Updated July 29, 2011
Note: If you are not using a Bankruptcy Software Program follow these instructions for preparing a List of Creditors from a word processing program.
To create your List of Creditors for submission to the court you can use Word Perfect, Microsoft Word, or any word processing software that allows you to save files as text with a .txt extension, or use any ASCII editor such as Windows Notepad to create the file.
If using either a word processor or ASCII editor, create the file in the following format:
1. The list must be typed using a standard font or print style such as Courier, Arial, Tahoma or Verdana.. Use upper and lower case letters. Do not use all caps or any symbols in the name or address lines. Example: Use c/o not %.
2. Top and bottom margins should be 1". The left side margin should be 2". Type the names and addresses in a single, straight column flush along the left side margin, DO NOT CENTER.
3. There should be one name per address and each address should contain 5 lines or less. Address lines may not exceed 40 characters in length.
4. There must be one (1) blank line between each address. Do not leave blank lines within an address.
5. Enter the city, state (using the 2 letter abbreviation) and zip code as the last line of the address.
6. Enter the zip code with the 4-digit extension. Example: 50309-9264. If there is no extension, enter 4 zeroes. Example: 50309-0000
7. Do not include the names or addresses of the following on the List of Creditors because they are added during the case opening process:
Debtor
Joint Debtor
Attorney for Debtor
Trustee
U.S. Trustee
8. After all addresses have been entered, name the file with the debtor's first initial and last name and the extension of .txt. The file should be saved in ASCII text format (not delimited). Procedures vary with each word processing program; consult your user’s guide for assistance.
File Naming Example: JDoe.txt
List of Creditors Example:
Betty Johnson
Route 123
Des Moines, IA 50312-0123
Carol James
123 Pine Street
Des Moines, IA 50309-1234
Delta Faucets
Box 980
Dallas, TX 89078-0980
James Jefferson
Box 890
Dallas Center, IA 53809
Mandy's Candies
c/o Joe Attorney
1234 Main Street
Suite 100
Des Moines, IA 50309-0000
Pete Patterson
145 Maple Street
Adel, IA 50317-0145
Sam Spade
45 Jefferson Road
Jetson, IA 50676-0045
Wade's Books
c/o Jeff Rocket
3467 First Street
Suite 800
Adams, IA 58765-8765