Bankruptcy Document Checklist: What Law Firms Collect from Clients

Identity and household

Trustees verify identity at the meeting of creditors, and the petition asks about everyone in the household.

• Government-issued photo ID
• Proof of Social Security number
• Names, ages, and relationships of household members and dependents

Income

Income documents support the schedules and the means test. The Bankruptcy Code requires debtors to provide payment advices (pay stubs) received within 60 days before filing.

• Pay stubs covering the 60 days before filing
• Profit and loss records for self-employment or business income
• Statements for Social Security, unemployment, disability, or pension income
• Records of child support or alimony received

Tax returns

Debtors must give the trustee a copy of their most recent federal tax return before the meeting of creditors. Many firms also request prior years to review refunds, tax debts, and income history.

• Most recent federal tax return, including all schedules
• State tax returns
• Prior-year returns requested by your firm or trustee

Bank and financial accounts

Account statements show balances on the filing date and recent activity that trustees may ask about.

• Checking and savings account statements
• Retirement account statements such as 401(k) and IRA
• Investment, brokerage, and cryptocurrency account statements

Debts

A complete creditor list protects the client, because debts left off the schedules can create problems later.

• Recent credit report
• Credit card, medical, and personal loan statements
• Collection letters, lawsuits, and judgments
• Student loan and tax debt statements

Property

Property documents support the asset schedules and exemption planning.

• Deeds, mortgage statements, and property tax bills
• Vehicle titles, registrations, and loan statements
• Leases for homes or vehicles
• Insurance policies and records of valuable personal property

Monthly expenses

Expense records support the budget schedule and, in Chapter 13, the proposed plan payment.

• Rent or mortgage payments
• Utilities, phone, and internet bills
• Insurance, childcare, and medical expenses

Credit counseling certificate

Individual debtors generally must complete credit counseling with an approved agency within 180 days before filing, and the certificate is filed with the petition.

How to collect bankruptcy documents without the chase

The fastest firms stop sending one long static checklist. Instead, they request the documents that match each client's answers, give clients a secure place to upload from any device, and track what is still missing in one view.

MatterVanta does this inside the same workflow as the client questionnaire, so document requests, uploads, OCR extraction, and attorney review stay connected to the case.