- 1). Locate your case file. To correctly re-open your closed case, you will need your case number.
- 2). Verify the exemption you want to take is valid. Each state has its own bankruptcy exemptions, so an exemption you heard about from a friend in another state may not apply to your case. Confirm with the clerk at your local bankruptcy court that the particular exemption you want to use is valid in your state.
- 3). Get the correct local forms. Most bankruptcy courts have their own forms for administrative procedures, such as re-opening or amending bankruptcy cases.
- 4). Cite the correct law on your amended Schedule C, "Property Claimed As Exempt." On this form, it is not sufficient to simply list your amended exempt property. You must also cite the correct state or federal exemption that protects your property.
- 5). Add "amended" to the top of your amended Schedule C. This notation will help keep your case file organized in the bankruptcy court's files.
- 6). File your paperwork with the administrative fee. To re-open a closed bankruptcy case, you must pay a fee of between $245 for a Chapter 7 case to $1,000 for a Chapter 9, 11 or 15 bankruptcy. You may have to pay additional fees depending on your specific case. U.S. Courts publishes a fee schedule on its website.
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