Choose the playbook alone, or add the matching AI Companion for $50.
Plain-language bankruptcy playbooks

Understand bankruptcy. Then take the next step with confidence.

Step-by-step PDF guides that walk you through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, from deciding whether to file to receiving your discharge. Add the optional AI Companion to organize your paperwork, spot dates, and check case captions using the playbook as its educational guide.

See the playbooks Which chapter fits me?

Instant digital download · Current 2026 federal figures · Secure checkout by Stripe

144 pagesAcross both playbooks
15 worksheetsPrintable, fill-in-by-hand
Form by formEvery official form explained
2026 editionCurrent fees and exemption amounts
Choose your playbook

Two chapters. Two ways to use each.

Buy the playbook by itself, or add the matching AI Companion for $50. The Complete editions cover both chapters.

Cover of The DIY Chapter 7 Playbook

The DIY Chapter 7 Playbook

For people who want to wipe out debt like credit cards and medical bills and file on their own.

  • 73 pages, 15 chapters, 7 worksheets
  • Means test, step by step
  • Exemptions: what you keep, and why
  • Every official form, in plain language
  • The 341 meeting, demystified
$299$19933% off
You save $100

Instant PDF download · Refundable before download

With AI Companion$249

Includes the Chapter 7 companion skill, document and deadline templates, caption checks, and installation instructions for supported AI platforms.

$50 more · Playbook PDF + companion ZIP
Best value
Cover of the Chapter 7 PlaybookCover of the Chapter 13 Playbook

The Complete Bundle

Both playbooks. Ideal if you are weighing Chapter 7 against Chapter 13.

  • Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Playbooks
  • 144 pages, 31 chapters
  • All 15 printable worksheets
  • Compare both paths side by side
  • $49 less than buying both separately
$499$34930% off
You save $150

Instant download of both PDFs · Refundable before download

With Full AI Companion$399

Includes the complete companion for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, with both playbooks built into its source library.

$50 more · Both PDFs + companion ZIP
Cover of The DIY Chapter 13 Playbook

The DIY Chapter 13 Playbook

For people with steady income who want to save a home or car, or who earn too much for Chapter 7.

  • 71 pages, 16 chapters, 8 worksheets
  • Plan payment estimator
  • Writing your plan, part by part
  • Confirmation, claims and objections
  • Living in your plan for 3 to 5 years
$299$19933% off
You save $100

Instant PDF download · Refundable before download

With AI Companion$249

Includes the Chapter 13 companion skill, document and deadline templates, caption checks, and installation instructions for supported AI platforms.

$50 more · Playbook PDF + companion ZIP
Optional AI Companion

Turn the playbook into an organized case workspace

The companion is a reusable skill for supported AI tools. Add your own bankruptcy paperwork to a private project or folder, then use the companion to organize the record and explain documents with source references.

Sort the paperworkBuild a sourced case profile and document index without changing originals.
Spot dates and deadlinesSeparate dates stated by the court from calculated or unverified dates.
Check captions and consistencyCompare names, court, case number, chapter, titles, and repeated figures.
Know when to get helpFlag contested matters, property risks, and attorney-escalation situations.

Works with supported skill or project features in Codex, ChatGPT, and Claude. A separate account with the chosen AI provider may be required and is not included. The companion is educational software, not a lawyer, legal advice, or a deadline guarantee.

Which chapter?

Chapter 7 or Chapter 13: the short version

Both playbooks start with an honest self-assessment, so you can confirm your choice before you spend time on paperwork.

Chapter 7Chapter 13
What it doesWipes out eligible debts, usually in about 4 to 6 monthsRepays some or all debts through a 3 to 5 year plan
Your propertyProtected property is kept; unprotected property can be soldYou keep everything
Behind on a house or car?Only a temporary pauseCatch up on missed payments over time
Who qualifiesMust pass the means testRegular income and debts under the legal limits
Court filing fee$338 (installments or waiver available)$313 (installments available)
Doing it yourselfRealistic for many simple casesMuch harder; the playbook explains how to prepare either way

Still on the fence? The Complete Bundle gives you both, for less than buying them one at a time.

Look inside

Designed to be read, used and written on

Clean, professional layouts with plain-English explanations, warning boxes where mistakes happen, and action steps at the end of every chapter.

Sample page: Your Chapter 7 Journey at a glance
The journey at a glanceThe whole process on one page
Sample page: federal exemptions table
Exemptions, explainedCurrent federal amounts and how to apply them
Sample page: Chapter 13 plan payment estimator worksheet
Plan payment estimatorWill a Chapter 13 plan fit your budget?
Sample page: case and payment tracker worksheet
Case and payment trackerEvery date and payment in one place

The DIY Chapter 7 Playbook

73 pages · 15 chapters · 7 worksheets

  1. Part 1 · Foundations
  2. What Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Really Is
  3. What Chapter 7 Can and Cannot Do
  4. Is Filing Right for You?
  5. Part 2 · Qualifying to File
  6. The Means Test
  7. The Required Credit Counseling Course
  8. Gathering Your Documents and Planning Your Timing
  9. Part 3 · The Paperwork
  10. Your Forms Packet at a Glance
  11. Exemptions: Protecting Your Property
  12. The Forms, Step by Step
  13. Common Mistakes That Cost People Their Case
  14. Part 4 · Filing and What Comes After
  15. Filing Your Case
  16. The Automatic Stay: Your Shield
  17. The Meeting of Creditors (341 Meeting)
  18. The Second Course, Reaffirmation, and Your Discharge
  19. Life After Bankruptcy

