- 1). Determine what kind of bankruptcy you want to file. There are several options for someone filing for bankruptcy. Before you proceed with yours, you'll need to find out which form is appropriate. The most common forms of personal bankruptcy are Chapters 7 and 13. Generally, a person filing for Chapter 7 seeks to have their unsecured debt written off, while someone filing for Chapter 13 seeks to repay all or part of their debt over a set period of time.
- 2). Get the appropriate forms. Once you've determined what kind of bankruptcy is appropriate for you, visit the U.S. Bankruptcy Court website and download the appropriate forms. Look them over and fill them out to the best of your ability.
- 3). Get credit counseling. An individual seeking to file for bankruptcy must see a qualified credit counselor before they can file for bankruptcy. You'll have to see a counselor within 180 days of filing your case.
- 4). Sign up for PACER. You can file your petition through the PACER system used by the U.S. federal court system. You'll have to sign up and pay the registration fee.
- 5). File your petition. Once you've signed up for Pacer, you can then file your bankruptcy papers. Since the federal bankruptcy court is divided by region, you'll need to find which court has jurisdiction over your case and file your petition with them.
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