Bankruptcy client intake checklist for attorneys
A useful bankruptcy intake checklist collects the client story and the records needed to verify it. The checklist should cover identity, household, income, expenses, assets, secured and unsecured debts, lawsuits, garnishments, transfers, prior filings, tax history, and time-sensitive events, with a source status for every material fact.
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Identity and household
Capture legal names, prior names, addresses, household members, marital status, dependents, and filing history.
- Government ID and Social Security proof
- Residence history and jurisdiction
- Spouse and household income treatment
- Prior bankruptcy case numbers and discharge dates
Financial record
Collect both answers and the source documents that support the schedules and means-test work.
- Pay records and other income
- Tax returns and bank statements by exact period
- Real estate, vehicles, accounts, business interests, and household property
- Secured claims, priority claims, unsecured debts, leases, and co-debtors
Risk and timing
Surface facts that can change the order of work without turning them into an automated legal conclusion.
- Garnishment, foreclosure, repossession, utility shutoff, or eviction
- Recent transfers, repayments, gifts, losses, and asset sales
- Domestic support and tax obligations
- Student loans and potential non-bankruptcy options
Questions
Should every client receive the same checklist?
No. A stable core is useful, but Chapter 7, Chapter 13, business ownership, prior filings, and urgent collection activity should branch into different follow-up.
What makes a file attorney ready?
The required facts and records are present or explicitly marked missing, deficient, accepted, waived, or reserved for attorney judgment.