The DIY Chapter 13 Playbook

71 pages · 16 chapters · 8 worksheets

  1. Part 1 · Foundations
  2. What Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Really Is
  3. What Chapter 13 Can and Cannot Do
  4. Is Chapter 13 Right for You?
  5. Part 2 · Qualifying and Planning
  6. Your Income and Your Commitment Period
  7. Credit Counseling, Documents, and Timing
  8. Building a Budget That Can Carry a Plan
  9. Part 3 · The Paperwork and the Plan
  10. Your Forms Packet at a Glance
  11. Exemptions and the Best-Interest Test
  12. Writing Your Chapter 13 Plan
  13. Common Mistakes That Sink Chapter 13 Cases
  14. Part 4 · Confirmation and Life in the Plan
  15. Filing Your Case
  16. The Automatic Stay and the Codebtor Stay
  17. The 341 Meeting and Creditor Claims
  18. Confirmation: Getting Your Plan Approved
  19. Living in Your Plan
  20. Completing Your Plan and Your Discharge
Printable worksheets

Do the thinking on paper before you touch a court form

Each worksheet appears right where you need it, with a clean printable set at the back of each playbook.

BothDebt InventoryEvery creditor, balance and type in one table
BothShould I File? Self-CheckFit signs and red flags, with a clear decision
BothIncome and Means TestSix-month income average against your state median
BothDocument Gathering ChecklistEverything to collect before you start
BothProperty and ExemptionsValue, equity and what is protected
BothFinal Review Before FilingThe line-by-line check before you sign
BothCase TrackerDates, trustee details and deadlines
Chapter 13Plan Payment EstimatorWhat your plan must pay, and whether it fits
Chapter 1360-Month Payment LogTrack every plan payment to the finish line
Written to be straight with you

Clear guidance, without false promises

Bankruptcy can give you a genuine fresh start, and many people handle a simple Chapter 7 on their own. But some situations call for a lawyer, and you deserve to know which ones before you file.

Every playbook includes a Red Flags checklist

It identifies the situations where filing on your own is risky, like recent property transfers, business debts, significant home equity or a scheduled foreclosure, and points you to free and low-cost help. If you do hire an attorney, your completed worksheets make that consultation faster and more productive.

Questions

Frequently asked questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Bankruptcy Ease playbooks are educational guides. They explain how the process works, the forms involved and the decisions you will face, but they are not a substitute for advice from an attorney about your specific situation, and buying one does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Can I really file bankruptcy without a lawyer?

Yes, every person has the legal right to represent themselves in bankruptcy court, and many people successfully file simple Chapter 7 cases on their own. Chapter 13 is considerably harder to complete without help. Each playbook is candid about this and includes a checklist of situations where you should talk to a lawyer first.

Will this work in my state?

Bankruptcy is federal law, so the process, forms and deadlines are largely the same everywhere. Exemptions and some local court rules vary by state and district. The playbooks explain how to find your state's exemptions and your court's local rules, and include a page to record them.

How do I get my purchase?

Right after checkout you land on your order page. A signed Stripe webhook verifies the payment before your private links appear. Each link is available for 72 hours and up to three downloads, so save every purchased file to your device. Stripe also emails you a receipt.

How current is the information?

This is the 2026 edition, with the court filing fees and federal exemption amounts in effect as of October 2026. Laws and figures change, and each playbook shows you where to confirm current numbers before you file.

Is checkout secure?

Yes. Payments are processed by Stripe. Your card details go directly to Stripe and never touch this site.

Which playbook should I buy?

If you mainly want to eliminate unsecured debt and you are not trying to save a home or car you are behind on, start with Chapter 7. If you have steady income and want to keep a house or car, or your income is too high for Chapter 7, look at Chapter 13. If you are not sure, the Complete Bundle lets you compare both.

What is the AI Companion?

It is a downloadable skill package that helps a supported AI tool organize your bankruptcy documents, build a sourced deadline ledger, check captions and repeated information, and explain uploaded paperwork using the matching Bankruptcy Ease playbook. It does not file documents, create an attorney-client relationship, replace a lawyer, or guarantee that a deadline or filing is correct.

Do I need a separate AI account?

Yes. The AI Companion is the reusable skill and source package; access to Codex, ChatGPT, Claude, or another compatible AI service is not included. Available features, file limits, privacy settings, and charges are controlled by the AI provider you choose.

Can I buy the AI Companion by itself?

No. Each AI Companion is available only with its matching Bankruptcy Ease playbook. The Chapter 7 edition contains Chapter 7 material, the Chapter 13 edition contains Chapter 13 material, and the Complete edition contains both.

Launch sale

Start with a clear plan today

Get the playbook that fits your situation, or both, and know exactly what comes next.

See Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 options