By Robert A. Stiberman, Esq., Member of The Florida Bar since 1998, representing Florida bankruptcy clients since 2009. Last reviewed: June 2026.
To file Chapter 7 in Florida you must complete and sign a set of official federal bankruptcy forms (the Voluntary Petition, your schedules, the Statement of Financial Affairs, the means test, and the Statement of Intention) and file them with the court, along with any local forms your district requires. The full package runs roughly 70 to 80 pages, all signed under penalty of perjury. Below is the complete list of forms, what each one does, the documents you’ll need to fill them out, and the deadlines that trip people up. (Looking for what records to gather rather than which forms to file? See our documents needed to file Chapter 7 guide.)
A note from experience: I’ve repeatedly seen people file Chapter 7 on their own only to have the case dismissed for failing to follow the rules. Bankruptcy judges and the clerk’s office are not allowed to give you legal advice. Filing without a lawyer is permitted, but the federal rules and local court requirements are unforgiving, so it’s worth at least a consultation before you file.
The Official Chapter 7 Forms You’ll File
These are the standard federal forms required to file an individual Chapter 7 case in Florida:
- Voluntary Petition for Individuals (Official Form 101): the document that opens your case.
- Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Official Form 121).
- Summary of Your Assets and Liabilities (Official Form 106Sum).
- Schedule A/B: Property (Form 106A/B).
- Schedule C: The Property You Claim as Exempt (Form 106C): where you apply Florida’s exemptions.
- Schedule D: Creditors Who Have Claims Secured by Property (Form 106D).
- Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims (Form 106E/F).
- Schedule G: Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (Form 106G).
- Schedule H: Your Codebtors (Form 106H).
- Schedule I: Your Income (Form 106I).
- Schedule J: Your Expenses (Form 106J) (and Schedule J-2 if applicable).
- Declaration About an Individual Debtor’s Schedules (Form 106Dec).
- Statement of Financial Affairs (Official Form 107).
- Statement of Intention for Individuals Filing Under Chapter 7 (Official Form 108).
- Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income / Means Test (Form 122A-1, and 122A-2 if required).
- Certificate of Credit Counseling (from an approved agency, completed before filing).
- Creditor Matrix (the mailing list of all creditors).
You can download the current forms from the U.S. Courts bankruptcy forms page. Note that the Southern District of Florida and other districts have their own local forms that must be used alongside the federal ones.
Forms That Apply Only in Certain Cases
- Initial Statement About an Eviction Judgment (Form 101A/101B): if a landlord has a judgment against you.
- Disclosure of Compensation of Attorney (Form 2030), or, for non-attorney preparers, the Bankruptcy Petition Preparer disclosures.
- Application to Pay the Filing Fee in Installments (Form 103A) or Application to Have the Chapter 7 Filing Fee Waived (Form 103B).
- Mortgage Modification Mediation (MMM) forms: for homeowners behind on a mortgage who want to pursue a court-facilitated modification (a voluntary process; the judge does not approve or deny the modification itself).
The court’s Student Loan Program forms are part of the Chapter 13 program, not Chapter 7.
The “Skeletal Filing” and the 14-Day Rule
You can open a case quickly with a “skeletal” (emergency) filing, the petition and a few required documents, which is often used to trigger the automatic stay fast (for example, to stop a foreclosure sale or garnishment). But if you file that way, you have 14 days to file the complete set of schedules and forms (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007). Miss that deadline and your case can be dismissed. This is one of the most common ways pro se cases fall apart.
What You’ll Need to Complete the Forms
Gather these before you start (the same records also covered in our documents needed guide):
- Your credit report (to capture every creditor).
- Income for the last 6 full months (pay stubs for W-2 employees; Social Security award letter or deposits; 6 months of bank statements for the self-employed to build a profit-and-loss).
- 6 full months of bank statements for all accounts.
- Your two most recent federal tax returns.
- Vehicle registrations (tip: photograph the odometer for Schedule A/B) and mortgage statements.
- Retirement/pension statements and a list of assets and household goods, with values or appraisals.
- Business records if you own a business (accounts, returns, asset list).
- Information on any lawsuits or claims you’re involved in.
- The $338 filing fee (or a request to pay in installments or, in Chapter 7, to waive it).
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download the Chapter 7 bankruptcy forms for Florida? The federal forms are at uscourts.gov; your district (for example, the Southern District of Florida) also publishes required local forms. Use the current versions, outdated forms can be rejected.
Can I file Chapter 7 without a lawyer in Florida? Yes, but the case must comply with the federal rules and your district’s local rules, and the clerk and judge cannot give you legal advice. Pro se cases are frequently dismissed for form and procedure errors.
What is a skeletal or emergency filing? Filing the petition (plus a few required documents) to open the case fast and trigger the automatic stay, with the remaining forms due within 14 days.
How much is the Chapter 7 filing fee? $338 in 2026, payable at filing, with installment and (income-based) waiver options available.
Talk to a Florida Bankruptcy Attorney
We prepare and file every required form for you, federal and local, and make sure nothing is missed or late. Call 954-922-2283 or request a free, confidential consultation. Firmwide, we’ve filed more than 2,500 Florida bankruptcies since 2009. See also what it costs to file and our Chapter 7 overview.
See real Florida bankruptcy case results.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Required forms can vary by district and case; confirm what applies to you with an attorney.