U.S. FEDERAL BANKRUPTCY COURT
Form B101, Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy
Open your bankruptcy case the right way — with a guided walkthrough of every question.
What is B101 used for?
Form B101 is the official petition you file with a U.S. Bankruptcy Court to formally open your bankruptcy case. Filing it triggers an automatic stay that immediately stops most debt collection, foreclosure, and repossession actions against you.
File a complete and accurate bankruptcy petition so the court can open your case, issue the automatic stay to stop collection actions, and assign a trustee to move your case forward.
Incomplete or inaccurate petitions can result in dismissal of your case, loss of the automatic stay, and possible criminal penalties for false statements. Strongly consider hiring a bankruptcy attorney before filing — courts treat self-represented filers the same as attorneys.
Time, difficulty & who this form is for
Average time
1–3 hours to gather information; 30–60 minutes to complete the form
Difficulty
detail-heavy
Best for
Individuals (and married couples) who can no longer pay their debts and want to formally request bankruptcy protection from a federal court
What do I need before I start?
- Your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)
- A government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport) — bring it to your trustee meeting
- Your current home address and mailing address
- Names and addresses of all your creditors
- Your credit counseling certificate from an approved agency (must be dated within 180 days before you file)
- Your spouse's information if filing a joint case
- Business name and address if you operate as a sole proprietor
- Any prior bankruptcy case numbers from the last 8 years
How the walkthrough is organized
Identify Yourself (Part 1)
Your legal name as it appears on your government-issued ID, any other names you have used in the last 8 years, your Social Security number or ITIN, any Employer Identification Numbers, and your current home address and mailing address.
Your Bankruptcy Case Details (Part 2)
The chapter of bankruptcy you are filing under (7, 11, 12, or 13), how you will pay the filing fee, whether you have filed for bankruptcy before, whether a related party has a pending case, whether your landlord has an eviction judgment against you, and which court district applies to you.
Sole-Proprietorship Business (Part 3)
If you own and operate a business as a sole proprietor, you provide the business name, address, and business type. This section is skipped entirely if you do not have a sole-proprietorship business.
Hazardous or Urgent Property (Part 4)
If you own property that poses a public health hazard or needs urgent attention — such as livestock, perishable goods, or a structurally dangerous building — you describe the hazard and its location. Most filers skip this section.
Credit Counseling Status (Part 5)
You certify which credit counseling situation applies to you: briefing completed with certificate, briefing completed but certificate not yet received, unable to get briefing due to exigency, or a waiver request. The court may dismiss your case if this is not completed truthfully.
Reporting Information (Part 6)
What type of debts you primarily owe (consumer, business, or other), whether funds will be available for unsecured creditors after Chapter 7 exemptions, your estimated number of creditors, and your estimated asset and liability ranges.
What happens after I complete it?
Answer the questions, review your document, then follow its official signing and delivery instructions. Downloading does not submit the form.
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