Official federal sources
- Official bankruptcy forms — every current form, all free to download at uscourts.gov.
- uscourts.gov bankruptcy portal — plain-language overview of the bankruptcy process, chapter options, and procedural requirements.
- US Trustee Program (justice.gov/ust) — regional offices, means-testing data, approved credit-counseling agencies, enforcement actions.
- Approved credit-counseling and debtor-education agencies — § 109(h) and § 727(a)(11) compliance.
- Federal Judicial Center Integrated Database — source data for the national district index.
- Each US bankruptcy court's website — local rules, forms, pro se filer guides. Linked from the district index.
Free docket access
- Free Law Project — nonprofit that operates CourtListener and the RECAP Archive.
- RECAP Archive — free access to millions of federal court documents that PACER charges for. See the OBP RECAP page.
- RECAP browser extension — users who pay for PACER contribute documents to the public archive automatically.
Law-school consumer-bankruptcy clinics
Many US law schools operate free consumer-bankruptcy clinics that represent qualifying low-income debtors. Clinics follow law-school calendars and generally have case limits, but provide direct representation where available. Each school's admission criteria and service area differ — contact the clinic directly.
State legal aid organizations
Every state has a network of legal aid organizations funded primarily by the Legal Services Corporation and state grants. Legal aid programs typically serve clients below specific income thresholds and have priority areas that vary by office. The Legal Services Corporation legal-aid finder maps offices by ZIP code.
Research and academic resources
- FJC IDB — canonical case-level federal bankruptcy data.
- Federal Judicial Center publications — empirical research on federal courts.
- Free Law Project — open-access federal case law and docket data.
- OBP national district index — OBP's free district-level derivative data.
- OBP methodology — source citations and metric definitions.
Related resources
Discharge screener
Free § 1328(f) / § 727(a) timing-bar check.
RECAP Archive
Free PACER alternative — public federal court documents.
District case index
Free research data on every US federal bankruptcy court.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I find free bankruptcy forms?
Official federal bankruptcy forms are free at uscourts.gov/forms/bankruptcy-forms. Each US bankruptcy court also publishes local forms and instructions on its website.
How do I find legal aid?
The Legal Services Corporation legal-aid finder maps legal aid offices by ZIP code. Each office has its own income thresholds and priority service areas.
Do law schools offer free bankruptcy help?
Many US law schools operate free consumer-bankruptcy clinics that represent qualifying low-income debtors. Clinics follow law-school academic calendars and generally have case limits. Contact the clinic at the law school nearest the debtor's district directly.
What is the RECAP Archive?
The RECAP Archive, operated by the Free Law Project, is a free public archive of federal court documents that PACER otherwise charges for. See OBP's RECAP page and free.law/recap.