In short
A bankruptcy petition preparer is someone who isn’t an attorney and is paid to prepare documents for filing. The Bankruptcy Code regulates them closely, in 11 U.S.C. § 110.
Form 119 is the preparer’s form more than the debtor’s. The preparer fills it out, the debtor signs the notice in it, and it’s filed with every document the preparer worked on.
Who files it
It applies only when a bankruptcy petition preparer was paid to help. The preparer is responsible for completing it. A case with no preparer involved has no Form 119.
What it asks
Part 1: Notice to Debtor
A notice that the preparer is not an attorney and may not give legal advice, with a list of what that covers: whether to file, which chapter, whether debts will be discharged, whether you can keep your home or car, and more. The debtor signs to confirm they received it.
Part 2: Declaration and Signature of the Bankruptcy Petition Preparer
The preparer’s name, address and Social Security number, the documents they prepared, and their signature under penalty of perjury.
When it’s filed
With every document the preparer helped prepare.
Related forms
- Declaration About an Individual Debtor’s Schedules (Official Form 106Dec)
- Voluntary Petition for Individuals Filing for Bankruptcy (Official Form 101)
The official form
Official Form 119 is 2 pages long and is used in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases. This guide describes the 12/15 revision, the date printed beside the form’s title. The federal courts publish the form and replace it when it changes, so their page always has the current one.
BK Prepare’s questionnaire builds the list of forms for a case from your answers, and includes this one when it applies.