Updated 8/15/2022
Overview
- Review Ch 7 Filing Requirements
- Fee: $338.00 - Debtors who are individuals may request that the fee be paid in installments (Official Form 103A) or waived (Official Form 103B) by filing the appropriate signed application
Step-by-Step Instructions
Case Opening Screen
- Select Bankruptcy.
- Select Open Voluntary BK Case.
- Chapter - Select 7.
- Joint Petition - Defaults to n. Change to y if this is a joint filing.
- Deficiencies - Defaults to n. Change to y if missing schedules, statements or other required documents, including credit counseling certificate (for individuals) or document authorizing the filing of the bankruptcy (for corporations, LLCs and partnerships).
- When done, click Next to continue.
Search for a Debtor Screen
- Search for an existing debtor record by entering debtor's SSN or Tax ID. Click Search.
- If no match is found, No person found displays. Click Create new party.
- If a possible match is found, parties with the same SSN/Tax ID display.
- Click a name and the debtor's information displays in a pop up window.
- If the displayed information is an exact match, click Select name from list.
- If not an exact match, click Create new party.
Debtor Information Screen
Enter all debtor information exactly as it appears on the petition.
- Last name, First name, Middle name - Enter exactly as they appear on the petition. Do not use all caps.
- Generation (Jr., III, etc.) - Enter, if any.
- SSN / ITIN - If individual, enter SSN or ITIN.
- Tax ID / EIN - If business, enter Tax ID in format of XX-XXXXXXX.
- Address 1, Address 2, Address 3 - Enter debtor's mailing address.
- City, State, Zip - Enter debtor's mailing city, state and zip.
- County - Select current county of residence (or principal place of business). Be sure to select the correct county as this determines the location of the Section 341 meeting of creditors.
- Country - Leave blank, unless outside of U.S.A.
- Phone, Fax and E-mail - Leave blank.
- Party Text - Leave blank.
- Alias - Add, if any.
- Corporate parent/affiliate - Add, if any.
- Click Review… and verify entered information is correct. Click Return to Party Screen.
- When done, click Submit to continue.
- If a joint filing, the Search for a joint debtor screen displays.
- Repeat to add joint debtor.
- Copy previous party's address is checked by default. Uncheck if address differs and add joint debtor's address.
- Click Submit to continue.
Divisional Office Screen
- Click Next to continue.
Statistical Data Screen
- Prior filing within last 8 years – Select no or yes.
- Fee status - Select one of the following:
- Installment when filing an Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments.
- Paid when paying the fee in full.
- fee not paid is reserved for court use only.
- IFP filing fee waived when filing an Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived.
- Nature of debt - Select business, consumer or other.
- Asset notice - Select No (Chapter 7 cases are always opened as no asset).
- Estimated number of creditors - Select appropriate option.
- Estimated assets - Select appropriate option.
- Estimated liabilities - Select appropriate option.
- Type of debtor - Select Individual, Corporation, Partnership or Other.
- For business debtors, select appropriate Nature of business.
- When done, click Next to continue.
Summary of Assets and Liabilities Screen
- This screen displays for individual debtors with consumer debts.
- Enter values from corresponding schedules.
- When done, click Next to continue.
- If data is not available, click Next to bypass this screen.
Data Collection Screen
- This screen displays for individual debtors with consumer debts.
- Enter values from corresponding schedules and forms 122A-1 (Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income), 122A-1 Supp (Statement of Exemption from Presumption of Abuse) or 122A-2 (Chapter 7 Means Test Calculation).
- When done, click Next to continue.
- If data is not available, click Next to bypass this screen.
Deficiencies Screen
- This screen displays if deficiencies were noted on the first screen.
- Check the items NOT included in this filing.
- Click Next to continue.
PDF Upload Screen
- Click Browse/Choose File and upload PDF of petition, schedules and statements. For individual debtors, do NOT include credit counseling certificates. File them separately.
- Click Next to continue.
Incomplete Filings Screen
- This screen displays if deficiencies were noted on the first screen.
- The due date defaults to 14 days from date of filing.
- Click Next to continue.
Presumption of Abuse Screen
- This screen displays for individuals with primarily consumer debts.
- Select either no or yes to the prompt Does the Presumption of Abuse Arise?
- Click Next.
Filing Fee Screen
- This screen does NOT display if you selected IFP filing fee waived.
- If paying in full, leave the default amount of $338.
- If paying in installments, do NOT make a payment now. Change the amount to $0.0. Payment due in full 14 days after case filed.
- Click Next.
Final Docket Entry Screen
- Carefully review the final docket entry.
- If incorrect, use your browser back button to the applicable screen to make corrections.
- If correct, click Next to file your case.
- If fees are due, a Summary of current charges displays in a separate window. Click Pay Now or Continue Filing.
Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing
- The Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing is verification that the case has been electronically filed with the court.
Next Steps
- Upload creditors.
- Assign judge/trustee.
- For individual debtors, file Certificate of Credit Counseling (or if on Official Form 101, Part 5, the fourth box is checked, separately file Motion for Exemption from Credit Counseling).
- For corporations and artificial entities, file Corporate Resolution or Statement Regarding Authority to File Petition.
- File Disclosure of Compensation of Attorney for Debtor, if not included with petition.
- If paying in installments, file Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments.
- If applying for fee waiver, file Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived.
- File the signed Declaration re: Electronic Filing within 7 days of case opening.