Preparation

• 1). Gather all the information needed to fill out your bankruptcy forms. This includes all of your bills, showing current amount owed; addresses and telephone numbers of creditors; pay stubs; income tax forms; and W2s. Be sure you have copies of every bill you currently owe and all income documentation. You should also determine a budget, showing how much you will realistically be able to pay, per month, toward your debts.
  
  
• 2). Consult your local bankruptcy court's website to determine which forms are required for filing. Even though bankruptcy falls under federal law, local courts also have their requirements. The bankruptcy court's website will also tell you all of the federal forms you'll need. You can obtain these forms from a commercial source, such as a bankruptcy forms vendor on the Internet or from your local office supply store.
  
  
• 3). Fill out all the forms according to the directions.Be sure to include all of your debts; don't leave anything out, even debts you don't think are dischargeable.
  
  
• 4). Go to the bankruptcy court for your district and file the forms. The filing fee must be paid at this time. You'll need to submit several copies of the forms, one of which will be returned to you, stamped with your case number. Your local bankruptcy court's website should tell you how many copies you will need.