Unless you skipped the other questions and came directly to this one, you would know that my advice is simply to contact an attorney to aid you in this process. There are attorney’s that will hold your hand through the whole process (and charge you for it) and there are attorney’s that charge a small, flat rate that will simply give you the paperwork to fill out, file it for you, and show up at court on your behalf. Of course, there is everything in between as well. It is never smart to act as your own attorney in court, so get an attorney.
With that being said, what you must do is contact the courts and request the required forms for the type of bankruptcy you’re going to file (Chapter 7 or Chapter 13). There will be a number of forms that you will be required to fill out, but generally they will include information such as the amount and types of debts you have as well as your assets. There are many books and information products that will walk you through the forms, but remember that the forms may vary by state. You’ll get the most accurate information from the courthouse, which may provide information to help you complete the forms.
Once the forms are completed, you submit them with a petition for bankruptcy to a court. There will be a fee associated with this. The court will then set a date and notify you, generally by mail. At this point a trustee will be appointed to oversee your case.
If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your creditors will be notified. A hearing will then be set and your creditors can attend to dispute your claim. If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you must then file a plan for repayment, which will be accepted or rejected.
Hopefully this information will lead you in the direction of hiring an attorney to aid you in the process of filing for bankruptcy.