How To File Your Own Bankruptcy: The Step-by-Step Handbook to Filing Your Own Bankruptcy Petition

By Stephen Lee

Main Address:

Main Address:

Internet: www.nationaldebtmgt.com

Internet: www.nationaldebtmgt.com

Back-Cover

How to File Your Own Bankruptcy is the step-by-step handbook to filing your own bankruptcy petition. Chapter 7 bankruptcy, often called the liquidation chapter, is the most common consumer bankruptcy and allows debtors to discharge many of their debts. Under Chapter 13, debtors establish a repayment plan for at least a portion of their debts. The factors that generally prompt people to file for bankruptcy are unemployment, uninsured medical costs, divorce, and large utility debts.

The coronavirus pandemic has dramatically impacted both the national economy and the financial well-being of countless Americans. Many are facing job loss, furlough, reduction of hours, or other hardships, which directly impact people and lead to the filing of bankruptcy. This book is intended to assist people who wish to file their own bankruptcy petition.

It will show you how to obtain your three credit reports, the forms you will need to prepare, and file your own bankruptcy; how to obtain your credit-counseling certificate and complete your personal financial management course; what property you can exempt when you file your bankruptcy; and how to locate the US bankruptcy court in your area to file your bankruptcy petition. This is a straightforward easy-to-grasp understanding of how to file your own bankruptcy petition.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9781685706159

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How To File Your Own Bankruptcy

The Step-by-Step Handbook to Filing Your Own Bankruptcy Petition

Stephen Lee

ISBN 978-1-68570-614-2 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-68570-615-9 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Stephen Lee

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

Pro Se

Chapter 2

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 3

Getting Started

Chapter 4

How to Obtain Your Credit Reports

Chapter 5

Credit Counseling Certificate

Chapter 6

Ready to Fill Out Bankruptcy Forms

Chapter 7

Voluntary Petition: Form B-101

Chapter 8

Initial Statement about and Eviction Judgment Against You: Form B-101A

Chapter 9

Statement about Payment of an Eviction Judgment Against You: Form B-101B

Chapter 10

Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments: Form B-103A

Chapter 11

Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived: Form B-103B

Chapter 12

Schedule A/B: Property—Form B-106A/B

Chapter 13

Schedule C: The Property You Claim as Exempt—Form B-106C

Chapter 14

Schedule D: Creditors Who Have Claims Secured by Property—Form B-106D

Chapter 15

Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims—Form B106E/F

Chapter 16

Schedule G: Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases—Form B-106G

Chapter 17

Schedule H: Your Codebtors—Form B-106H

Chapter 18

Schedule I: Your Income—Form B-106I

Chapter 19

Schedule J: Your Expenses—Form B-106J

Chapter 20

Declaration about an Individual Debtor's Schedules—Form B-106DEC

Chapter 21

Summary of Your Assets and Liabilities and Certain Statistical Information—Form B-106SUM

Chapter 22

Statement of Financial Affairs for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy—Form B-107

Chapter 23

Statement About Your Social Security Numbers—Form B-121

Chapter 24

Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income—Form B-122A-1

Chapter 25

Statement of Exemption from Presumption of Abuse under 707(B)(2)—Form B-122A-1SUPP

Chapter 26

Chapter 7 Means Test Calculation—Form B-122A-2

Chapter 27

Your Creditor Matrix

Chapter 28

Filing Your Bankruptcy Petition

Chapter 29

Notice of Bankruptcy Case Filing

Chapter 30

Meeting of Creditors

Chapter 31

Certification about a Financial Management Course—Form B-423

Chapter 32

Conclusion

Appendix A: US Bankruptcy Court Information

US Bankruptcy Court Information

Appendix B: Federal/State Exemptions

Federal/State Exemptions

Exemptions

Exemptions

Federal Exemptions

State Exemptions

Appendix C: Means Test Information

Means Test Information

Census Bureau's Median Family Income by Family Size

Appendix D: Approved Credit-Counseling Agencies

Approved Credit-Counseling Agencies

Approved Credit-Counseling Agencies

About the Author

Introduction

If you're reading this book, it's a good chance you have thought about filing bankruptcy, or you are thinking about filing bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy helps people who can no longer pay their debts get a fresh start.

If you are facing financial hardship and want a fresh start, this is a step-by-step guide that will help you file your own bankruptcy petition, if you are financially overwhelmed, want a fresh start, and can't afford an attorney to help you.

I'll keep it simple.

Chapter 1

Pro Se

What is Pro Se?

Latin meaning on one's own behalf or for himself. This typically refers to an individual who represents oneself in court. For example, an indigent but educated litigant who decides to forgo hiring a lawyer he cannot afford and be self-represented in court (Black's Law Dictionary, second edition).

One proceeding for himself and on their own behalf in person (Black's Law Dictionary, fourth edition).

Chapter 2

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

There are two primary forms of federal bankruptcy for an individual or couple to file: one is Chapter 7 bankruptcy, and the other is a Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is based on a proposed repayment plan submitted with your bankruptcy petition. This plan must show, after reasonable monthly expenses have been paid, how much money will you have leftover to put toward your outstanding bills. Priority claims such as taxes and back child support must be paid in full; unsecured debts like credit card debt and medical bills are paid in part.

The repayment plan must be made in good faith, and all disposable income must be paid into