Quick Resource Guide: Bankruptcy

How to:

• • Filing for Bankruptcy Without an Attorney 
    This website has been prepared by U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Northern District of California.  It gives an overview of the bankruptcy process, with links to informational videos, approved credit counseling agencies, and required court forms.   Website also has a Helpdesk Chat widget to contact an agent.
  • Bankruptcy Basics
    Bankruptcy Basics provides general information about federal bankruptcy laws and the bankruptcy process.

Forms

• • Bankruptcy Forms (All)
  • Bankruptcy Forms, Northern District of California 
    Forms for the Northern District of California; can also find specific forms to Oakland, San Francisco, San Jose, and Santa Rosa.
  • Upsolve.org: Upsolve is a non-profit organization that provides free tools to help users analyze their financial situation and offers options for managing debt.  Includes an app to help users fill out bankruptcy forms and file them in Bankruptcy Court.

Library Books

• • Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Keep Your Property & Repay Debts Over Time, KF1524.85 .O54 2024, shelf 108B.  Also available as an eBook through Nolo Press (Ebsco).
  • How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Also available as an eBook, KF1524.85 .E4 2023, shelf 108B. Also available as an eBook through Nolo Press (Ebsco).
  • California Practice Guide: Bankruptcy, KF1524 .C34 2007, shelf 107A.  Also available as an eBook through Westlaw.
  • Consumer Bankruptcy Law and Practice, KF1524 .S65 2023, shelf 107A.  Also available as an eBook through NCLC.

Free Legal Help

• • Bay Area Legal Aid
    1735 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA
    Legal Advice Line: (510) 250-5270  Visit the Legal Advice Line page for clinic hours.
    Bay Area Legal Aid gives bankruptcy counseling and consumer debt advice.
  • Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (PDF)
    The Community Legal Assistance Saturday Program (CLASP) is a free, all-topics telephone legal clinic on the first Saturday/month. Volunteer attorneys speak with individuals for 15-20 minutes.  To make an appointment, call the intake line at (510) 485-9933 between 10:00 am – noon on the first Saturday/month and an attorney will call you back later that day.

Hire an Attorney

• • ACBA Lawyer Referral Service
    The Lawyer Referral Service will an attorney referral and 30-minute consultation for an administrative fee of $40. Attorneys charge $200 – 400/hour for services. Can also self-book consultations online
  • Visit the online site to get a referral or call (510) 302-2222 x4

• • California State Bar
    The California State Bar lists basic information about all attorneys registered to practice law in the state of California.  In addition, the site also provides an attorney referral service for the public to find qualified attorneys in their county
  • Martindale.com
    Martindale.com is the online version of the Martindale Hubbell attorney directories.  You can search for attorneys by location or by area of practice.

Updated 4.9.2026