Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Bankruptcy
How to File for Bankruptcy: A Step-by-Step Guide on the Bankruptcy Petition
Filing for bankruptcy can feel overwhelming, but this series of blog posts and videos breaks down each section of the official forms into clear, manageable steps. It serves as a clear, easy-to-understand, step-by-step guide to help you understand the bankruptcy petition with confidence. Through informative videos and detailed blog posts, you’ll gain practical insights, tips, and explanations to ensure you’re prepared every step of the way.
By Alexander Hernandez, J.D., Professor, and Author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge).
Updated on October 28, 2025.
Whether you’re just beginning the process or looking for answers to specific questions, this resource is here to support you on your journey toward financial relief and a fresh start. The blog posts and videos will help you whether you are filing bankruptcy without the assistance of a lawyer, a paralegal, or a legal studies student learning about bankruptcy.
- Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy. Official Bankruptcy Form 101
- Eviction Judgments- Initial Statement About an Eviction Judgment Against You (individuals) Official Form 101A and Statement About Payment of an Eviction Judgment Against You (individuals) Official Form 101 B.
- Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments, Official Form 103A, and Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived, Official Form 103B.
- Declaration About an Individual Debtor’s Schedules. Official Form 106DEC.
- Official Form 106Sum, Summary of Your Assets and Liabilities and Certain Statistical Information
- Form Number: B 106A/BSchedule A/B: Property (individuals)
- Schedule C: The Property You Claim as Exempt (individuals)
- Schedule D: Creditors Who Hold Claims Secured By Property (individuals)
- Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims (individuals)
- Schedule G: Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (individuals)
- Schedule H: Your Codebtors (individuals)
Click here for the main YouTube Playlist link.
Additional Resources
- The Automatic Stay (11 U.S.C. § 362): A Legal Expert’s Guide
- 11 U.S.C. § 101(14A): The Domestic Support Obligation (DSO) Defined
Professor Hernandez is an attorney specializing in consumer finance and debt relief. He is the published author of Consumer Bankruptcy Law (Routledge Publishing) and teaches law and finance courses in both English and Spanish for an international university.
Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link. You can also listen to my podcast on Spotify.
You can learn more about filing for bankruptcy and the bankruptcy petition via this link. Information on the bankruptcy court system, contact information for trustees, and your state’s exemptions can be found here. The federal bankruptcy exemptions are listed here. The latest version of the 341 Meeting of the Creditors can be found here.
You can find additional categories by clicking below or by using the search feature at the top of this page:
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.
Colleges and universities can purchase my bankruptcy law textbook directly from Routledge Publishing. Paralegals and students who are buying single copies can do so via Amazon Books. To access my YouTube channel, click this link. You can also listen to my podcast on Spotify.
You can find additional categories by clicking below or by using the search feature at the top of this page:
Please note that the information on this site does not constitute legal advice and should be considered for informational purposes only.