Click here to return to the Court Home pageFront Counter: Filing Chapters 7, 11, 13 at the Courthouse
Bulletin BoardFront CounterFile RoomCourtroomsLaw LibraryCourthouse TourSite MapGuest BookPicture
Picture
PicturePicture
Filing without an Attorney (Pro Se)

This page is primarily for bankruptcy case filers
who are not represented by an attorney (pro se filers)
and contains information pertaining to filing at the courthouse or by mail.

Bankruptcy can be complicated. The staff of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court Clerk's office provides a variety of services; however they are not permitted to assist with the preparation of the voluntary petition, schedules, or other documents, nor can they provide legal advice. All parties must comply with the Local Bankruptcy Rules for the Southern District of California, the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure. Failure to do so may result in dismissal of the case, or other sanctions.
It is always best to seek legal advice and representation from an attorney experienced in bankruptcy law and procedure.

Bankruptcy filers represented by an attorney must use a different set of forms.
Please go to our Court Forms page.

Court Address and Hours of Operation

 

Information about the basics of the bankruptcy process
can be found by clicking here: Bankruptcy Basics.
You'll find videos describing basic information about the process, the relief it offers, and how to find the legal help you may need.
  • Frequently Asked Questions for Pro Se Filers (coming soon)
Although the Forms Packages shown below contain multiple forms,
you can obtain individual forms by going to the
Individual Forms page.

Information Packet

You may find the PDF documents contained in the Information Packet helpful as you file your case. The four documents are:

  • Have You Completed Credit Counseling? (CSD 1013)
  • List of Approved Credit Counseling Agencies
  • Common Causes for Dismissal Pertaining to Debtor Responsibilities / Deadlines in a Bankruptcy Case (CSD 1900)
  • Filing Your Creditor List on Diskette

Click here to get the Information Packet.

Top

Filing Tips

  • Remember to sign all of your documents.
  • Please staple documents in the upper-left corner only.
  • Personal checks are not accepted.The court accepts payment of filing fees in cash, cashier's check, or money order and for the exact amount only.
  • If you mail your documents to us, please include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage so that we can return a copy to you.
  • If you complete the fillable forms on your computer and you do not have Adobe Writer, you must print the completed forms before closing the document. If you do not do this, the information that you typed will be lost.

Top

Forms for Filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13

For both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases, you must submit two complete sets: the original and a copy. Be sure that you make an additional copy of each document.

Chapter 7 Forms | Chapter 13 Forms

Chapter 7 Forms

Chapter 7
Forms Package

The Chapter 7 Forms Package is a single PDF document that contains the following forms for Chapter 7 filings:

  • B 1 - Voluntary Petition
  • B 1D - Exhibit D to Voluntary Petition (B1): Individual Debtor's Statement of Compliance with Credit Counseling Requirement
  • B 6 - Summary of Schedules
  • B 6A - Schedule A / Real Property
  • B 6B - Schedule B / Personal Property
  • B 6C - Schedule C / Property Claimed as Exempt
  • B 6D - Schedule D / Creditors Holding Secured Claims
  • B 6E - Schedule E / Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims
  • B 6F - Schedule F / Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims
  • B 6G - Schedule G / Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases
  • B 6H - Schedule H / Codebtors
  • B 6I - Schedule I / Current Income of Individual Debtors
  • B 6J - Schedule J / Current Expenditures of Individual Debtors
  • B 6 Declaration - Declaration Concerning Debtor's Schedules
  • B 7 - Statement of Financial Affairs
  • B 8 - Chapter 7 Individual Debtor's Statement of Intention
  • B 22A - Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income & Means-Test Calculation


  

Chapter 7
Additional Required Forms

These Chapter 7 Required Forms must be filed at the same time as Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition:

  • B 21 - Statement of Social Security Numbers
  • CSD 1004 - Declaration Re: Filing of Petition, Schedules, & Statements on Diskette
  • CSD 1007- Credit Matrix Instructions (Although you must file your Creditor Matrix, you do not need to file Form CSD 1007.)
Chapter 7
Supplemental Forms

Also, depending upon your circumstances, the forms shown below may or may not be needed with Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition. If the form is used, it must be filed at the same time as Form B1 - Voluntary petition but separately.

  • CSD 1010 - Request for Waiver of Diskette Requirement
  • CSD 1025 - Certificate of Exigent Circumstances & Motion for Extension of Time to File Certificate of Credit Counseling
  • CSD 1026 - Order on Motion for Extension of Time due to Exigent Circumstances. (The order will be automatically created and uploaded)
  • B 19A - Declaration & Signature of Non-Attorney Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
  • CSD 1006 - Application to Pay Filing Fees in Installments
  • CSD 1020 - Application for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee for Individuals Who Cannot Pay the Filing Fee in Full or in Installments
  • CSD 1021 - Order on Debtor's Applicaton for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee.(The order will be automatically created and uploaded.)
For information regarding filing a “bare bones” petition, click here.

