Bare Bones Bankruptcy Filing -- Emergency Filing Guide

Emergency (Bare Bones) Bankruptcy Filing

In an emergency (foreclosure sale tomorrow, wage garnishment this week, repossession imminent), you can file a bare bones petition to trigger the automatic stay immediately:

• Minimum documents: The petition (Form 101), credit counseling certificate, and a list of creditors (names and addresses). That is all you need to get a case number and automatic stay.
• 14-day deadline: You must file all remaining documents (schedules, SOFA, means test) within 14 days. The court may grant a short extension on request.
• 45-day hard deadline: Under Section 521(i), if all documents are not filed within 45 days, the case is automatically dismissed.