Chapter 7 Filing Requirements

Often called the 'liquidation chapter,' Chapter 7 is used by individuals, partnerships, or corporations who have no hope for repairing their financial situation. In Chapter 7, the debtor's estate is liquidated under the rules of the Bankruptcy Code. Liquidation is the process through which the debtor's non-exempt property is sold for cash by a trustee and the cash is distributed to creditors.

Credit Counseling
Credit Counseling must be obtained prior to filing Bankruptcy.

In order to be excepted from filing the certificate of credit counseling, a debtor must either:

  1. Submit a different certificate describing exigent circumstances that merit waiver of the requirement and also states the debtor requested credit counseling but was unable to obtain credit counseling during the 7-day period before filing; OR
  2. Request, in writing, and provide notice that the debtor is unable to obtain credit counseling because of incapacity, disability or active military duty in a military combat zone.

Involuntary Petition Filing Requirements

Please see Involuntary Petitions for filing requirements.

Requirements

Copy Requirement: Original plus one (1) copy
The copy requirement numbers above include the copy to be returned to the filing party. See Local Rules 1002 (a) (1) and 7010 (c) (1)
The IRS has access to documents through the internet, so a copy is not required to be forwarded.