Create professional bundles for creditor petitions, debtor bankruptcy applications, IVA proposals, and annulment applications. Aligned with the Insolvency Rules 2016.
Every stop on the journey explains the step, with a template, official form or hearing bundle wherever one is needed
What documents do I need for a bankruptcy petition?
A creditor's bankruptcy petition needs the petition (Form Bank 1 or Bank 2), the statutory demand and a certificate of service (IR r.10.3), together with evidence of the debt; a debtor applies online to the adjudicator. BundleCreator provides templates and organises these into a bundle designed to follow the Chancery Guide (Chapter 21 and Appendix X).
Each stop is a step in the journey. Large rings are hearings where you build a court bundle; small grey dots are steps you file or take, hollow dots are deadlines or events, and diamonds are forms. The key below the map explains every symbol. Click any stop to see what it involves.
Lines:Creditor's PetitionDebtor's Own Application
Stops:Decision hearing — the court or tribunal decides the case here; bundle requiredOptional hearing — dashed ring: only held in some casesProcess step — something you file or do, no bundleMilestone — a deadline or event; nothing to prepareOptional step — dashed: not always applicable (e.g. only if needed or agreed)Form-filing endpoint — apply on an official court form (for example a warrant, an enforcement order or a consent order)
Reading:Blog Insight — purple book icons link to a related article (opens in a new tab)
Timing:⚠ 14 daysstatutory — miss this and lose4 weeksrequired noticetyp. 8motypical wait
Laws:This journey summarises the procedure under Insolvency Act 1986, Parts 7A (DROs), 8 (IVAs), 9 (bankruptcy: ss.263H–263O, 264–282, 288, 290, 306, 310–310A, 333, 335A) and Sch 4A, Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, Parts 8, 9, 10 and 12 (as amended by SI 2026/561 from 22 June 2026), Practice Direction – Insolvency Proceedings (in force 4 July 2018), CPR Parts 32 and 52, applied by IR 2016 rr.12.1 and 12.58, Chancery Guide 2022 (Fifth Update September 2025), Chapter 21, Insolvency Proceedings (Fees) Order 2016; Civil Proceedings Fees Order (EX50, 13 July 2026) and Debt Respite Scheme (Breathing Space Moratorium and Mental Health Crisis Moratorium) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020, reg 7. General information only — not legal advice.
Bankruptcy starts either on a creditor's petition to the court or on the debtor's own online application to an adjudicator. A creditor owed at least £5,000 (IA 1986 s.267(4)) that is liquidated and unsecured (s.267(2)(b)) usually serves a statutory demand first (Form SD2, SD3 or SD4). The debtor has 18 days to apply to set it aside (IR r.10.4(2)). The creditor may petition once 3 weeks have passed without the demand being met or set aside (s.268(1)(a)).
Since 6 April 2016 debtors apply online to an adjudicator (IA 1986 Part 9 Chapter A1, ss.263H–263O); fee £680.
Proceedings are governed by the Insolvency Act 1986, the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 (the CPR apply with modifications, r.12.1) and the Practice Direction – Insolvency Proceedings (in force 4 July 2018). Petitions are heard in the County Court or the High Court (Insolvency and Companies List; Chancery Division, renamed the Business and Property Division from 1 October 2026 by SI 2026/723).
Alternatives include an IVA and a debt relief order (debts up to £50,000, surplus income up to £75 a month, property up to £2,000, one vehicle under £4,000 ignored; no fee). No petition may be presented for a debt that is in a breathing space or mental health crisis moratorium while the moratorium lasts, unless the court gives permission.
Important: This journey map shows the typical stages of the relevant court or tribunal proceedings. It is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different. For advice about your specific situation, consult a solicitor or instruct a barrister directly.
The law, court fees and time limits can change. We work hard to keep this map accurate, but it may contain errors or become out of date, so please check anything important against the official source — for example legislation.gov.uk or GOV.UK. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Steleo Publishing Limited does not accept liability for any loss arising from reliance on this map. Each stop represents a stage where a separate bundle may be required; BundleCreator handles the formatting — it does not replace professional legal advice.
