As a paralegal, you usually will work closely with the bankruptcy clients to gather all information necessary to their bankruptcy filing. An intake form is essential to assisting you and the client in this process.

Competency questions:

1. What information is needed to decide what chapter of bankruptcy a client can file?
2. What information will assist in assessing alternatives available to bankruptcy filing?

draft a client intake form for bankruptcy clients. You may select the form of your submission (i.e., a list of questions in a Microsoft Word document, an actual fillable form, etc.). Think about what information you and the attorney would need to know to evaluate whether a client qualifies for bankruptcy, what chapter a client may need to file and potential pitfalls in the client's case. This client intake form need not ask all the questions to allow you to complete a bankruptcy petition; rather, this form should allow you to evaluate the client's financial situation and options available.