Bankruptcy Checklist

December 22, 2008

Please bring with you to the initial office visit as much documentation as you have available. However, please do not cancel your appointment for your initial office visit simply because you do not have these records. We may be able to assist you in retrieving these records:

• PROOF OF INCOME.
  Please bring with you to the initial office visit all available pay stubs or other records of income for the past seven months to include records or receipts from employment income, tips, bonuses, commissions, child support, spousal support, support from someone paying or sharing your living expenses, rental income, unemployment compensation, social security, retirement, pension, interest, dividends, or income form any other source. If you are filing with a spouse then you will need to provide this information for both you and your spouse. If you have your own business, you must provide a monthly Profit & Loss Statement for your business, if possible. Please bring with you to the initial office visit as much documentation as you have available for the last six months.
• CREDIT REPORT
  Get a recent copy your credit report from Experian, Equifax or Transunion.  The credit report should be within the last six months.
• INCOME TAX RETURNS
  Bankruptcy law requires that you provide proof of your annual gross income for the last 3 years and proof that you filed tax returns for these years. Please bring with you to the initial office visit copies of your filed income tax returns for the last 3 years (form 1040). If you have not filed any of these tax returns please begin that process as soon as possible, as we will not be able to file a bankruptcy until those tax returns are filed.
• HOUSEHOLD EXPENSES
  Bankruptcy law requires a listing of your monthly household expenses including those for mortgage or rent, utility services (electricity, gas, fuel oil, propane, water and sewage), telephone service, cable or satellite television service, home maintenance, food, clothing, laundry and dry cleaning, medical and dental, transportation, recreation, clubs, entertainment, charitable contributions, insurance (homeowner or renter, life, health, auto), taxes on property, alimony, maintenance, child support, etc.
• ACCOUNT STATEMENTS
  Bankruptcy law requires a listing of all of your debts including those for credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, auto loans, furniture loans, lawsuits, etc. Please bring with you to the initial office visit as much documentation as you have available for all such debts.
• PROPERTY DOCUMENTS
  Bankruptcy law requires documentation of all contracts and security agreements including those for mortgages and leases, refinancing, transfers of ownership, time shares, 401K plan statement, stocks, car loans and leases, etc.

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