Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Bankruptcy Basics
The federal judiciary’s overview and its stated limits.
Bankruptcy records
A bankruptcy question starts with the chapter, the court and the docket
GuideWeSpeakLaw EditorialUpdated August 27, 2026Sources reviewed
Bankruptcy is a federal court process, but the right next document depends on the chapter and the specific case. Start with the official court record before drawing conclusions.
Official record
Primary sources
PACER
Find a Case
Official routes to federal case and docket information.
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Bankruptcy Forms
The national collection of current bankruptcy forms.
Begin with the case, not a broad label
Bankruptcy cases are handled in federal court. The chapter named on the petition matters because different chapters use different structures, documents and court events.
The federal judiciary’s Bankruptcy Basics explains the process but expressly says it is general information—not a filing guide or a substitute for professional advice.
Read the docket as a sequence
Use PACER to locate a federal case and its docket. If you know the bankruptcy court, search that court directly; otherwise the nationwide Case Locator can help identify the court and case number.
A petition, schedule, motion, trustee filing and court order do different jobs. Keep the document title, filing date and docket number with every copy, and do not describe a request as a court ruling.
Use the current official form collection
The U.S. Courts maintains the national bankruptcy form collection, including petitions, schedules and other case documents. Local bankruptcy courts may also publish local rules and forms.
A form list cannot tell you which chapter, exemption or filing choice fits a person’s circumstances. Check the court’s current instructions and get qualified advice for an individual decision.
Corrections
Updated August 27, 2026. No corrections are recorded.