What Documents Are Needed to File Chapter 13?

Credit Counseling Certification

Prior to filing a Chapter 13 petition, you are required to complete credit counseling with a court-approved organization. Credit counseling must be completed in the 180 days prior to filing unless emergency circumstances apply. A copy of your certificate of completion must be filed when you submit your initial petition. The U.S. Trustee Program maintains a list of approved credit counseling agencies in each state on its website.

The creditor matrix is a list of the creditors you owe money to. The list of creditors must include their name, mailing address, telephone number, the account number and the amount you owe. The creditor matrix must be submitted to the court on a floppy disk or CD at the time you file your petition or within two business days.

You must provide the court with a list of your current monthly income and expenses within 14 days of filing. You must include income from all sources and provide the court with your pay stubs for the previous 60 days. If you are required to make monthly payments to satisfy a domestic support obligation, you must also provide proof of payment. Your creditors may also request to see copies of your prior year's tax return.

The statement of financial affairs is a 25-question form designed to gather information about your overall financial situation. A copy of this form can be obtained from the U.S. Courts website. You are required to answer questions pertaining to your income, monthly payments to creditors, any lawsuits or judgments entered against you and the amount and type of your assets. The statement of financial affairs must be filed within 14 days of submitting your initial petition.

Your repayment plan outlines the debts you owe and how you plan to repay them over a three to five year period. You have 14 days from the date of your initial filing to submit your repayment plan. The amount of your payments depends on the types of debt you owe, the amount and your monthly disposable income. Certain types of debts, such as back taxes, alimony, student loans and child support must be paid first and in full, followed by mortgage or vehicle loans. Unsecured debts such as credit cards or medical bills receive lowest priority.