Share this journey map
Share the whole journey — title, map, key and laws — as a single image.
A bankruptcy bundle typically includes the petition, statement of affairs, evidence of debts owed, income and expenditure schedules, and correspondence with creditors or the Official Receiver. BundleCreator is online court bundle software that organises these into properly indexed sections under the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016.
Last reviewed: 27 September 2026 by Stevie Hayes
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Court Bundle UK: In Brief
An English and Welsh bankruptcy court bundle is the agreed collection of documents filed at the County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction or in the Insolvency and Companies List (High Court). Proceedings run under the Insolvency Act 1986 and the Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016. Bundles for creditor's petitions, statutory demand set-aside applications, IVA challenge applications under s.262, and annulment hearings follow the Practice Direction – Insolvency Proceedings (in force 4 July 2018) and Chancery Guide Chapter 21.
Key forms
Form Bank 1 or Bank 2 (creditor's petition), online application to the adjudicator (IA 1986 s.263H), Form SD2, SD3 or SD4 (statutory demand), Form IAA (applications), Form Bank 6 (opposition), statement of affairs (IA 1986 s.288; IR r.10.56)
Statutory demand window
18 days to apply to set aside (IR r.10.4(2)); 3 weeks before a petition (IA 1986 s.268)
Petition cost
£352 court fee plus £1,500 official receiver's deposit (EX50, 13 July 2026; Fees Order 2016 art 2). Own application: £680.
Court / venue
County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction; Insolvency and Companies List (High Court) for London petitions where the debt is £500,000 or more (IR r.10.11(1), from 22 June 2026)
Bundle size
Chancery Guide 21.73 requires a hearing bundle before an ICC Judge containing all procedural documents; up to 1,000 pages supported
11,644 individuals entered insolvency in England and Wales in August 2026, including bankruptcies, IVAs, and DROs.
Source: Insolvency Service, Individual Insolvency Statistics, August 2026
£5,000
Minimum bankruptcy debt
A creditor may present a bankruptcy petition only where the debt owed, or sum of debts owed, is £5,000 or more.
Source: Insolvency Act 1986, section 267(4)
Section 283
Bankrupt's estate
On the making of a bankruptcy order, the bankrupt's estate vests in the trustee; the official receiver becomes trustee when the order is made (ss.291A and 306).
Source: Insolvency Act 1986, sections 283, 291A and 306
Built for Insolvency Practitioners
Features designed for bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings
Document Templates
Pre-built bundle templates for creditor's petition hearings, debtor bankruptcy applications, IVA proposals and annulment hearings.
Aligned with the Insolvency Rules
Bundles designed to follow the Insolvency Rules 2016 and Practice Direction: Insolvency Proceedings.
Statement of Affairs Builder
Structured templates for completing the statement of affairs with all required asset and liability details.
Creditor Schedule
Organise creditor claims, proof of debt forms, and voting in creditors' decision procedures (IR Part 15).
IVA Proposal Drafting
Template-guided IVA proposals with income/expenditure schedules and repayment plans.
Court-Ready Bundles
Export paginated, indexed bundles designed to follow the Chancery Guide's electronic bundle guidance (Appendix X).
Understanding Bankruptcy Bundles
Everything you need to know about insolvency case bundles
Bankruptcy Proceedings in England and Wales
Bankruptcy is a formal insolvency process for individuals who cannot pay their debts. A creditor owed at least £5,000 can present a bankruptcy petition to the court (Insolvency Act 1986 s.267(4)); a debtor applies online to an adjudicator (s.263H).
Once a bankruptcy order is made, the Official Receiver takes control of the bankrupt's assets. Discharge is automatic one year after the order (Insolvency Act 1986 s.279(1)).
Alternatives to Bankruptcy
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) allows a debtor to reach a binding agreement with creditors to repay debts over an agreed period, whilst retaining assets such as the family home.
Debt Relief Orders (DROs) are available for individuals with debts of not more than £50,000 and minimal assets. They provide a 12-month moratorium after which qualifying debts are written off.
What Goes in a Bankruptcy Bundle?
