Filing Bankruptcy in Arizona: Chapter 7 & Chapter 13, Step by Step
Every Arizona bankruptcy case is filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Arizona. Whether you live in a large metro area or a small town, the process follows the same federal rules, while Arizona law decides which property you can protect. Majors Law Group, P.C., an independent law firm, helps people across Arizona file Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.
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Bankruptcy.ai — the technology company
Bankruptcy.ai is a separate technology company (Majors.AI, LLC). It builds the software that organizes intake, documents, deadlines, and attorney review. It is not a law firm, is not your lawyer, and does not give legal advice.
Majors Law Group, P.C. — the law firm
Majors Law Group, P.C. is an independent law firm that helps people throughout Arizona and Washington file for bankruptcy relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code. Legal services come only from the firm's licensed attorneys.
How filing bankruptcy in Arizona works
1. Take a free, confidential look at your situation
Start with the free qualifying interview or request a consultation. You share the basics — income, debts, assets, and what worries you most — and an attorney at Majors Law Group, P.C. reviews it. Nothing is filed, and there is no obligation.
2. Complete the required credit counseling course
Federal law requires every individual filer to complete an approved credit counseling course within the 180 days before filing. It is usually done online or by phone and takes about an hour. The U.S. Trustee Program publishes the list of approved providers.
3. Gather your documents
Most cases need recent pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, a list of debts, and information about property such as vehicles, a home, or retirement accounts. The Bankruptcy.ai platform lets clients upload these securely instead of mailing or emailing them.
4. Your attorney prepares and files the petition
Your attorney reviews everything, prepares the official bankruptcy forms, and files them with the federal bankruptcy court. The moment a case is filed, the automatic stay generally requires most creditors to stop collection activity.
5. Attend the meeting of creditors
A few weeks after filing, you attend a short meeting with the case trustee — usually by phone or video. The trustee asks questions under oath about the paperwork. Your attorney prepares you beforehand and attends with you.
6. Finish the debtor education course and complete your case
Before a discharge can be entered, filers complete a second short course on personal financial management. In a Chapter 7 case, the process often wraps up in roughly three to four months. A Chapter 13 case runs through a three- to five-year repayment plan.
Where Arizona cases are filed
Phoenix Division
Maricopa County and much of central and northern Arizona
Tucson Division
Pima County and southern Arizona
Yuma Division
Yuma and surrounding western counties
Official court website: www.azb.uscourts.gov
What Arizona law adds
Arizona has opted out of the federal exemption list, so Arizona filers use the exemptions written into Arizona law. Those exemptions cover categories such as a primary residence, a vehicle, household goods, and retirement accounts. The exact amounts change over time, so your attorney confirms the current figures for your case.
Common questions about filing in Arizona
Can I file bankruptcy in Arizona without going to court?
In most consumer cases, the only required appearance is the meeting of creditors with the trustee, which in the District of Arizona is generally held by phone or video. Many filers never enter a courtroom.
How long do I need to live in Arizona to file here?
Generally, you file in the district where you have lived for the greater part of the 180 days before filing. Which state's exemptions apply follows a separate rule that looks back two years or more, so recent movers should raise this with an attorney.
Should I choose Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 in Arizona?
That depends on your income, your property, and your goals — for example, whether you are behind on a home or car. It is a case-specific decision that a licensed Arizona bankruptcy attorney should make with you.
Talk to a bankruptcy attorney serving Arizona
Tell us a little about your situation and an attorney at Majors Law Group, P.C. will reach out.
Prefer to start on your own? Take the free qualifying interview →
Bankruptcy.AI is the technology platform of Majors.AI, LLC. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice or legal services. Firms featured on this site, including Majors Law Group, P.C., are separate, independent law firms. This page is general information, not legal advice, and reading it or contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Majors Law Group, P.C. is a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.