The schedules are where most pro se cases succeed or fail. Each schedule covers a specific category of property, debt, or income. Get them right the first time.
List everything. Omissions, even unintentional ones, can cost you property, the discharge, or the case. Over-disclose; under-disclose never helps.
Use today's values. Fair-market value as of the filing date, not purchase price. Cars, electronics, and clothing have all depreciated.
Amendments are free and routine. If you discover an error, file an amended schedule. It is normal procedure, not an admission of fault.
Each schedule is a separate form, but they all reference each other. An asset on A/B will often appear again on C (exempted) and possibly D (collateral). A debt on D references the same creditor whose lien encumbers an A/B asset. The schedules form a cross-linked picture of your financial situation.
Lists everything you own. Real property (homes, land) on Schedule A; personal property (cars, household goods, bank accounts, retirement, electronics, jewelry, business interests, claims you may have against others) on Schedule B. Use current fair-market value, not what you paid. "I forgot about that" later is the most common cause of trustee follow-up.
Lists which items from A/B you are claiming as exempt (protected from creditors). Each state has its own exemption set; some states let you choose between state and federal exemptions. Exemption choices are case-defining; an error here can mean losing property you could have kept.
Creditors with collateral. Mortgages, car loans, equipment liens, IRS tax liens. List the collateral, the lien amount, the unsecured portion (if collateral is worth less than the debt), and whether the claim is contingent, unliquidated, or disputed.
Schedule E covers priority unsecured (recent taxes, child support, wages owed to employees). Schedule F is everything else: credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, judgment creditors, deficiency claims. Most consumer cases have a long Schedule F.
Ongoing contracts and leases: apartment leases, car leases, gym memberships, cell phone contracts, business contracts. You will later choose to assume (keep) or reject each one in your statement of intentions.
Anyone else legally responsible for debts you list. Co-signers, joint account holders, guarantors. The trustee uses this to identify whether non-filing parties might be sued by creditors after your case.
Your monthly income at the time of filing. Wages, self-employment, rental, retirement, support payments, government benefits. Use take-home (after-tax). Pay stubs from the last 60 days are typically attached as backup.
Your monthly living expenses: rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transportation, insurance, medical, child care, recurring debt payments. The difference between Schedule I and Schedule J is your disposable income, which drives Chapter 13 plan calculations.
Trustees pull credit reports and tax returns; small accounts you forgot show up. Disclose every account you have ever had signing authority on, even if it is closed or empty.
Even an old car has Kelly Blue Book value. Listing $0 invites a trustee request for documentation. Use a reasonable trade-in or private-party value.
If you file late in the year, your refund for the current tax year is partly bankruptcy estate property. List it on Schedule B as 'anticipated tax refund' with an estimate.
Personal injury claims, employment disputes, refunds owed - any cause of action you might bring is property. List it on Schedule B even if you have not filed suit yet.
Inheritances received within 180 days after filing become bankruptcy estate property. If a family member is ill or you are a named beneficiary, disclose.
Yes. If you have possession or a leasehold, list the asset on Schedule A/B at fair-market value, list the lender on Schedule D (if secured) or the lessor on Schedule G (if leased). Both schedules can reference the same asset.
Use a reasonable good-faith estimate. Online resale value (Kelly Blue Book for cars, Zillow for homes, eBay sold listings for goods) is an acceptable starting point. "Unknown" with an explanation is better than a guess that turns out wrong.
If you are filing alone (not jointly), assets titled solely to your spouse are usually not your property. But if the asset is jointly owned or in a community-property state, include your interest. Joint accounts you have signing authority on must be disclosed.
Amend Schedule E/F as soon as you discover the omission. Filing an amendment is free and routine. Forgotten creditors that are added late may not be discharged unless the case has not yet closed.
Yes, on Schedule B (personal property). Then claim the exemption on Schedule C. Most retirement accounts are fully exempt under 11 U.S.C. ยง 522(b)(3)(C), but the exemption only protects them if you list them.
Community property states (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI) treat marital assets as jointly owned regardless of title. In those states, you list and exempt the entire asset; in non-community states, you list and exempt only your fractional interest.
After your schedules are filed: