A bankruptcy petition is a set of forms (also known as schedules) on which a debtor filing for bankruptcy discloses detailed financial information to the bankruptcy court. These forms will require you to list all of your assets (real property and personal property), your monthly income and expenses, and the debts you want to eliminate or discharge in bankruptcy. Your bankruptcy case begins when you file the bankruptcy petition with the clerk of the bankruptcy court.

In Washington State, as in all states, a bankruptcy petition is the formal document filed by an individual or business to initiate bankruptcy proceedings. The petition includes various forms, often referred to as schedules, which require comprehensive disclosure of the debtor's financial situation. These schedules must list all assets, including both real and personal property, monthly income and expenses, and all debts that the debtor seeks to discharge. The filing of the bankruptcy petition with the clerk of the bankruptcy court marks the official start of the case. The information provided in the petition is used to determine the type of bankruptcy for which the debtor is eligible (Chapter 7, Chapter 11, Chapter 12, or Chapter 13) and to inform the court and creditors of the debtor's financial status. It's important to note that bankruptcy proceedings are governed by federal law, specifically the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and are handled in federal courts, even though the impact of the bankruptcy may involve state law, such as exemptions that protect certain assets from creditors.