The Documents You’ll Need for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Florida
Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida requires careful preparation and accurate documentation. Having all the necessary forms ready ensures a smoother filing process and reduces the chances of delays or dismissal. Below is a comprehensive list of the documents you’ll need before, during, and after filing for bankruptcy in Florida.
| Category | Document Name | Description / Purpose |
| Bankruptcy Petition | Voluntary Petition (Official Form 101) | The main document that starts your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case. |
| Personal Information | Statement About Your Social Security Numbers (Form 121) | Lists your full name and Social Security number to identify your case. |
| Financial Overview | Summary of Assets and Liabilities and Certain Statistical Information (Form 106Sum) | Provides a summary of your total assets, debts, and income. |
| Schedules (Assets & Debts) | Schedules A/B through J (Forms 106A/B–106J) | Details your property, debts, creditors, expenses, and monthly income. |
| Statement of Financial Affairs | Statement of Financial Affairs for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy (Form 107) | Discloses financial history, transfers, lawsuits, and recent payments to creditors. |
| Creditors List | Creditor Mailing Matrix | A complete list of names and addresses of all creditors to notify them of your filing. |
| Income Verification | Pay stubs or proof of income for the last 60 days | Confirms your current employment and income status. |
| Tax Records | Federal and state tax returns for the past two years | Verifies income and helps determine eligibility. |
| Bank Statements | Recent bank statements (usually last 6 months) | Used to review financial transactions and cash flow. |
| Means Test Forms | Chapter 7 Statement of Your Current Monthly Income (Form 122A-1) and Means Test Calculation (Form 122A-2) | Determines whether you qualify for Chapter 7 under income guidelines. |
| Debt Counseling Certificate | Credit Counseling Certificate | Proof of completion of the mandatory credit counseling course before filing. |
| Statement of Intention | Statement of Intention for Individuals Filing Under Chapter 7 (Form 108) | Indicates what you intend to do with secured debts such as a car loan or mortgage. |
| Exemption Claims | Schedule C – The Property You Claim as Exempt (Form 106C) | Lists property you wish to protect under Florida’s bankruptcy exemptions. |
| Co-Debtor Information | Schedule H – Your Codebtors (Form 106H) | Identifies anyone jointly responsible for debts listed in your petition. |
| Lease and Contract Info | Schedule G – Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases (Form 106G) | Lists ongoing leases or contracts you may assume or reject. |
| Attorney or Filing Fee Disclosure | Disclosure of Compensation of Attorney for Debtor (Form 2030) or Application to Pay Filing Fee in Installments | Documents how the filing fee or attorney fee will be paid. |
| Post-Filing Requirement | Debtor Education Course Certificate | Required after filing but before discharge; proves completion of the second bankruptcy course. |
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How to File for Bankruptcy in Florida in 2025
Once you’ve completed and signed the Bankruptcy Forms and Schedules, here are the steps to file your Chapter 7 bankruptcy case in Florida.
What Are the Steps in Filing Chapter 7?
- Review the accuracy of the information in the documents and forms you will need to file for bankruptcy. Remember that you are signing the forms under penalty of perjury.
- Receive credit counseling from an approved agency. Attach the Credit Counseling Certificate. Remember that it cannot be more than 180 days since you completed it – see 11 U.S.C. §§ 109.
- Prepare and attach the Creditor Matrix which lists all your creditors. Note: This is a different document than the list of your creditors contained in Schedules D, E, F, and G of your bankruptcy schedules.
- Pay the court filing fee for filing bankruptcy in Florida. If you are unable to pay the filing fee, you may apply with the court to pay the court filing fee in installments or, if your household income is below 150% of the federal poverty level, you may submit a request for the filing fee to be waived – see 28 U.S.C. § 1930(f). Below are the filing fees for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcies.
- Chapter 7 Filing Fee in Florida is $338.00
- Chapter 13 Filing Fee in Florida is $313.00
- File the Bankruptcy Petition, Schedules, and forms along with other required documents with the Bankruptcy clerk for your jurisdiction. (Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007 (b)). Forms are also available for download via the US Courts website. Note: Some jurisdictions such as the Southern District of Florida have Local Forms Requirements that must be followed.
- If you are filing for Bankruptcy in Florida without a lawyer, you will need to show your valid ID and original Social Security Card at the time of filing. If you are considering filing Chapter 7 with no money, you may still be able to hire a Bankruptcy lawyer who can assist you with payment plans and finding affordable options.
Before: Documents Needed to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
To get a good picture of your debts and liabilities, you will need to obtain a copy of your credit report. The information contained inside your credit report will help you prepare the bankruptcy forms, specifically the section where you must list the names, addresses, and amounts of all of your debts.