Top

Chapter 13 Forms

Chapter 13
Forms Package

The Chapter 13 Forms Package is a single PDF document that contains the following forms for Chapter 13 filings:

  • B 1 - Voluntary Petition
  • B 1 - Exhibit D to Voluntary Petition (B1): Individual Debtor's Statement of Compliance with Credit Counseling Requirement
  • B 6 - Summary of Schedules
  • B 6A - Schedule A / Real Property
  • B 6B - Schedule B / Personal Property
  • B 6C - Schedule C / Property Claimed as Exempt
  • B 6D - Schedule D / Creditors Holding Secured Claims
  • B 6E - Schedule E / Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims
  • B 6F - Schedule F / Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims
  • B 6G - Schedule G / Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases
  • B 6H - Schedule H / Codebtors
  • B 6I - Schedule I / Current Income of Individual Debtors
  • B 6J - Schedule J / Current Expenditures of Individual Debtors
  • B 6 Declaration - Declaration Concerning Debtor's Schedules
  • B 7 - Statement of Financial Affairs
  • B 22C - Chapter 13 Statement of Current Monthly Income & Calculation of Committment Period and Disposible Income

Chapter 13
Additional Required Forms

The Chapter 13 Required Forms must be filed at the same time as Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition.

  • B 21 - Statement of Social Security Numbers
  • CSD 1004 - Declaration Re: Filing of Petition, Schedules, & Statements on Diskette
  • CSD 1007- Credit Matrix Instructions (Although you must file your Creditor Matrix, you do not need to file Form CSD 1007.)

Chapter 13
Supplemental Forms

Also, depending upon your circumstances, the forms shown below may or may not be needed with Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition. If the form is used, it must be filed at the same time as Form B1 - Voluntary petition but separately.

  • CSD 1010 - Request for Waiver of Diskette Requirement
  • CSD 1025 - Certificate of Exigent Circumstances & Motion for Extension of Time to File Certificate of Credit Counseling
  • CSD 1026 - Order on Motion for Extension of Time due to Exigent Circumstances.(The order will be automatically created and uploaded.)
  • B 19A - Declaration & Signature of Non-Attorney Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
  • CSD 1006 - Application to Pay Filing Fees in Installments
For information regarding filing a “bare bones” petition, click here.
 

Top

“Bare Bones” Forms Packages

If you do not have all of your information that is needed at the time of filing, you can file a “bare bones” petition. At a minimum, the documents in the “bare bones” Forms package can be filed first, followed by the documents in the Schedules package within 14 days after filing the voluntary petition. Important: If the schedules are not filed within the 14 days, your case will be dismissed.

 
Chapter 7 “Bare Bones” Forms

Chapter 7 “Bare Bones”
Forms Package

The Chapter 7 Forms Package is a single PDF document that contains the following forms for Chapter 7 filings:

  • B 1 - Voluntary Petition
  • B 1D - Exhibit D to Voluntary Petition (B1): Individual Debtor's Statement of Compliance with Credit Counseling Requirement
  • B 21 - Statement of Social Security Numbers
  • CSD 1004 - Declaration Re: Filing of Petition, Schedules, & Statements on Diskette
  • CSD 1007- Credit Matrix Instructions (Although you must file your Creditor Matrix, you do not need to file Form CSD 1007.)
Chapter 7 “Bare Bones”
Schedules Package

The Chapter 7 “Bare Bones” Schedules Package is a single PDF document that contains the following forms for Chapter 7 filings. These forms must be filed within 14 days of filing Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition or your case will be dismissed:

  • CSD 1099 - Balance of Schedules, Statements, and/or Chapter 13 Plan
  • B 6 - Summary of Schedules
  • B 6A - Schedule A / Real Property
  • B 6B - Schedule B / Personal Property
  • B 6C - Schedule C / Property Claimed as Exempt
  • B 6D - Schedule D / Creditors Holding Secured Claims
  • B 6E - Schedule E / Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims
  • B 6F - Schedule F / Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims
  • B 6G - Schedule G / Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases
  • B 6H - Schedule H / Codebtors
  • B 6I - Schedule I / Current Income of Individual Debtors
  • B 6J - Schedule J / Current Expenditures of Individual Debtors
  • B 6 Declaration - Declaration Concerning Debtor's Schedules
  • B 7 - Statement of Financial Affairs
  • B 8 - Chapter 7 Individual Debtor's Statement of Intention
  • B 22A - Chapter 7 Statement of Current Monthly Income & Means-Test Calculation

