Instructions for Completing Bankruptcy Schedule E

Instructions Schedule E for bankruptcy filing must be followed to ensure prompt resolution of your case. The Schedule E form is used to establish creditors who have priority unsecured claims in a bankruptcy case. The debtor is required to fill out this form if the debtor holds such debts. Priority debts are debts which must be paid off first in front of other types of debts. While some priority debts are secured (such as a mortgage on a home), others are unsecured.

Bankruptcy Schedule E Instructions

Instructions for filling out a bankruptcy Schedule E that you should be aware of include:

• If no unsecured priority claims exist, a debtor must place an X in the box located just above the Types of Priority Claims line. The debtor must check the box next to as many types of priority claims as they have. The type of priority must be provided on the form. An alphabetical schedule of creditors is preferred. For each creditor, a debtor should include the creditor's name, mailing address, zip code, and an account number. 
• If a debtor has a claim for which another person has liability, that must be indicated in the form. It should also be established in instances of joint filing who will be liable for a particular death or whether the community will be liable. 
• Debtors must state the date of the claim and consideration for the claim. 
• If the claim is contingent, unliquidated or disputed, the debtor should mark the appropriate column with an X.
• The amount of the claim should be provided and a subtotal should be indicated at the bottom of each page. A total should appear on the last page. 
• Because many categories have limits as to priority debt maximum allowances, the total of debts may not be equal to the total of priority debts allowed.

Getting Legal Advice

An experienced bankruptcy attorney can help you fill out or review your Schedule E and other required paperwork in your bankruptcy case. Because a bankruptcy attorney handles similar cases regularly, you can trust her to make sure your case is handled properly. Bankruptcy is a daunting process which can bring up a host of undesirable negative feelings for a person. A sense of failure and loss often accompany the process. Getting legal help can help expedite the process and give you the space you need to handle the accompanying feelings.