Chapter 7 – Your Initial Pleadings

If you are planning to file for bankruptcy protection, you should be prepared to make full financial disclosures. There are several different initial pleadings that are required to be filed with the bankruptcy court. All debtors must list all of their assets, debts, income and expenses. Diane Anderson’s office can assist you with drafting the mandatory pleadings, but it is important that you gather all of your financial records for her to use in preparing the following Chapter 7 pleadings:

• your bankruptcy petition
• a list of all your property and assets
• a list of all your debts
• a list of all your creditors (called the “creditor matrix”)
• a list of your current income and expenses
• a statement of your financial affairs
• a certificate from your attorney indicating that (i) you received a notice describing the different bankruptcy chapters, (ii) a notice of the services available from the credit counseling agencies, and (ii) a statement specifying that anyone who knowingly or fraudulently conceals assets or makes a false statement under oath is subject to fine, imprisonment, or both.

The above documents are commonly referred to as your “Schedules and Statement of Financial Affairs.” After your initial pleadings have been drafted, it is imperative that you review them and verify that the financial disclosures are true, complete, and correct. A debtor files his or her bankruptcy pleadings with the court under the penalty of perjury, so make sure they are correct.

If you are planning to file a Chapter 7 case, let the legal team at The Law Office of Diane Anderson help you. Our lawyer has been through a divorce, a bankruptcy, and faced estate planning and probate termination after her mother passed away at a young age. This kind of experience is unmatched by attorneys who have simply guided their clients through each process. Contact us today to schedule a comprehensive consultation.