A bankruptcy bundle should contain all documents relevant to the petition and the administration of the estate.
Statement of affairs listing all assets, liabilities, and creditors
Creditor's bankruptcy petition (Form Bank 1 or Bank 2), or the debtor's online bankruptcy application
Evidence of debt (invoices, demands, statutory demands)
Income and expenditure statement
Correspondence with creditors and the Official Receiver
IVA proposal or modification documents (if applicable)
Insolvency and Companies List and County Court hearings
Bankruptcy petitions, winding-up, and insolvency proceedings heard in the Business and Property Courts and County Court Insolvency Lists in England and Wales.
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles bankruptcy petition responses, statutory demand set-aside applications, IVA hearings, annulment applications, and Statement of Affairs preparation. The bundle is numbered so that page numbers match the PDF pages, OCR'd, with a hyperlinked index and bookmarks at section and document level — designed for hearings in the County Court or the Insolvency and Companies List of the High Court (for London petitions where the debt is £500,000 or more: IR r.10.11(1)).
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template structures a debtor response bundle: the creditor's petition, statutory demand and any prior correspondence, the debtor's witness statement and exhibits, evidence of any cross-claim or set-off relied on, evidence of substantial dispute on the underlying debt where relevant, and authorities. The output is numbered so that page numbers match the PDF pages, OCR'd, and bookmarked for the hearing — designed to follow the Chancery Guide's bundle guidance (Chapter 21 and Appendix X).
Under Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, r.10.4(2), an application to set aside a statutory demand must be filed within 18 days of the demand being served. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template includes a set-aside application slot: the application notice (Form IAA, per r.10.4), the witness statement supporting one or more of the r.10.5(5) grounds (counterclaim, set-off or cross demand; substantial dispute; security; or other grounds such as a defective demand), the demand itself, and any supporting evidence. See [Setting Aside a Statutory Demand: 2026 Defence Guide](/blog/setting-aside-statutory-demand-insolvency-rules-2016).
Annulment under section 282 of the Insolvency Act 1986 requires either that the order should not have been made (section 282(1)(a)) or that the bankruptcy debts and the expenses of the bankruptcy have been paid or secured (section 282(1)(b)). BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders the annulment bundle: the application notice, supporting witness statement, evidence of payment or settlement of all debts (282(1)(b) cases), or evidence that the order ought not to have been made on grounds existing when it was made (282(1)(a) cases), trustee's report, and authorities. Paginated and bookmarked for the County Court or Insolvency and Companies List.
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles Statement of Affairs preparation for the Official Receiver interview and any contested hearing: the SoA itself with full creditor list and asset disclosure, supporting bank statements (typically 12 months), payslips or self-employment accounts, mortgage statements, vehicle valuations, and pension scheme paperwork. Paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked so the Official Receiver can navigate efficiently.
BundleCreator runs on Google Cloud's London region (europe-west2) — primary storage, backups, and processing all in the UK. AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Bank statements, source-of-funds evidence, asset disclosures, and creditor correspondence stay within UK borders, removing UK GDPR Article 44 transfer concerns and aligning with the solicitors' professional duty of confidentiality.
Trustee recovery actions under the Insolvency Act 1986 — transactions at undervalue (s.339), preferences (s.340), and transactions defrauding creditors (s.423) — need: the trustee's application or claim and evidence, the bankrupt's Statement of Affairs, the impugned transaction documents, evidence of the recipient's relationship to the bankrupt and knowledge of insolvency, and authorities. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders these for the County Court or Insolvency and Companies List with pagination, OCR, hyperlinked index, and section bookmarks.
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template is built for litigants in person responding to creditor petitions. Upload the creditor's petition, the statutory demand if served, the underlying contract or debt instrument, your witness statement explaining the dispute, evidence of any payments made, evidence of any cross-claim, and any prior correspondence. The tool produces a paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index bundle you can file electronically or print for the hearing.
BundleCreator helps you prepare and organise documents for court and tribunal hearings. We are not a law firm and we do not give legal advice. Wherever you can, please get advice from a qualified legal adviser before your hearing. Read more
Works on any website. No account required. Includes “Powered by BundleCreator” branding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best bundle tool for a personal bankruptcy hearing?