You can obtain a free copy of your credit report, but please note that the free report may only be available once per year.
Additionally, if you are working with an attorney in your case, a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy attorney will normally obtain a copy of your credit report in order to properly list and classify your debts in the bankruptcy schedules and forms.
If you are getting ready or considering filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Florida, below you will find a detailed list of bankruptcy documents needed and the paperwork you will need to prepare your bankruptcy forms:
- Tax Returns for the past 2 years
- Proof of Income for the last 6 months, such as:
- Paycheck stubs
- Social Security Benefits Letter
- Pension records
- Unemployment Compensation
- Self-Employment income
- Child Support and alimony payments
- Six (6) months of bank account statements from all accounts where your name appears on.
- Copies of your vehicle registration for all your vehicles
- Retirement/Pension account statements
- Mortgage Statements
- Valuation or appraisal of your Real Estate Property
- Valuation or appraisal of your Vehicles
- List of your household goods and furnishings
Note: The above are also documents needed to file Chapter 13.
Identification Requirements for Chapter 7 Preparation
Courts require proof of identity before a bankruptcy case can proceed. Filers must bring both a government-issued photo ID and their Social Security Card to the meeting of creditors.
Without these, trustees cannot verify identity, which can lead to delays or dismissal. If the Social Security Card is unavailable, alternatives such as a W-2 or Social Security Administration statement may sometimes be accepted. Ensuring these documents are ready in advance is a simple but critical step in Chapter 7 preparation.
Credit Counseling Certificate
You must complete a credit counseling course from an approved credit counseling agency. The course is usually completed in front of a computer or over the phone and takes, on average, 30 minutes to complete.
Completion is evidenced by receipt of a Certificate of Counseling, which must be filed with the court along with the bankruptcy petition and other required documents.
The Certificate of filing has to have been completed within 180 days prior to filing the bankruptcy petition.
A Credit Counseling Certificate will contain the date and time of completion, the name of the credit counseling agency, the Florida District selected, and the name of the individual who completed the counseling (you).
During: Documents Needed to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
This section discusses what is required to file Chapter 7. To file for bankruptcy in Florida, you must first complete and sign a set of bankruptcy forms and schedules. A list of all the required Bankruptcy Forms and schedules can be found here—see the US Courts website.
The Bankruptcy Forms required to file bankruptcy in Florida are roughly 80 pages long and are divided into different sections, such as the Voluntary Petition, Schedules, Statements of Financial Affairs, Statement of Intention, and Statement of Current Monthly Income. A bankruptcy attorney can help you navigate this process – Source – Fed. R. Bankr. P. 1007(b).
Chapter 7 Preparation of Legal Documents
You must take great care in accurately and truthfully completing the required forms since you will be required to sign a declaration under oath and under penalty of perjury concerning the documents and information contained in your Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. The bankruptcy petition and forms will advise the court and creditors of your financial picture.
You will be required to indicate the Chapter you are filing under (7, 11, 12, 13), the district court in which you are filing, a list of all your assets and your debts, and your intentions as to your property. Additionally, in the Statement of Financial Affairs (SOFA), you must include information concerning past activity such as repayment of debts, transfers of property, closed businesses and bank accounts, settled lawsuits, active lawsuits, as well as other information requested.
An experienced Chapter 7 Bankruptcy attorney will prepare all the required Bankruptcy forms and Schedules. Find out more about the Bankruptcy forms that are required to file your case.
After: Documents Needed to File Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
After your bankruptcy case is filed, you will receive a notice from the bankruptcy court containing the date of your 341 Meeting of Creditors. At least seven days prior to attending your 341 Meeting of Creditors, you must provide documents to the bankruptcy trustee assigned to your case—see 11 U.S.C. §§ 701.
You will be required to provide the trustee with a copy of your tax return or transcripts for the most recent years, along with any tax returns filed during the case (see 11 U.S.C. § 521). Some trustees will provide you with a Chapter 7 client questionnaire to complete before conducting your 341 meeting of creditors. A Florida bankruptcy attorney who practices in your jurisdiction can offer you the best guidance.
Chapter 7 Client Questionnaire
A typical Chapter 7 client questionnaire will ask you to answer the following questions:
- Have you filed, or can you file, any claims against anyone?
- Have you settled any lawsuits where you received money?
- Has anyone passed away and left you an inheritance?
- Do you understand that if you receive a tax refund after filing your case, you are required to notify the Trustee or your Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney and cannot spend it?
- Have you sold or transferred any property to anyone?
