How to Complete Bankruptcy Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims

One of the forms you'll fill out in bankruptcy is Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims. Read on to learn more about how to complete Schedule E/F.

About Schedule E/G

You list unsecured debts—obligations that aren't secured by collateral—on Schedule E/F. When a debt is unsecured, your creditor can't take the property you bought—or any other property—if you fail to pay according to the contract.

Unsecured debts fall into two categories: priority unsecured debt and general unsecured debt.

• Priority unsecured debt gets special treatment in bankruptcy. The bankruptcy trustee will pay priority debt before general unsecured debt, and they aren't dischargeable through bankruptcy. Priority debts include alimony, child support, and certain taxes.
• General unsecured debt falls last on the payment list. The trustee pays nonpriority unsecured debts, such as credit card bills, medical debt, and personal loans, after priority debts. Most—but not all—are dischargeable. For instance, student loans are general unsecured debt. Even so, you won't be able to discharge them unless you meet stringent qualification requirements and file a type of lawsuit called an adversary proceeding.

To learn more, see Priority vs. Nonpriority Debts in Bankruptcy.

How to Fill Out Schedule E/F

Before you complete Schedule E/F, read the instructions on the form carefully. The following are additional tips on how to fill out Schedule E/F.

Priority Claims

You'll list your priority claims first. If you don't have any priority claims—such as domestic support obligations or taxes—check "No" and move on to the second part of the form. If you have priority claims, you'll list the creditor's name and address, the last four digits of the account number, and the date the debt was incurred.

Codebtors. Check the box that best describes who is responsible for the debt. You, your filing spouse, both of you, or another person could be responsible. You'll disclose the codebtor's information on Schedule H: Your Codebtors.

Subject to an offset. If the creditor owes you money that should be subtracted from the debt, you'll check the "Yes" you're owed an offset box. Otherwise, check "No."

Contingent, unliquidated, or disputed. A claim is contingent if your liability depends on an event that has not yet occurred. A claim is unliquidated if the exact debt amount is not yet determined. A disputed claim is a claim in which you don't agree with the debt or its amount. You might need to mark multiple boxes.

Types of priority claims. Check the box that corresponds to the kind of priority debt you have.

Total claim. Disclose the amount of the entire claim.

Priority amount. List the portion of the claim entitled to priority.

Nonpriority amount. If there is a portion of the total claim that is not entitled to priority, list it here.

Learn about the proof of claim process creditors must follow in bankruptcy.

Nonpriority Claims

On the second half of the form, you'll list all of your nonpriority unsecured claims, such as credit card bills, personal loans, and medical bills. You'll include all debt not already listed on either Schedule D: Creditors Who Have Claims Secured by Property, or in the priority claim section of Schedule E/F. Complete this section by following the instructions.

Where to Find the Form

You can find a downloadable, fillable version of Schedule E/F: Creditors Who Have Unsecured Claims on the U.S. Court's website.

This article provides general information only. When filing for bankruptcy, you must understand the federal and state laws governing the entire bankruptcy process. Failing to adequately research and understand how these laws might affect your case could result in unexpected consequences. If you aren't familiar with the process, it's best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy attorney, or, use a do-it-yourself book like Nolo's How to File for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.