What Documents do I need to File Bankruptcy?

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is a document intensive process and you will have to have proof of your finances in exchange for the Court giving you relief from your creditors and ultimately granting you a legal discharge of all your debts. The typical documents you will need are tax returns for the past 2 years, paystubs from your employment for the past 6 months, or other evidence of your monthly income, such as a Social Security Income statement. You will also need to have several months of bank statements available for all your bank accounts, including checking, savings, prepaid cards and online accounts like Venmo and CashApp.

Some of the other necessary documents you will likely need include credit reports, retirement account statements, vehicle title, any legal documents such as lawsuits, and a copy of your driver’s license and social security card. Each person’s case is unique and your document requirements may be different than listed here. After consulting with an experienced bankruptcy attorney, you will have a better idea of exactly what documents will be required in your case.

If you become a client with MDRF, our attorneys do everything possible to assist you with gathering all of the necessary documents. It may feel overwhelming, but a lot of documents can be obtained online or requested over the phone. When preparing a case for filing, we do not need all documents at once, and will provide updates lists of documents needed every time we receive anything.

If you have questions about the bankruptcy process, or how to best approach tackling your debt, please reach out to us. MDRF is a non-profit and our legal assistance is always free. We are happy to provide a free consultation to any Massachusetts resident, and if we are able to help more directly and you qualify under our Guidelines, we offer free legal representation.

Reach out to us through our site, email us at info@madrf.org, or give us a call at 508-232-4633 or 866-831-0236. We offer consults over the phone, via video or in-office appointments.