Note: The above is not an all-inclusive list of questions that may be asked of you. Your Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer in Florida can provide you with guidance and insight as to what to expect.
A List of Documents Typically Requested by the Chapter 7 Trustee
This section covers the documents you will need to provide to your Chapter 7 Trustee, including the number of financial records needed for Chapter 7.
- Copies of the last two (2) years of Federal Tax Returns
- Six (6) months of bank statements, including the bank statement for the month of filing. (For example, if you filed your case on July 15th, you must provide the statements from January through July).
- Vehicle Registration and the payoff at the time of filing if the vehicle is financed.
- Domestic Support Obligation Sheet- if you are required to pay Child Support.
- If you own a Business, the Trustee will also require:
- Business Tax Returns for the last 2 years
- 6 months of Business Bank statements
- Profit and Loss for Business for the last 6-month period
- Balance Sheet and List of Assets
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy attorney familiar with different Trustee requirements can guide you and better anticipate what will be asked of you.
Additional Documents That Are Often Requested By The Chapter 7 Trustee
After your Meeting of Creditors, your Chapter 7 Trustee may request additional documentation depending on the outcome of the meeting.
Note: Some Chapter 7 Trustees will want to dig deeper into your financial history and may request more information including more than one (1) year of bank statements, copies of all pages of your passport, and tax returns older than two (2) years.
Financial Management Course
After filing your bankruptcy and before receiving your bankruptcy discharge, you must complete a financial management course from an approved credit counseling agency – see 11 U.S.C. § 727. This course can help you understand how to move forward after bankruptcy.
You will need to file the certificate with the Court within 60 days after attending your 341 Meeting of Creditors in order to receive your bankruptcy discharge. If you fail to do so, your case will be closed without receiving the benefit of a Discharge. Your bankruptcy attorney will file it with the court.
Note: You may want to obtain a free credit report sometime in the future or seek free credit monitoring to ensure that creditors are not reporting inaccurate information in your credit report. Contact your attorney or search online for help concerning this issue.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy Trustees in Florida
Below is a list of the Trustee(s) in the middle district of Florida:
| Trustee Name | Address | City, FL, Zip Code |
|---|---|---|
| Doreen R. Abbott | P.O. Box 56257 | Jacksonville, FL 32241 -6257 |
| Robert Altman | P.O. Box 922 | Palatka, FL 32178 -0922 |
| Gregory L. Atwater | P.O. Box 1815 | Orange Park, FL 32073 |
| Nicole Marie Cameron | 235 Apollo Beach Blvd., #231 | Apollo Beach, FL 33572 |
| Dawn A. Carapella | P.O. Box 67 | Varico, FL 33595 -0067 |
| Gene T. Chambers | P.O. Box 533987 | Orlando, FL 32853 -3987 |
| Carolyn R. Chaney | P.O. Box 530248 | St. Petersburg, FL 33747 -0248 |
| Aaron R. Cohen | P.O. Box 4218 | Jacksonville, FL 32202 |
| Gregory K. Crews | 8584 Arlington Expressway | Jacksonville, FL 32211 |
| Richard Michael Dauval | P.O. Box 13607 | St. Petersburg, FL 33733 -3607 |
| Marie E. Henkel | 3560 S. Magnolia Avenue | Orlando, FL 32806 |
| Christine L. Herendeen | P.O. Box 152348 | Tampa, FL 33684 |
| Larry S. Hyman | P.O. Box 18614 | Tampa, FL 33679 |
| Gordon P. Jones | P.O. Box 600459 | Jacksonville, FL 32260 -0459 |
| Dennis D. Kennedy | P.O. Box 541848 | Merritt Island, FL 32954 |
| Arvind Mahendru | 5703 Red Bug Lake Rd. #284 | Winter Springs, FL 32708 |
| Stephen L. Meininger | 707 North Franklin Street Suite 850 | Tampa, FL 33602 |
| Douglas N. Menchise | P.O. Box 14957 | Clearwater, FL 33766 |
| Carla P. Musselman | 1150 SW Chapman Way Unit 310 | Palm City, FL 34990 |
| Emerson C. Noble | P.O. Box 622798 | Oviedo, FL 32762 -2798 |
| Lori Patton | P.O. Box 520547 | Longwood, FL 32752 |
| Luis E. Rivera, II | P.O. Box 1026 | Fort Myers, FL 33902 -0280 |
| Beth Ann Scharrer | P.O. Box 4550 | Seminole, FL 33775 |
| Traci K. Stevenson | P.O. Box 86690 | Madeira Beach, FL 33738 |
| Robert E. Tardif, Jr. | P.O. Box 2140 | Fort Myers, FL 33902 |
