Filing without an Attorney

Answer:

An individual (or persons who are married spouses filing jointly in the same case) may file a bankruptcy case without the assistance of an attorney.  When this happens the individual(s) represent themselves as debtors in pro se, which can be extremely difficult to do.  Retaining a competent attorney is highly recommended.  For information about attorney referral programs contact a local bar association.

Pursuant to Local Rule 9010-1(a), a corporation, partnership, or any entity other than a natural person may not file a bankruptcy case in the Northern District of California except through an attorney admitted to practice in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Answer:

Forms are generally available at office supply stores and other businesses online and otherwise that sell legal forms.  Forms are also available from the national United States Courts website and the Northern District of California Bankruptcy Court website.  The Bankruptcy Court Clerk divisional offices in the Northern District of California do not stock forms.

Answer:

The Court has four divisional offices located in San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and Santa Rosa.  The proper divisional office to file a bankruptcy petition is determined by the debtor's county of residence, as follows:

Santa Rosa - Counties of Del Norte, Mendocino, Humboldt, Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Lake. The division office is located at the United States Courthouse, 99 South "E" Street, Santa Rosa, California 95404.

San Francisco - Counties of San Francisco and San Mateo. The division office is located at 450 Golden Gate Avenue, 18th Floor, San Francisco, California.  (mailing address: 450 Golden Gate Avenue, Mailbox 36099, San Francisco, CA 94102)

Oakland - Counties of Alameda and Contra Costa. The division office is located at 1300 Clay Street, Room 300, Oakland, California 94612 (mailing address: 1300 Clay Street, Room 300, Oakland, California 94612).

San Jose - Counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito. The division office is located at the United States Courthouse, 280 South First Street, Room 3035, San Jose, California 95113.

Answer:

The Court requires only an original document be provided for filing.  If however you wish to have a Court-stamped conformed copy of an original document returned to you, a copy of the original document must also be provided.  If you are filing by mail you must include an appropriately sized self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage affixed to hold and return the conformed copy to you.   

Note: For some documents the judge assigned to the case may require that a copy be provided (sometimes also referred to as a “chamber’s copy,” “judge’s copy” or a “courtesy copy”).  Please refer to the Division Procedures for the posted copy requirements of the assigned judge.

Answer:
  • Voluntary Petition
  • Statement About Your Social Security Number
  • Certificate of Credit Counseling
  • List of Creditors
Answer:

The Court is open to the public between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on Federal holidays.  To file an emergency petition on paper after regular business hours, a pre-approved appointment must be arranged. Please contact the Court at (888) 821-7606 to arrange for an emergency filing.

Answer:

No. The only acceptable forms for debtors to pay fees are money orders and cashiers' checks made payable to “Clerk, U.S. Bankruptcy Court,” in the exact amount of the required payment.  The Clerk's Office does not make change.

Answer:

Federal law (28 U.S.C. §1930) requires the payment of a fee to file a bankruptcy petition and also, in limited circumstances, permits such fees to be waived or paid via installments.  

In a chapter 7 case voluntarily filed by an individual, if the debtor's income is less than 150% of the federal poverty level relative to the debtor’s family size, and the debtor is unable to pay the fee in installments, the Court may waive payment of the fee.  A fee waiver may be requested by filing a completed Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived.  If the Court denies the request, the debtor may be required to pay the fee in full or via installment payments.

An individual filing a voluntary case (or married spouses voluntarily filing a joint case) under any chapter who is unable to pay the full fee at the time of filing may request the fee be paid via installments by filing an Application for Individuals to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments.

Answer:

The Clerk’s Office will send a notice of your bankruptcy case filing to those creditors listed with a complete street address, city, state and zip code in your initial bankruptcy petition.  It is your responsibility to proceed as you think is necessary to notify any other person or entity.

Answer:

Documents filed with the Court, and complete case information, is immediately available for viewing by attorneys, parties and the general public through PACER.

Answer:

No. Full access to CM/ECF is available to attorneys and limited access is available to certain other professionals (creditors, trustee staff, etc.) who have successfully completed CM/ECF training.

Answer:

The bankruptcy court does not report or furnish information to any consumer credit reporting agency, and is not responsible for verifying or validating information in consumers' credit reports. 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) provide information to the public on their websites regarding disputing data on credit reports.  The FTC's toll-free number is 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357), and the CFPB's toll-free number is 855-411-2372.