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

Federal bankruptcy filings require the use of Official Bankruptcy Form 101
(Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy) as mandated by Fed. R. Bankr. P. 9009. This template provides the
substantive legal content to help you prepare — but you must transfer your content to
the official form or your court's e-filing system before filing.
Official forms are available at https://www.uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms.
Do not file this document directly with the court.

CHAPTER 7 VOLUNTARY PETITION FOR BANKRUPTCY

Table of Contents

1. Court Designation
2. Debtor Information
3. Type of Debtor and Chapter
4. Nature of Debts
5. Filing Fee and Asset Status
6. Pending Bankruptcy Cases
7. Statistical Summary of Debts
8. Required Schedules Checklist
9. Declarations and Signatures

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT

_____________ DISTRICT OF _____________

PART 1: COURT DESIGNATION

PART 2: DEBTOR INFORMATION

Section A: Debtor 1

Section B: Debtor 2 (Spouse, if joint petition)

☐ Debtor 2 lives at a different address than Debtor 1

PART 3: TYPE OF DEBTOR AND CHAPTER

Section A: Type of Filer

☐ Individual (includes married filing jointly under 11 U.S.C. § 302)
☐ Corporation (per 11 U.S.C. § 109(b))
☐ Partnership
☐ Other: [________________________________]

Section B: Chapter Selection

☐ Chapter 7 — Liquidation (11 U.S.C. §§ 701–784)

Section C: Nature of Business (if applicable)

☐ Health care business (as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(27A))
☐ Single asset real estate (as defined in 11 U.S.C. § 101(51B))
☐ Railroad
☐ Stockbroker
☐ Commodity broker
☐ Clearing bank
☐ None of the above

PART 4: NATURE OF DEBTS

Section A: Consumer or Business Debts

☐ Consumer debts — Debts are primarily (more than 50%) consumer debts
☐ Business debts — Debts are primarily business debts

Section B: Tax-Exempt Entity

☐ Debtor is a tax-exempt organization under 26 U.S.C. § 501

PART 5: FILING FEE AND ASSET STATUS

Section A: Filing Fee

☐ Full filing fee attached ($338)
☐ Debtor requests installment payments (attach Official Form 103A)
☐ Debtor requests fee waiver (attach Official Form 103B — income must be less than 150% of poverty level)

Section B: Asset/No-Asset Designation

☐ No-Asset Case — No nonexempt assets are available for distribution to creditors
☐ Asset Case — Nonexempt assets may be available for distribution

Section C: Estimated Assets and Liabilities

PART 6: PENDING BANKRUPTCY CASES

Section A: Prior Filings (within last 8 years)

☐ No prior bankruptcy filings
☐ Prior bankruptcy filing(s):

Section B: Related Cases

☐ No related pending cases
☐ Spouse or affiliate has a pending bankruptcy case:

PART 7: STATISTICAL SUMMARY OF DEBTS

Section A: Estimated Number of Creditors

PART 8: REQUIRED SCHEDULES CHECKLIST

Documents to File Within 14 Days (FRBP 1007(c))

☐ Official Form 106A/B — Schedule A/B: Property
☐ Official Form 106C — Schedule C: Exempt Property
☐ Official Form 106D — Schedule D: Secured Creditors
☐ Official Form 106E/F — Schedule E/F: Unsecured Creditors
☐ Official Form 106G — Schedule G: Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases
☐ Official Form 106H — Schedule H: Codebtors
☐ Official Form 106I — Schedule I: Current Income
☐ Official Form 106J — Schedule J: Current Expenditures
☐ Official Form 107 — Statement of Financial Affairs
☐ Official Form 108 — Statement of Intention (due within 30 days, per 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(2))
☐ Official Form 122A-1 — Chapter 7 Means Test Calculation
☐ Official Form 119 — Bankruptcy Petition Preparer's Notice and Declaration (if applicable)

Filed with Petition

☐ Official Form 121 — Statement About Your Social Security Numbers
☐ Credit Counseling Certificate (per 11 U.S.C. § 109(h))
☐ Copy of pay stubs for 60 days before filing (per 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(1)(B)(iv))

PART 9: DECLARATIONS AND SIGNATURES

Section A: Declaration Under Penalty of Perjury

I declare under penalty of perjury that the information provided in this petition is true and correct.

I understand that making a false statement, concealing property, or obtaining money or property by fraud in connection with a bankruptcy case can result in fines up to $250,000, or imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both, under 18 U.S.C. §§ 152, 1341, 1519, and 3571.

Section B: Debtor Signature(s)

Debtor 1:

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

Printed Name: _________________________________

Debtor 2 (if joint petition):

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

Printed Name: _________________________________

Section C: Attorney Declaration (if represented)

I, the attorney for the debtor(s), declare that I have informed the debtor(s) of the availability of each chapter of the Bankruptcy Code and have explained the relief available and the consequences of filing under each chapter. I further certify that this petition and accompanying documents were prepared based on information provided by the debtor(s).

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

Attorney Name: _________________________________
Bar Number: _________________________________
Firm Name: _________________________________
Address: _________________________________
Phone: _________________________________
Email: _________________________________

STATE-SPECIFIC NOTES

California: Must use either CCP § 703 or CCP § 704 exemption system; cannot mix. File in Central, Eastern, Northern, or Southern District.

Texas: Debtors must use state exemptions only (opt-out state). Unlimited homestead exemption with acreage limits (Tex. Prop. Code §§ 41–42).

Florida: Opt-out state using Florida Constitution Art. X, § 4 (unlimited homestead, acreage limits). Must have owned homestead 1,215+ days or federal cap applies.

New York: Opt-out state. Homestead ranges from $89,975 to $206,000+ depending on county (CPLR § 5206). Four districts: EDNY, NDNY, SDNY, WDNY.

This template provides general guidance for preparing a Chapter 7 voluntary petition pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 301 and Official Form 101. Local rules may impose additional requirements. Always consult current official forms and local bankruptcy rules.