the six full calendar months before the filing month. From [__/__/____] to [__/__/____].

Excluded from CMI (do NOT include)

☐ Social Security Act benefits (retirement, SSDI, SSI)
☐ Payments to victims of war crimes or crimes against humanity
☐ Payments to victims of international or domestic terrorism

CMI Computation

PART 3: ANNUALIZED CMI vs. MAINE MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME

Section A: Household Size

Section B: Annualized CMI

Section C: Maine Median Family Income

Enter the median family income for Maine for the applicable household size. The U.S. Trustee Program (UST) updates these figures periodically (typically each spring and fall). The reference values below reflect the UST table for cases filed on or after April 1, 2026.

VERIFY CURRENT FIGURE. Median-income figures change roughly every six months and depend on your filing date. Confirm the controlling table at the U.S. Trustee Program means-testing page (https://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing) for the date you file. For reference, the table for cases filed November 1, 2025 through March 31, 2026 listed: 1 person $73,946; 2 people $88,126; 3 people $104,083; 4 people $128,204 (add $11,100 per additional person).

Section D: Median Income Determination

☐ Annualized CMI is AT OR BELOW the Maine median → NO presumption of abuse. Complete Form 122A-1 only; sign Part 5 of that form and skip the full calculation.
☐ Annualized CMI is ABOVE the Maine median → Complete Form 122A-2 (Parts 4–5 below).

PART 4: DEDUCTIONS FROM INCOME (FORM 122A-2)

Complete only if Annualized CMI is above the Maine median. Use the IRS National and Local Standards and Other Necessary Expense categories in effect on the filing date for the debtor's residence.

Section A: IRS National Standards

Section B: IRS Local Standards — Housing, Utilities, Transportation

Section C: Other Necessary Expenses

Section D: Deductions for Debt Payment

Secured debts — average monthly payment = (sum of 60 months of contractual payments) ÷ 60.

Priority claims (domestic support, priority taxes, other priority) total ÷ 60:

PART 5: MONTHLY DISPOSABLE INCOME AND PRESUMPTION OF ABUSE

Section A: Disposable Income

Section B: § 707(b)(2)(A) Threshold Test

Reference thresholds for cases filed April 1, 2025 through March 31, 2028 (adjusted every three years under 11 U.S.C. § 104):

VERIFY CURRENT FIGURE. These dollar amounts adjust on April 1 of each third year (next scheduled adjustment April 1, 2028). Confirm the controlling figures and Form 122A-2 line values for your filing date.

Section C: Determination

☐ 60-month disposable income is less than $10,275 → NO presumption of abuse. Eligible for Chapter 7.
☐ 60-month disposable income is $17,150 or more → PRESUMPTION OF ABUSE arises.
☐ 60-month disposable income is between $10,275 and $17,150 AND ≥ 25% of nonpriority unsecured claims → PRESUMPTION OF ABUSE arises.
☐ 60-month disposable income is between $10,275 and $17,150 AND < 25% of nonpriority unsecured claims → NO presumption of abuse. Eligible for Chapter 7.

If the presumption arises, the debtor may rebut it only by demonstrating special circumstances under § 707(b)(2)(B) (e.g., serious medical condition, active-duty call-up) with itemized, documented additional expenses or income adjustments.

PART 6: VERIFICATION AND SIGNATURE

I declare under penalty of perjury that the information on this worksheet is true and correct to the best of my knowledge, information, and belief.

Debtor 1 Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Debtor 2 Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Attorney Signature: _________________________________ Date: [__/__/____]

Attorney Name (Print): [________________________________]

Maine Bar No.: [____________]

MAINE PRACTICE NOTES

• Federal district. Maine is a single federal judicial district — the District of Maine (D. Me.), in the First Circuit — with divisional offices in Portland and Bangor. Review the District of Maine local bankruptcy rules and CM/ECF filing requirements.
• Median-income source. Maine median family income is published by the U.S. Trustee Program at https://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing. The figure controlling your case is the one in effect on the filing date; the UST typically refreshes the table each spring and fall.
• Local standards. Maine's IRS housing/utilities Local Standards are county-based; the transportation operating allowance uses the IRS Northeast Census Region. Map the debtor's county accordingly.
• Exemptions interplay. Maine is an opt-out state — debtors use Maine state exemptions (14 M.R.S. § 4422, including the homestead exemption), not the federal § 522(d) set. Exemptions do not affect the means-test calculation but matter to overall Chapter 7 strategy.
• Threshold currency. The § 707(b)(2) dollar amounts and the IRS standards are independent of the median-income table and update on different schedules. Confirm each before filing.

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

• 11 U.S.C. § 707(b) — https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=(title:11%20section:707%20edition:prelim) and https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/707
• U.S. Trustee Program, Means Testing (median income, IRS standards, administrative multipliers) — https://www.justice.gov/ust/means-testing
• Census Bureau Median Family Income table, cases filed on or after April 1, 2026 — https://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/20260401/bci_data/median_income_table.htm
• Census Bureau Median Family Income table, cases filed Nov. 1, 2025 – Mar. 31, 2026 — https://www.justice.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/20251101/bci_data/median_income_table.htm
• Official Bankruptcy Forms 122A-1, 122A-1Supp, 122A-2 — https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms
• Adjustment of Certain Dollar Amounts Applicable to Bankruptcy Cases (eff. Apr. 1, 2025), 90 FR 8941 — https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/02/04/2025-02207
• U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maine — https://www.meb.uscourts.gov

This worksheet assists in preparing Official Bankruptcy Forms 122A-1 and 122A-2 for Maine filers. Median-income figures, IRS expense standards, and § 707(b)(2) threshold amounts change periodically; always verify current figures before filing. Not a substitute for legal advice.