How to Add a Creditor After a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Is Paid
- 1). Locate the original petition and any subsequent amended petitions that you previously filed to initiate your bankruptcy matter. These should be attached to your final disposition. If not, contact the clerk of the bankruptcy court that handled your bankruptcy matter and request a certified copy of the original petition and any amendments you filed. You will need the case name and docket number to make this request. There may be a nominal fee for certified duplication of these documents.
- 2). Prepare a new amended petition using your most recent amended petition (or the original if you have no previous amended petitions) as a reference. If your court offers form petitions for this purpose, contact the court clerk to request one and use this form to complete your amended petition. Copy the information from your most recent petition and enter this into your new petition or form. Sign the bottom when you are finished.
- 3). Add the additional creditor and the corresponding debt to your most recent creditor matrix, which should be attached to the back of your most recent petition. Provide the creditor's full name, mailing address and telephone number in the next available block on the matrix. Enter the full amount of the debt that you owe as of today and the name or type of debt in the appropriate sections on the same block. Repeat this process for any additional creditors you need to add to your amended petition.
- 4). Make a copy of your amended petition, original petition, updated creditor matrix and any previous amended petitions from your bankruptcy matter. Retain the copies for your personal records.
- 5). File the original amended petition, initial petition, updated creditor matrix and certified copies of your previous amended petitions (if applicable) with the clerk of the bankruptcy court that handled your bankruptcy matter. Notify the clerk that you are filing an amended petition to add a creditor after completing payment on your repayment plan. There will be a nominal fee--typically, between $75 and $150--for filing the amended petition.
- 6). Repeat the original bankruptcy process. Once you file the petition, the court will make notice to your omitted creditor and schedule a new hearing. You will then draft a new repayment plan, start a schedule, receive a new disposition and begin making payments to the trustee once more. The creditors that you paid in full under your initial repayment plan will not be included in the process.