How to File for Bankruptcy Now

People needing to file for bankruptcy now can do so any time during normal court business hours. A streamlined bankruptcy application requires just minutes to complete, allowing an immediate filing to prevent wage garnishment, apartment eviction, foreclosure or some other extreme financial event. Bankruptcy courts make the process easy with the simplified paperwork and permission to pay filing fees later. That's ideal for those whose bank accounts are frozen because of garnishment, preventing access to cash or debit cards. Bankruptcy reverses garnishment and forces banks to open frozen accounts.

Instructions

1. Locate the federal bankruptcy court in your area. Get the address for the court by calling your county bar association, public library or small claims court.

2. Enter the federal bankruptcy court and tell the clerk you wish to file for an emergency bankruptcy now using a "skeletal" or "bare bones" application.

3. Fill out the "bare bones" application. The form asks only basic information about your income and debts and is easy to complete.

4. Sign the form and submit it to the court clerk for immediate processing. Meet deadlines issued by the court for providing additional information to complete the bankruptcy application and pay the filing fees. The process becomes final in about two weeks. The filing fee is $299 for Chapter 7 bankruptcy or $274 for Chapter 13, as of 2011.

Tips & Warnings

• After filing for bankruptcy you have the right to hire an attorney to complete the rest of the application and represent you in the case.

• A bankruptcy filing will appear on your credit report even if you do not complete the paperwork and the application is dismissed.

References

• United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island; Filing an Emergency or Skeletal (Bare Bones) Bankruptcy Case
• United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Rhode Island; B1 Official Form
• Nolo; How Bankruptcy Stops Your Creditors: The Automatic Stay
• Neighborhood Economic Development Advocacy Project; Frozen Bank Accounts
• United States Courts; Bankruptcy Filing Fees