This page outlines the information that we will need in order to prepare your bankruptcy petition. Do your best to collect this information, but if you are missing something, don't worry. If you have any questions contact me.
Your driver's license or state ID card and social security card.
Debts. For each debt you owe, we will need the creditor's name and address, your account number, the year you incurred the debt, and the approximate amount you owe. For each debt, please bring the most recent bill you have.
*A credit report is often helpful in identifying creditors. For information on obtaining your credit report, click here.
Vehicles. Please bring a copy of the title for each vehicle you own.
Secured Creditors. For each secured debt we will need the note, security agreement and current pay-off balance. (A secured debt is a loan for which you pledged your property as collateral to secure the loan. Common secured loans include car loans, mortgages and loans from finance companies.)
Monthly Income. We will need all paycheck stubs for the last six months. (Or more precisely, all paycheck stubs for the six months preceding the month in which your bankruptcy is to be filed.) It may be easiest for you to get this information from your employer. For your first meeting a couple of recent paycheck stubs will be fine.
Monthly Expenses. Be prepared to tell us how much you send per month on average for rent, utilities, telephone, food, clothing, laundry, medical, transportation. (Many of your expenses will vary from month to month. Try to estimate your average monthly expense for each category.)
Income Tax Returns. Bring a copy of your income tax returns for the most recent year. If you don't have the tax returns, bring W-2 wage statements.
Bank Accounts. We will need copies of your bank statements for the last six months. In addition, if you have closed any account in the past twelve months, we will need to know the name and address of the bank, the account number, the date you closed the account and the balance in the account when you closed it.
Life Insurance. If you have any life insurance policies that can be cashed in for money or borrowed against, we will need a statement showing the cash value.
Retirement Plan. If you have a retirement plan, profit sharing plan, 401(k) or IRA we'll need a statement showing the balance.
Personal Injury Claim. If you have sued someone (or plan to sue someone) for a personal injury you have incurred, please bring all the paper work (if any) that you have related to your claim. We also need to know about any other claims you may have.
Lawsuits and/or Judgments. If you have been sued or have any unpaid judgments against you, please bring all the paper work related to these lawsuits and judgments.
Real Estate. If you own any real estate, we will need the following information: