Core package — all chapters
Identity & eligibility
- Full legal name(s), aliases, current and prior addresses (2 years), SSN/ITIN, date of birth
- Government-issued photo ID and proof of Social Security number (the trustee verifies both at the 341 meeting)
- Prior bankruptcy filings (dates, chapters, districts, outcomes) — for eligibility, discharge-bar, and prior-filing automatic-stay analysis
- Pre-filing credit-counseling certificate from an approved agency (within 180 days before filing)
- Marital status; if a joint case, spouse's information
Income — last 6 months (drives the means test)
- All pay advices/stubs for the last 6 full calendar months, all jobs, both spouses (even if only one files)
- Self-employment / business income: profit & loss and 6 months of business bank statements
- Other income: Social Security, unemployment, pension, rental, support, benefits
Tax
- Federal (and state) tax returns for the last 2 years (more for Chapter 13 in some districts)
- Recent W-2s and 1099s
Assets
- Real estate: address, deed, current value, mortgage statements, payoff/arrears
- Vehicles: title, VIN, mileage, value (NADA/KBB), loan or lease statements
- Bank / credit-union statements (last 3–6 months), plus cash on hand and security deposits
- Retirement / investment statements (401k, IRA, brokerage)
- Personal property: household goods, electronics, jewelry, firearms, collectibles, and any digital assets / cryptocurrency
- Other valuables: business interests, life-insurance cash value, tax refunds owed, lawsuits/claims, inheritances received or expected
Debts
- Recent credit report and/or full creditor list (names, addresses, account numbers, balances)
- Secured debts (mortgage, auto, other) with balances and arrears
- Priority debts: taxes owed, domestic-support obligations
- Student loans (federal and private)
- Collections, judgments, garnishments, lawsuits, repossessions, foreclosure notices
- Codebtors / co-signers
- Leases & contracts (rent, auto lease, cell, etc.)
Recent activity (for the Statement of Financial Affairs)
- Gross income year-to-date and for the prior two years
- Large or unusual payments or transfers in the last 1–2 years
- Payments to any one creditor over the reporting threshold in the last 90 days
- Payments to insiders (family or business) in the last year
- Property sold, given away, or lost to casualty/theft recently
- Safe-deposit boxes, storage units, and property held for someone else
Attorney-provided
- District & division; local plan form / local rules (Chapter 13 or district-specific)
- Exemption set (state vs. federal) and any planning decisions
- Any hard deadline (foreclosure sale, garnishment, bar date)
Chapter 13 — additional
- Detailed monthly household budget (supports Schedule J and plan feasibility)
- Full mortgage arrears figure and reinstatement/payoff quote
- Vehicle purchase dates & balances (910-day / cramdown analysis)
- Filed tax returns the trustee requires — often the last four years (§ 1308)
- Domestic-support details (amounts, arrears, recipient)
- Business documents if self-employed (recent P&L, balance sheet, bank statements)
Chapter 11 — additional
- Entity formation docs, ownership, and governance
- Detailed financials: balance sheet, P&L, cash-flow, AR/AP aging
- List of the 20 largest unsecured creditors
- Major contracts, leases, secured financing / UCC filings
- Payroll, tax status, insurance
- Total aggregate debt (for eligibility limits)
- Information for monthly operating reports
Requirements vary by district and trustee — confirm local specifics. Collect documents securely, never by plain email. Want the editable Word and PDF versions to brand as your own? Get the editable pack →
Services are provided exclusively to licensed attorneys and law firms. We are not a bankruptcy petition preparer and do not provide legal advice or services to the public.