Filing Requirements

• Do not hole punch documents.
• Type the information on the forms, if possible and sign in black ink.
• All forms should be legible, 8/12 by 11 inches in size and printed on one side only.
• Submit attachments on 8/1/2 x 11 inch paper, one side only. Do not submit original invoices, deeds, stacks, etc as documents are not retained after scanning.
• Assemble forms filed in the order shown in the Case Opening Checklist below (if form is required for the chapter under which you are filing).

Case Opening Checklist (Placement of documents)

1. Petition
2. Exhibit A
3. Schedules
4. Statement of Financial Affairs
5. List of 20 top Unsecured Creditors (if applicable)
6. List of Equity Security Holders (if applicable)
7. Individual Debtor Statement of Intention
8. Bankruptcy Petition Preparer Statements (if applicable)
9. Statement of Current Monthly Income - Form B22
10. *Creditor Matrix Verification and Matrix
11. *Pro Se Questionnaire
12. *Credit Counseling Certificate
13. *Statement of Social Security Number - Form 21 (if applicable)
14. *Chapter 13 Plan (if applicable)
15. *Order to Employer to Pay to the Trustee (if applicable)

*Please note items marked with an asterisk should be submitted separately from the petition package.

Number of Copies to Be Submitted

Chapter   7 Petition, Schedules/Statements/Matrix - Signed original and one copy
Chapter 11 Petition, Schedules/Statements/Matrix - Signed original and three copies
Chapter 13 Petition, Schedules/Statements/Matrix - Signed original and one copy
Form 21 - Statement of Social Security Number - Signed original
Involuntary Petition - Signed original and one copy
Adversary Complaint - Signed original
Summons - Original and one copy of each summons
Proof of Claims - Signed original
Motions, Pleadings, etc. - Signed original
Chapter 11 Plan and Disclosure Statements - Original and three copies

Matrix Specifications

• Margins (top, bottom, left, right) should be at least one (1) inch.
• Each creditor must be separated by at least one blank line.
• Do not include page numbers, headers, footers, etc.
• All entries should conform to the style conventions stated below.
• The name and address of each creditor must be five (5) lines or less.
• The “name” line may contain no more than 50 characters including blanks.
• Each address line may contain no more than 40 characters including blanks.
• Names and addresses should be left justified (flush against the left margin, no leading spaces.)
• Account numbers or “attention” lines should be placed on the second line of the name/address.
• City, state, and zip code must be on the last line.
• There must be a comma placed immediately after the city name. ( ex. Midland, TX)
• All states must be the two-letter U.S. Postal Code abbreviations.
• Nine-digit zip codes must be typed with a hyphen separating the two groups of digits.

Style Conventions for Names and Addresses on Matrices

Use upper and lower case characters for all names and capitalize the first letter in a proper noun.

Wallace D. Smith
United Services Fidelity and Guaranty

Use punctuation and single spacing between all names and following initials and periods.

J. J. Jones
Smith, Inc.
C. W. Bradford, Ltd.

When typing names that have upper and lower case letters or hyphens, do not insert spaces.

Patricia DeLaGarza
Patrick MacDougal
Kathleen O’Brien
Mary Smith-Baker

Abbreviate post office addresses without a space between the P and O.

P.O. Box 1359
P.O. Drawer 34321

Use digits for numbers in addresses.

3224 East 26th Street
425 6th Street
1 Valley Plaza

When needed, use the second and/or third line of the address for building name, suite number, floor, firm name, or attention.

Arthur Andersen and Associates
Attention: Terri Brooks
John Hancock Building, Suite 2600
8723 Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60604

If the address contains an apartment number or suite number, you may use the # sign in place of the word number or suite.

Barbara Bixby
322 West Shady Lane, #334
Austin, TX 78701

Use c/o to indicate “In Care Of”.

Manuel Ortega, Jr.
c/o Manuel Ortega, Sr.
6612 East 6th Street
El Paso, TX 79901

In general it is best to type out the entire name of the street designator. When necessary to abbreviate, use the following:

Avenue - Ave.
Boulevard - Blvd.
Highway - Hwy.
Interstate Highway - I.H.
Lane - Ln.
Road - Rd.
Street - St.

Foreign addresses must have the full name of the post office and country of destination printed in capital letters.The country name or APO destination must be the only information on the bottom line of the address.

Alfonso Diaz
Rio de Danubec y Rio Florido
CD. JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA MEXICO #1050

Sgt. John Smith
C Company 237 Armor
Unit #21103, Box 512
APO, AE 09014