Income and household
Collect recent pay information, benefits, self-employment records, household contributions, and tax returns. Your household and income can affect the questions that apply to your filing.
Self-guided bankruptcy preparation
Bankruptcy document preparation, one clear step at a time.
Petition Pilot helps you organize the information behind a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing, then turns your answers into court-formatted documents you can review before you print, sign, and file.
Petition Pilot is document-preparation software, not a law firm.
A more orderly way to begin
Blank court forms ask for a lot. A guided process helps you work through it.
Bankruptcy paperwork is designed to give the court, trustee, and creditors a complete picture of your finances. That usually means gathering details about your household, income, property, debts, monthly expenses, and recent financial activity. The official forms are public, but a download alone does not help you decide what information to collect first or how each part of your financial picture connects to the next.
Petition Pilot gives self-guided filers a structured place to begin. Instead of moving through a large packet form by form, you answer plain-English questions by topic. Your answers are organized into court-formatted documents for you to review. That can make the preparation process feel more manageable while keeping you responsible for the filing you submit.
Preparing Chapter 13 forms? See the dedicated Chapter 13 guide.
What you will organize
Your bankruptcy documents begin with a complete financial picture.
No two filings are the same. These are the main kinds of information many people need to gather before reviewing a complete Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 document packet.
Property and accounts
List the property and accounts you own or have an interest in, including a home, vehicle, bank accounts, retirement accounts, household goods, and other items that matter to you.
Debts and creditors
Bring together credit cards, medical bills, loans, collection notices, court papers, tax debts, co-signed debts, and creditor contact information so important accounts are less likely to be missed.
Expenses and obligations
Prepare a current view of regular household costs such as housing, food, utilities, transportation, insurance, support obligations, and other expenses that shape your monthly budget.
Before you start
Build a simple record folder before you begin.
You do not have to solve every bankruptcy question before opening a guided workflow. Having current records nearby can make it easier to answer accurately, pause when you need to check something, and return without losing your place.
Use actual statements and notices whenever you can. An estimate may be enough to get oriented, but the documents you file need a careful review. If you are unsure how a transfer, lawsuit, lien, property interest, deadline, or recent financial change affects you, pause and get legal advice from an attorney.
- Income recordsRecent pay stubs, benefit statements, business records, and tax returns can help you describe your current household income.
- Debt statementsSave recent bills, loan statements, collection letters, and court papers, together with the names and addresses of creditors.
- Property detailsKeep account balances, vehicle information, mortgage statements, lease information, and records for property with a loan or lien within reach.
- Monthly costsA current list of ordinary household expenses makes budget questions easier to review in one sitting.
Choose the support that fits
Document preparation and legal advice are different kinds of help.
Self-guided preparation can be a practical option for someone who is comfortable reviewing their own paperwork and understands they remain responsible for the filing. Petition Pilot can help organize information and prepare documents, but it cannot tell you which legal choice is right for you, explain your individual rights, or represent you in court.
Attorney support may be the better path when your situation involves a home or vehicle you are trying to keep, a business, wage garnishment, foreclosure or repossession concerns, a lawsuit, tax debt, substantial assets, recent transfers, or a deadline that leaves little room for error. An independent attorney can give advice and representation based on your circumstances.
Prepare your own documents
Use Petition Pilot when self-guided preparation fits your situation and you are ready to review, print, sign, and file your own documents.
Open Petition PilotTalk with an attorney
Request a conversation with an independent bankruptcy attorney or law firm that may serve your area when you need legal advice or representation.
Request a consultationOfficial information
Keep trusted court resources close by.
Petition Pilot can help you organize your document-preparation process. For current official forms, bankruptcy basics, and approved course-provider information, use the federal resources below. Your local bankruptcy court can also explain its filing procedures and requirements.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is bankruptcy document preparation?
Bankruptcy document preparation is the work of organizing the information and court forms needed for a filing. Petition Pilot guides you through that preparation in plain English and produces court-formatted documents for you to review. It does not provide legal advice or represent you in court.
Can I prepare bankruptcy documents without an attorney?
Some people prepare and file their own bankruptcy documents. Whether that is appropriate depends on your circumstances and comfort with reviewing a federal court filing. If you need advice about your rights, property, debts, deadlines, or legal strategy, speak with a licensed bankruptcy attorney.
Does Petition Pilot file bankruptcy documents for me?
No. Petition Pilot helps you prepare court-formatted documents. You are responsible for reviewing them for accuracy, printing, signing, and filing them with the bankruptcy court that serves your area.
What does Petition Pilot cost?
Petition Pilot lists Chapter 7 preparation at $150 and Chapter 13 preparation at $170. Court filing fees, required courses, and any attorney fees are separate. Check official sources and your local court for current requirements and costs.
Ready when you are
Bring more order to your bankruptcy paperwork.
Start with guided questions, then review your court-formatted documents at your own pace before you print, sign, and file.