 

  

Chapter 7
Supplemental Forms

Also, depending upon your circumstances, the following forms may or may not be needed with Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition. If the form is used, it must be filed at the same time as the Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition but separately:

  • CSD 1025 - Certificate of Exigent Circumstances & Motion for Extension of Time to File Certificate of Credit Counseling
  • CSD 1026 - Order on Motion for Extension of Time due to Exigent Circumstances.(The order will be automatically created and uploaded.)
  • CSD 1006 - Application to Pay Filing Fees in Installments
  • CSD 1020 - Application for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee for Individuals Who Cannot Pay the Filing Fee in Full or in Installments
  • CSD 1021 - Order on Debtor's Applicaton for Waiver of the Chapter 7 Filing Fee.(The order will be automatically created and uploaded.)
  • CSD 1010 - Request for Waiver of Diskette Requirement

  • B 19A - Declaration and Signature of Non-Attorney Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
 

Top

Chapter 13 “Bare Bones” Forms Packages

Chapter 13 “Bare Bones”
Forms Package

The Chapter 13 “Bare Bones” Forms Package is a single PDF document that contains the following forms for Chapter 13 filings:

  • B 1 - Voluntary Petition
  • B 1D - Exhibit D to Voluntary Petition (B1): Individual Debtor's Statement of Compliance with Credit Counseling Requirement
  • B 21 - Statement of Social Security Numbers
  • CSD 1004 - Declaration Re: Filing of Petition, Schedules, & Statements on Diskette
  • CSD 1007- Credit Matrix Instructions (Although you must file your Creditor Matrix, you do not need to file Form CSD 1007.)


Chapter 13 “Bare Bones”
Schedules Package

The Chapter 13 “Bare Bones” Schedules Package is a single PDF document that contains the following forms for Chapter 13 filings. These forms must be filed within 14 days of filing Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition or your case will be dismissed:

  • CSD 1099 - Balance of Schedules, Statements, and/or Chapter 13 Plan
  • B 6 - Summary of Schedules
  • B 6A - Schedule A / Real Property
  • B 6B - Schedule B / Personal Property
  • B 6C - Schedule C / Property Claimed as Exempt
  • B 6D - Schedule D / Creditors Holding Secured Claims
  • B 6E - Schedule E / Creditors Holding Unsecured Priority Claims
  • B 6F - Schedule F / Creditors Holding Unsecured Nonpriority Claims
  • B 6G - Schedule G / Executory Contracts & Unexpired Leases
  • B 6H - Schedule H / Codebtors
  • B 6I - Schedule I / Current Income of Individual Debtors
  • B 6J - Schedule J / Current Expenditures of Individual Debtors
  • B 6 Declaration - Declaration Concerning Debtor's Schedules
  • B 7 - Statement of Financial Affairs
  • B 22C - Chapter 13 Statement of Current Monthly Income & Calculation of Commitment Period and Disposible Income
  • Chapter 13 Plan

 

  

Chapter 13
Supplemental Forms

Also, depending upon your circumstances, the following forms may or may not be needed with Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition. If the form is used, it must be filed at the same time as the Form B 1 - Voluntary Petition but separately:

  • CSD 1025 - Certificate of Exigent Circumstances & Motion for Extension of Time to File Certificate of Credit Counseling
  • CSD 1026 - Order on Motion for Extension of Time due to Exigent Circumstances.(The order will be automatically created and uploaded.)
  • CSD 1006 - Application to Pay Filing Fees in Installments
  • CSD 1010 - Request for Waiver of Diskette Requirement

  • B 19A - Declaration and Signature of Non-Attorney Bankruptcy Petition Preparer

 

Top

Filing Fees for Chapters 7, 11, or 13

 
Item Chapter 7 - Voluntary Chapter 11 -
Voluntary 		Chapter 13 -
Voluntary
$306.00
$1046.00
$281.00
OR
      
*Application to Pay Filing Fees in Installments
(CSD 1006)
$153.00**
$523.00**
$140.500**
OR
      
*Application for Waiver of Chapter 7 Filing Fee
(CSD 1020)
$0.00
(not applicable)
(not applicable)
 

* Denotes that the fee and/or form is required at the time of filing in a “bare bones” filing

** Balance is due within 30 days of petition filing date

Top

Case-Reopening Forms Package

The Case Reopening Forms Package contains the following forms for reopening a bankruptcy case that has been closed. When filing these forms, please submit the Motion and Notice at the same time, but as separate documents. Then wait 14 days to submit the Order. Please refer to Local Rule 5010 for more information.

Top

Front Counter

Filing Chapter 12 at the Courthouse | Filing Other Items at the Courthouse