- 1). Determine which bankruptcy court district in which you must file: eastern or western Washington. Both the eastern and western Washington U.S. Bankruptcy Courts list the counties they serve on their respective websites (see References).
- 2). Determine your eligibility for the new bankruptcy chapter to which you are converting. The Court requires a new Means Test to convert to Chapter 7, found on the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts' Washington website (see Resources). If you meet the eligibility requirements, continue to Step 3. If you do not, reconsider your bankruptcy conversion and look into other options.
- 3). Fill out the Motion of Conversion form along with the Chapter filing forms. Find these forms at the Eastern and Western Washington U.S. Bankruptcy Courts' respective websites (see References).
- 4). Go to your local U.S. bankruptcy court and file your bankruptcy chapter conversion. To file, they require your conversion fee (listed on your Bankruptcy Court website); filled-out forms along with your proof of income; list of monthly expenses; list of creditors; social security number; Certificate of Credit Counseling with Debt Repayment Plan; and a list of all assets, liabilities, contracts and leases. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court lists your local court's address on its website (see Resources).
- 5). Go to the meeting with your Washington U.S. Court trustee and your creditors. This should occur within two months of your filing and is an opportunity for your creditors to address any concerns with your repayment plan.
- 6). Make the initial payments on the repayment plan to your court-appointed trustee within 30 days of the meeting with your creditors even if you have not received notice of approval.
- 7). Wait on the Court's approval of your conversion and repayment plan approval. If approved, follow through on your payment plan to the letter. If denied, consider petitioning for reconsideration.
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