| Robert E. Thomas | P.O. 5075 | Winter Park, FL 32793 |
| Richard B. Webber, II | P.O. Box 3000 | Orlando, FL 32802 |
| Angela Welch | 12191 W. Linebaugh Ave. #401 | Tampa, FL 33626 |
Below is a list of the Trustee(s) covering the northern district of Florida:
| Trustee Name | Address | City, FL, Zip Code |
|---|---|---|
| Theresa M. Bender | P.O. Box 14557 | Tallahassee, FL 32317 |
| Sherry F. Chancellor | 619 W. Chase Street | Pensacola, FL 32502 |
| Marybeth W. Colon | P. O. Box 14596 | Tallahassee, FL 32317 |
| Karin A. Garvin | 1801 W. Garden Street | Pensacola, FL 32502 |
Below is a list of the Trustee(s) covering the southern district of Florida:
| Trustee Name | Address | City, FL, Zip Code |
|---|---|---|
| Roberto A. Angueira | 16 SW 1st Avenue | Miami, FL 33130 |
| Michael R. Bakst | P.O. Box 407 | West Palm Beach, FL 33402 |
| Marc P. Barmat | 2255 Glades Road, Suite 419A | Boca Raton, FL 33431 |
| Scott N. Brown | SunTrust International Center, 1 SE 3rd Avenue – Suite #1440 | Miami, FL 33131 |
| Jacqueline Calderin | 1825 Ponce de Leon Blvd #358 | Coral Gables, FL 33134 |
| Drew M. Dillworth | 2200 Museum Tower, 150 W. Flagler St. | Miami, FL 33130 |
| Marcia T. Dunn | 66 West Flagler Street Suite 400 | Miami, FL 33130 |
| Robert C. Furr | 2255 Glades Road, Suite 419A | Boca Raton, FL 33431 |
| Ross R. Hartog | P.O. Box 14306 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33302 |
| Soneet R. Kapila | 1000 S. Federal Highway, Suite 200 | Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316 |
| Nicole Testa Mehdipour | 6278 North Federal Highway Suite 408 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308 |
| Deborah C. Menotte | P.O. Box 211087 | West Palm Beach, FL 33421 |
| Barry E. Mukamal | 1 SE Third Avenue, Ste. 2150 | Miami, FL 33131 |
| Leslie S. Osborne | 1300 N. Federal Hwy Suite 203 | Boca Raton, FL 33432 |
| Chad S. Paiva | 6526 S. Kanner Highway, #376 | Stuart, FL 34997 |
| Sonya Salkin Slott | P.O. Box 15580 | Plantation, FL 33318 |
| Joel L. Tabas | 25 S.E. 2nd Ave., Suite 248 jtabas@tabassoloff.com |
Miami, FL 33131 |
| Kenneth A. Welt | 4581 Weston Road – #355 Suite 1000 | Weston, FL 33331 |
| Maria M. Yip | One Biscayne Tower, 2 S. Biscayne Blvd, Suite 2690 | Miami, FL 33131 |
How to Choose a Bankruptcy Trustee
Choosing the right bankruptcy trustee is an important decision for those considering filing for bankruptcy. The trustee plays a crucial role in the process, administering the case and overseeing any assets that may need to be liquidated.
Here are some tips on how to choose a bankruptcy trustee:
- Research the trustee’s background and experience: It’s important to choose a trustee who is knowledgeable and experienced in bankruptcy law. Look for reviews or recommendations from other attorneys or individuals who have worked with the trustee before.
- Check their availability: Some trustees may be overloaded with cases, which could delay the progress of your case. Make sure to ask about their availability and if they have enough time to devote to your case.
- Understand their fees: Trustees are paid through a percentage of any assets they liquidate in a Chapter 7 case, so it’s important to understand what fees you will be responsible for as well as any potential additional fees.
- Consider their location: Depending on where you live and where the majority of your assets are located, it may be beneficial to choose a trustee who is local to your area.
- Meet with them in person: It’s always a good idea to meet with potential trustees in person before making a decision. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for their personality and communication style.
Remember, choosing the right trustee can make a big difference in the outcome of your bankruptcy case. Take the time to research and consider all options before making a decision. Trustee(s) play an important role in the bankruptcy process, so it’s crucial to find someone who is knowledgeable, accessible, and trustworthy.
Consult a Florida Bankruptcy Attorney
If you are in need of a Florida bankruptcy attorney to help you determine whether you’re eligible to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, contact us today. The Stiberman Law Firm can help you navigate the bankruptcy process every step of the way. Contact us today by calling us at (954) 210-4886 or filling out the form below to get started.
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