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B 101Mandatory

Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy

Federal · United States Courts · Effective June 22, 2024

This form is a Voluntary Petition used by individuals to officially start a bankruptcy case. It asks for detailed personal information, including names, addresses, and employment details for both the filing person and their spouse if they are filing together.

The court describes it as: This is an Official Bankruptcy Form. Official Bankruptcy Forms are approved by the Judicial Conference and must be used under Bankruptcy Rule 9009.

Open the official PDFfrom United States Courts

Where this fits in a case

Start a case

Stage: Start a case

This form is used when an individual or a married couple decides to file for bankruptcy in federal court.

Either party may file.

Official instructions

How-to guides published by the court for this form.

Common questions

Who should fill out this form?
The form asks for information about Debtor 1 and, if filing together, Debtor 2 (the spouse). Both parties are responsible for providing correct information.
What information is needed about my past names?
You must list all other names you have used in the last 8 years, including married or maiden names.
Do I need to fill out this form if I am filing alone?
If you are filing alone, you will only need to provide information for Debtor 1.

Revision history

No changes recorded since we started tracking this form on October 9, 2026. The current version took effect June 22, 2024.

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