Free Russian court-document builder
The Russian version of this page now contains a privacy-preserving browser tool that prepares four editable files: a debtor’s bankruptcy petition, the prescribed creditor/debtor list, the prescribed asset inventory and a personalised attachment checklist. Court filings are generated in Russian and the entered personal data is processed only on the user’s device.
Use the RU language switch in the page header to open the document builder.
The tool produces drafts for verification. It does not file documents, check registers or replace an individual legal review.
A person may file for Russian personal bankruptcy without hiring a representative. The debtor, however, remains responsible for the petition, supporting documents, disclosure of assets and transactions, naming an SRO, participating in court and cooperating with the financial manager. A mistake may delay the case, increase costs or affect debt discharge.
Short answer
A debtor may file directly with the arbitrazh court or through the official My Arbitrazh service. First compare judicial bankruptcy with the special MFC procedure, verify the statutory grounds, collect the documents required by Article 213.4, name an SRO and, after the court accepts the petition, pay the statutory deposit with the case number. The debtor cannot appoint a particular financial manager.
Judicial route
Used where insolvency or insufficient assets require a court procedure supervised by an approved financial manager.
MFC route
Available only when every condition in Article 223.2 is met. It is not a universal simplified substitute for court bankruptcy.
Right and duty to file
A debtor may file when anticipated insolvency is evident and the statutory indicators of insolvency or insufficient assets are present. A separate filing duty may arise where payment to some creditors makes full payment to others impossible and the relevant total reaches the statutory threshold.
The route cannot be chosen by the loan balance alone. Examine arrears, income, assets, enforcement cases, guarantees, family liabilities, prior transactions and debts that may survive discharge.
Step-by-step filing plan
1. Map every liability
Separate pre-case claims, current payments, maintenance, taxes, penalties, guarantees and disputed claims. Record the legal basis and key dates.
2. Review assets and transactions
Disclose real estate, vehicles, company interests, accounts, electronic money, digital roubles, claims against third parties and relevant transactions.
3. Collect attachments
Prepare creditor and debtor lists, the prescribed inventory, income and account data, family-status records and evidence supporting the petition.
4. File with the court
File with the competent arbitrazh court on paper or through My Arbitrazh. Name an SRO rather than a preferred individual manager.
5. Follow the court order
After acceptance, check the case number, hearing date, remedial directions and the deposit deadline.
6. Participate honestly
Respond to the manager, disclose changes, monitor EFRSB publications and read court orders rather than relying on informal status messages.
Document checklist
| Group | What to verify | Typical risk |
|---|---|---|
| Liabilities | Agreements, judgments, writs, calculations and all creditors | An omitted creditor or incorrect amount |
| Assets | Prescribed inventory, real estate, vehicles, securities, interests and claims | Only currently registered assets are disclosed |
| Money | Accounts, deposits, electronic money, digital roubles and the required transaction history | Closed accounts or foreign services are missed |
| Family and income | Marriage, divorce, children, maintenance, employment, pension and benefits | Community property or source of funds is unexplained |
| Transactions | Documents for property, vehicles, company interests, securities and major transfers | No commercial explanation or payment evidence |
When self-filing is particularly risky
Extra care is required where the debtor has a mortgage, marital property, an inheritance, business interests, foreign assets, digital currency, guarantees, a pre-case sale or gift, a good-faith dispute or claims that may survive bankruptcy. A legal diagnostic may be useful even if the person later files without representation.
Costs and the financial manager
Self-filing saves only the representative’s fee. Mandatory procedural costs remain, including the manager’s fixed remuneration, publications, mail and case-specific expenses. Since 29 December 2025 the fixed-remuneration deposit is paid after acceptance and before the merits hearing, with the bankruptcy case number in the payment document.
If available assets cannot fund mandatory expenses, the court examines whether the procedure can realistically be financed. Filing a petition alone does not guarantee commencement, completion or discharge.
Common mistakes
- filing in the wrong court;
- copying a generic petition without explaining actual insolvency;
- listing bank loans but omitting taxes, private loans, guarantees or current claims;
- failing to disclose closed accounts, electronic wallets, former assets or transactions;
- naming a person instead of an SRO;
- confusing acceptance, adjudication, completion and discharge;
- expecting every debt to disappear regardless of its nature and the debtor’s conduct.
Frequently asked questions
Can a debtor complete judicial bankruptcy without a lawyer?
Yes. Representation is optional. The financial manager is not the debtor’s personal adviser and need not correct the debtor’s procedural mistakes.
Can the petition be filed online?
It may be filed through My Arbitrazh. The public-services portal may supply some documents but does not replace the statutory filing channel.
May the debtor select a named manager?
No. The petition names an SRO; the organisation submits a candidate and the court approves the manager.
Does a complete file guarantee discharge?
No. The outcome depends on claims, assets, transactions, disclosure and the court’s assessment of good faith.
Can defects be corrected?
A court order may identify defects and a deadline. Failure to comply accurately and on time can result in return of the petition.
When is an initial consultation most useful?
Before filing where there are assets, transactions, family liabilities, a business, inheritance, security or uncertainty about non-dischargeable claims.
Primary sources
- Article 213.4 of Federal Law No. 127-FZ;
- Article 223.2 on the MFC route;
- Supreme Court Plenum Resolution No. 45;
- My Arbitrazh.
Related guides
- stages of personal bankruptcy;
- how to start the process;
- MFC eligibility check;
- checking the SRO and financial manager.
Need to test the risks before filing?
An initial consultation can identify the suitable route, asset and transaction risks and the documents that require special attention.
INITIAL CONSULTATION →This material is general information. The outcome depends on the facts and the law in force.