Bankruptcy Intake Forms & Client Questionnaires

Bankruptcy intake is unlike any other practice area. Before you can even evaluate a case, you need a full financial picture: every asset, every liability, every source of income, every monthly expense, every creditor with an address and account number. Miss a secured debt or an unreported asset and the petition has problems before it is filed. Designed by a licensed attorney admitted in New Jersey and New York, these forms follow the standard litigation format with bankruptcy-specific financial sections built in.

Consumer vs. Business: Two Separate Forms

Consumer bankruptcy and business bankruptcy are different animals, and the intake needs to reflect that. The Consumer Bankruptcy form is built around Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. It captures household income, the means test threshold question, exempt vs. non-exempt property, secured and unsecured debts, prior filings within eight years, and whether the debtor has completed credit counseling. The chapter selection checkboxes let you flag which chapter applies and why.

The Business Bankruptcy form covers Chapter 11 reorganization and business-specific issues: entity type, number of employees, outstanding contracts and leases, accounts receivable, inventory, equipment, and whether the business is still operating. It also captures the names and positions of principals, officers, and guarantors, because personal liability questions come up immediately in business cases.

What the Intake Form Covers

Both forms follow the 3-page litigation intake structure: case administration, client information, opposing party (here, the primary creditors), and matter-specific sections. The financial sections use checkbox grids for property types (real property, vehicles, bank accounts, retirement accounts, household goods, jewelry, tools of trade) and debt categories (mortgage, auto loan, student loan, medical debt, credit card, tax obligation, domestic support). There are fields for monthly income and expense totals, prior bankruptcy case numbers, and the petition court and district.

The intake is an internal office document. No client signature, no authorization language. It is what your paralegal or associate fills out during the initial consultation to determine whether you have a viable filing.

What the Client Questionnaire Captures

The companion questionnaire is what the debtor fills out. It asks the client to list assets and debts in their own words, describe the events that led to the filing (job loss, medical bills, divorce, business failure), identify any pending lawsuits or garnishments, and disclose transfers of property within the lookback period. It includes the authorization and signature block.

Related Guides

Bankruptcy Intake Form Guide: What Every Filing Needs · Business Bankruptcy Intake: Chapter 11 Essentials · Solo Practitioner Guide to Client Documents

Individual forms are $19.99 for the complete set (intake + questionnaire), $14.99 for intake only, or $9.99 for questionnaire only.

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