BANKRUPTCY UPDATES

• Study Says Cancer Patients More Likely File Bankruptcy (May 17, 2013)
• Investment Bank Ledgemont Capital Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (May 10, 2013)
• Vacuum Manufacturer Oreck Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Help (May 13, 2013)
• Gay Couple Makes History by Filing for Joint Bankruptcy Help (May 06, 2013)
• Chain of Popular Portrait Studios Files for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy (May 03, 2013)

Bankruptcy Records & Documents

Paperwork a Bankruptcy Lawyer Will Need When You File Bankruptcy

The first time you meet with your bankruptcy attorney, you likely won't have to bring much. However, as you and your attorney continue to work together, you'll need to provide some documentation about your finances in order to complete to necessary paperwork when filing bankruptcy.

Along with your bankruptcy petition, your bankruptcy attorney must file several schedules that list your assets, income and debts.

The documents listed on this page provide an overview of the type of information an attorney will need. However, each case is unique. Be sure to ask your lawyer what specific documents he or she would like you to bring.

There are some differences between the documents required for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition and those required for a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition.

If you aren't sure which type of bankruptcy might be right for you, an attorney can help you decide which might work best under your state's bankruptcy laws.

Typical documents and information taken into account during a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case include:

• A list of your current personal property and its value. This includes assets such as:
• Cash
• Checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposit or annuities
• Qualified educational or tuition accounts
• Pension or profit sharing accounts
• Household goods, furniture, electronics and computer equipment
• Deposits with utility companies, landlords, phone companies, etc.
• Collectibles such as books, art, antiques, etc.
• Automobiles, trucks, trailers and other vehicles
• Boats, motors and accessories
• Aircraft and accessories
• Clothing
• Furs and jewelry
• Firearms, sporting equipment, photographic or other hobby equipment
• Interest in insurance policies
• Stocks and business interests
• Government or corporate bonds
• Moneys due you by others, including tax refunds
• Alimony, maintenance, support, or property settlements to which you are entitled
• Interests in the estate of a decedent, life insurance or trust
• Patents, trademarks and copyrights
• Licenses and franchises
• Office equipment, furniture and supplies
• Machinery, fixtures and equipment used in business

A bankruptcy lawyer can help you determine which of this property can be included on the schedule of claimed exemptions and protected from liquidation.

• A list of real property (real estate), including your interest in the property, the current value and the amount of any secured claim.
• A list of your creditors, the amount that you owe them and any security on those accounts

A bankruptcy attorney can help you determine which debts belong on the secured schedule and which of your unsecured debts belong on the priority schedule and which on the non-priority schedule.

• A list of any current contracts or unexpired leases, whether the debtor is the lessor or the lessee of the property
• A list of the names and addresses of any co-debtors on any accounts, along with the names and addresses of the creditors on those accounts

Co-debtors can be affected by your filing. The impact on a co-debtor is different depending upon whether you file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. A bankruptcy lawyer can explain how each one affects any joint account holders or co-signers on your accounts.

• The name and address of your employer, along with your occupation and the length of your employment
• Documentation of your income from employment, including payroll deductions
• Income from other sources, including alimony or maintenance
• In some cases, a list of current monthly expenses
• A list of any payments made to creditors during the past 90 days
• A list of all payments made during the past year to creditors who are 'insiders'. (Creditors with whom the debtor has another relationship, like family members)

A bankruptcy lawyer can provide you with the exact legal definition of 'insider' and help you determine whether or not you have made any payments that fall within this classification.

• A list of any lawsuits or administrative proceedings the debtor was a party to within the year preceding filing
• A description of any and all property that has been seized, garnished, attached, repossessed, foreclosed or returned during the preceding year
• A list of any property that has been assigned for the benefit of creditors within the 120 days preceding
• Any property that has been in the hands of a receiver, custodian or court-appointed official during the preceding year
• Any gifts or charitable contributions you made within the preceding year
• Losses from fire, theft, casualty or gambling during the preceding year
• Payments related to debt counseling or bankruptcy within the preceding year
• Any property transferred during the two years immediately proceeding filing
• A list of any financial accounts closed, sold, or transferred within the preceding year
• A list of safe deposit boxes (along with locations and contents) held presently or within the past year
• A list of any set-offs by any creditor in the past 90 days
• Any property held or controlled by the debtor for another person
• All addresses at which the debtor has lived during the preceding three years
• Nature, name and location of any businesses owned during the preceding six years

Again, you likely won't need to provide much of this information on your first meeting with an attorney, and some of the documents listed may not apply to you at all.

A bankruptcy lawyer should let you know what information is required of you; however, as you can see, assembling this information can be time consuming and not everyone has all of these bankruptcy records readily available.

If you're considering filing for bankruptcy, try to gather as much of this information as possible before you meet with a bankruptcy attorney.

Not only can it speed up the process, but having this information available when you consult will allow a Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer to advise you more specifically on the type of filing that's best for you under your particular circumstances.