Lawyer or pro se
What are the bankruptcy petition and schedules, and what does each one cover?
The Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms start with the voluntary petition, Form 101, which opens the case. The schedules, grouped under Form 106, list a filer's property, exemptions, creditors, leases, codebtors, income and expenses, and every individual filer completes them along with the statement of financial affairs. The federal courts publish the forms free of charge with a booklet of instructions, which says it is not legal advice and that the filer is responsible for properly completing the forms.1 2
Get the Pro Se GuideThe petition opens the case and the schedules describe your finances. This guide explains each of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms, when each is due and where the official instructions are. It does not tell you what to put on your own forms.
General information, not legal advice. Rules and amounts change; check with a lawyer or the court before you act.
In this guide
Where do the forms and the official instructions come from?
Bankruptcy forms are available to the public free of charge on the federal courts' website. Individuals and married couples use the forms numbered in the 100 series. Many courts also require local forms, so filers should check their court's website before filing.2
The same website carries the instruction booklet for individual filers. It covers the schedules one by one and explains the terms the forms use.1
What is the bankruptcy petition?
The petition is the form that opens the case, and it carries its own directions. Filing it triggers the automatic stay, which stops most collection actions against the debtor or the debtor's property.1 3
The petition also fixes where the case lives and where mail goes. The instructions stress filing in the correct district within the state, and the court sends its notices to the mailing address listed on the petition.1 4
What does each schedule cover?
The table follows the descriptions in the official instructions.
| Schedule | Subject | What the official instructions say |
|---|---|---|
| Schedule A/B1 | Property | It lists everything a filer owns or has a legal or equitable interest in, a broad term covering tangible and intangible property. Values are reported at current, fair market value as of the filing date. |
| Schedule C1 | Property claimed as exempt | Exemptions are not automatic. Property must be listed here to be treated as exempt, and if it is not listed the trustee may sell it and pay the proceeds to creditors. |
| Schedule D1 | Creditors with secured claims | A creditor with a secured claim may be able to get paid from specific property, such as a house or car. The instructions say not to leave out any secured creditor, including someone with a judgment lien. |
| Schedule E/F1 | Creditors with unsecured claims | Priority claims, most commonly certain income tax debts and past due alimony or child support, are separated from the rest. All creditors must be listed, even if a claim is disputed or the filer plans to pay it. |
| Schedule G1 | Leases and ongoing contracts | It includes a residential lease even if it is only a verbal or month-to-month arrangement, vehicle leases and cell phone contracts. |
| Schedule H1 | Codebtors | It lists the people who may also be responsible for a debt, such as a cosigner. |
| Schedule I1 | Income | It gives the details of employment and monthly income as of the date the form is filed. |
| Schedule J1 | Expenses | It gives an estimate of monthly expenses as of the filing date for the filer, dependents and others in the household whose income is on Schedule I. |
A summary of the totals and a declaration about the schedules complete the set. Individuals also file the statement of financial affairs, and Chapter 7 filers add the statement of intention and the means test forms.1
What is in a full Chapter 7 filing, and when is each form due?
The forms are due in stages, not all on one day. The list follows the official instructions and the national rules.1
- On the day the case is opened: the petition (Form 101), the statement about Social Security numbers (Form 121), the filing fee or an application to pay in installments (Form 103A) or to waive the fee (Form 103B), the creditor mailing list and the credit counseling certificate.1
- With the petition or within 14 days after it: the schedules, the statement of financial affairs, pay stubs and the means test forms. The court may extend the time on motion and for cause.5
- Within 30 days after filing or by the date set for the meeting of creditors, whichever is earlier: the statement of intention (Form 108), for a filer with secured debts or a personal property lease.1
- At least 7 days before the first date set for the meeting of creditors: the most recent federal tax return, or a transcript, goes to the trustee.6
Missing pieces have consequences. If an individual in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 does not file all the required information within 45 days after the petition, the law says the case is automatically dismissed, effective on the 46th day.6
Court fees for Chapter 7 total $338, effective December 1, 2023. A married couple may file one joint petition, and a joint case is charged only one set of fees.9 10 11 12 13
Chapter 13 filers use the same petition and schedules, file the Chapter 13 versions of the means test forms (Form 122C-1 and, above the median, Form 122C-2) and must file a plan on Form 113 with the petition or within 14 days, unless the court has its own local plan form. Chapter 13 fees total $313.1 14 9 10 13
What does signing the forms mean?
The filer verifies under penalty of perjury that the information is complete and accurate. The instructions warn that a person who gives false information could be charged with a federal crime or lose the benefits of filing.1
A bankruptcy filing is also not private. Anyone has a right to see the forms unless the court orders otherwise.1
If something turns out to be wrong, the rules allow a correction: a debtor may amend a petition, list, schedule or statement at any time before the case is closed, with notice to the trustee and any affected entity.15
Who can help with the forms, and how far?
The limits on who can help with the forms are set by law.2 16
- A lawyer can help complete and file forms and can advise whether a filer will be able to keep a home, car or other property.2
The schedule of exempt property is the one the federal courts single out. They say whether property is exempt is often a question of state law, and that a debtor should consult an attorney to determine the exemptions available in the state where the debtor lives.11
Common questions
Which schedule is used to claim exemptions?
Schedule C, Form 106C. The official instructions say exemptions are not automatic and that property must be listed there to be treated as exempt.1
Does a debt I dispute still go on the schedules?
The official instructions say a filer must list the claims of all creditors in the schedules, even if a claim is contingent, unliquidated or disputed.1
Are Schedules I and J the same as the means test?
No. Schedule I asks about income a person is receiving now, while the means test forms use a different definition of income and a period before filing, so the amounts may differ.1
Sources
Official courts & government references- Instructions: Bankruptcy Forms for Individuals, rev. April 2025 (uscourts.gov)
- Filing Without an Attorney (uscourts.gov)
- Glossary of Legal Terms (uscourts.gov)
- Rule 4002(a)(5). Debtor's Duties (Cornell LII)
- Rule 1007(c). Lists, Schedules, Statements, and Other Documents; Time to File (Cornell LII)
- 11 U.S. Code § 521(e)(2) (Cornell LII)
- Rule 4004(c)(1)(H). Granting or Denying a Discharge (Cornell LII)
- Bankruptcy Forms (uscourts.gov)
- 28 U.S. Code § 1930 (Cornell LII)
- Bankruptcy Court Miscellaneous Fee Schedule (uscourts.gov)
- Chapter 7 - Bankruptcy Basics (uscourts.gov)
- 11 U.S. Code § 302(a) (Cornell LII)
- Chapter 13 - Bankruptcy Basics (uscourts.gov)
- Rule 3015. Chapter 12 or 13: Time to File a Plan (Cornell LII)
- Rule 1009. Amending a Voluntary Petition, List, Schedule, or Statement (Cornell LII)
- 11 U.S. Code § 110(a)(1) (Cornell LII)
- Information the Clerk's Office Can and Cannot Provide, rev. 07/2025 (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, W.D. Okla.)
- General Warning to All Parties Proceeding Without an Attorney (U.S. Bankruptcy Court, D.D.C.)
- Rule 5005(a). Filing Papers and Sending Copies to the United States Trustee (Cornell LII)