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles bankruptcy petition responses, statutory demand set-aside applications, IVA hearings, annulment applications, and Statement of Affairs preparation. The bundle is numbered so that page numbers match the PDF pages, OCR'd, with a hyperlinked index and bookmarks at section and document level — designed for hearings in the County Court or the Insolvency and Companies List of the High Court (for London petitions where the debt is £500,000 or more: IR r.10.11(1)).
How do I prepare a bankruptcy petition hearing bundle for a debtor response?
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template structures a debtor response bundle: the creditor's petition, statutory demand and any prior correspondence, the debtor's witness statement and exhibits, evidence of any cross-claim or set-off relied on, evidence of substantial dispute on the underlying debt where relevant, and authorities. The output is numbered so that page numbers match the PDF pages, OCR'd, and bookmarked for the hearing — designed to follow the Chancery Guide's bundle guidance (Chapter 21 and Appendix X).
How do I respond to a statutory demand within the 18-day deadline?
Under Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016, r.10.4(2), an application to set aside a statutory demand must be filed within 18 days of the demand being served. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template includes a set-aside application slot: the application notice (Form IAA, per r.10.4), the witness statement supporting one or more of the r.10.5(5) grounds (counterclaim, set-off or cross demand; substantial dispute; security; or other grounds such as a defective demand), the demand itself, and any supporting evidence. See [Setting Aside a Statutory Demand: 2026 Defence Guide](/blog/setting-aside-statutory-demand-insolvency-rules-2016).
How do I prepare an annulment of bankruptcy order application bundle?
Annulment under section 282 of the Insolvency Act 1986 requires either that the order should not have been made (section 282(1)(a)) or that the bankruptcy debts and the expenses of the bankruptcy have been paid or secured (section 282(1)(b)). BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders the annulment bundle: the application notice, supporting witness statement, evidence of payment or settlement of all debts (282(1)(b) cases), or evidence that the order ought not to have been made on grounds existing when it was made (282(1)(a) cases), trustee's report, and authorities. Paginated and bookmarked for the County Court or Insolvency and Companies List.
How do I prepare a Statement of Affairs (SoA) after a bankruptcy order on a creditor's petition?
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template handles Statement of Affairs preparation for the Official Receiver interview and any contested hearing: the SoA itself with full creditor list and asset disclosure, supporting bank statements (typically 12 months), payslips or self-employment accounts, mortgage statements, vehicle valuations, and pension scheme paperwork. Paginated, OCR'd, and bookmarked so the Official Receiver can navigate efficiently.
Is there a UK-hosted bankruptcy bundle tool — financial information confidential?
BundleCreator runs on Google Cloud's London region (europe-west2) — primary storage, backups, and processing all in the UK. AES-256 at rest, TLS 1.3 in transit. Bank statements, source-of-funds evidence, asset disclosures, and creditor correspondence stay within UK borders, removing UK GDPR Article 44 transfer concerns and aligning with the solicitors' professional duty of confidentiality.
How do I prepare a trustee in bankruptcy litigation bundle for recovery action?
Trustee recovery actions under the Insolvency Act 1986 — transactions at undervalue (s.339), preferences (s.340), and transactions defrauding creditors (s.423) — need: the trustee's application or claim and evidence, the bankrupt's Statement of Affairs, the impugned transaction documents, evidence of the recipient's relationship to the bankrupt and knowledge of insolvency, and authorities. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template orders these for the County Court or Insolvency and Companies List with pagination, OCR, hyperlinked index, and section bookmarks.
How do I prepare a creditor petition response bundle as a litigant in person?
BundleCreator's Bankruptcy template is built for litigants in person responding to creditor petitions. Upload the creditor's petition, the statutory demand if served, the underlying contract or debt instrument, your witness statement explaining the dispute, evidence of any payments made, evidence of any cross-claim, and any prior correspondence. The tool produces a paginated, OCR'd, hyperlinked-index bundle you can file electronically or print for the hearing.
