Common Docket Entries & What They Mean in a Bankruptcy Case

What Is a Docket?

In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case, the docket is the official case record kept by the court clerk.

It includes a list of everything that’s been filed in the case — like your bankruptcy petition, schedules, notices, court orders, and any documents from the trustee or creditors.

It also shows important dates, such as your 341 meeting and any court deadlines. The docket acts like a timeline of your case and helps you see what’s already happened and what’s coming up next.

Here's at look at common docket entries in alphabetical order.

Adversary Proceeding

An adversary proceeding is a legal proceeding that can happen as part of a bankruptcy case. Adversary proceedings are generally the most complicated part of a bankruptcy proceeding, but they don't happen in every case.

Upsolve's tool can populate the forms needed for a student loan adversary proceeding for eligible users. To be eligible, you must meet certain undue hardship criteria.

For other adversary proceedings, you may need to get legal advice on your case. Upsolve can connect you with a local bankruptcy attorney for a free consultation.

Assets Discovered

If you see Assets Discovered in your case docket, it means the trustee filed a document stating that you have some nonexempt property that can be distributed to creditors. 

Asset is another term for property. In bankruptcy, anything you own and anything you might have a right to own at a later time is an asset of your bankruptcy estate.

In most Chapter 7 cases, all assets are protected by bankruptcy exemptions. If there are nonexempt assets, the bankruptcy trustee may sell or liquidate (if the asset is intangible) them.

Case Dismissed

When a bankruptcy case is dismissed, it’s effectively been thrown out by the bankruptcy court. 

If the trustee files a motion to dismiss, it means they're asking the court to dismiss your bankruptcy case because you haven't completed your required tasks to get a fresh start.

If this happens and you aren't sure what you're supposed to do, call the trustee and ask, so you can avoid a dismissal.

What Should You Do if Your Case Is Dismissed?

If your case is dismissed, all hope isn't lost! You can usually reinstate the case or file a new case. Call the court clerk and ask how to reinstate your case. You may need to file a motion.

The clerk can usually direct you to the right paperwork. Just keep in mind that that can't give any legal advice

What Should You Do if You Get Notice That the Court Vacated Your Dismissal?

This means your case was reinstated.

Congrats! You're back on track. Now make sure to complete all required tasks to obtain your discharge as soon as possible. If you have any questions, call your local bankruptcy court.

Fee Waiver Denied

If you earn less than 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, you're eligible to apply for a fee waiver to waive the $338 Chapter 7 filing fee.

The bankruptcy judge will decide whether to grant a fee waiver based on the information contained in your application. If you see Fee Waiver Denied on your docket, it means the court denied your fee waiver application.

If this happens, you need to pay the $338 filing fee. Most courts will allow you pay in installments (payments), and your waiver denial letter will list a payment schedule.

It's important to make all payment by the deadline, or your case will be dismissed, and you won't receive a bankruptcy discharge.

If you have any questions about where or how to make the required payments, contact your court clerk.

Missed 341 Meeting

The 341 meeting (meeting of creditors) is a short meeting with your bankruptcy trustee. It usually happens about a month after you file your case.

If you see Missed 341 Meeting in your case docket, it means you missed the required meeting or weren't there at the scheduled time.

If this happens, call your bankruptcy trustee immediately and ask to reschedule the meeting. Make sure to follow their directions. Time is of the essence, so take action now. If you don't reschedule, your case will be dismissed and you won't have your debts discharged.

Missed Installment Payment

If you don’t qualify for a fee waiver, you can ask the court to pay the filing fee in installments. If you see Missed Installment Payment in your docket, it means you were supposed to make an installment payment to the court, but you didn't make it.

Your case will be dismissed unless you make the payment to the court ASAP. Please call the clerk's office of your court and make the payment immediately.

Missing Course Completion Certificate

If you see this in the docket, it means you didn't file the certification of completion for one of the required bankruptcy courses. Usually, your case will be dismissed unless you file the certificate with the court ASAP. 

If you’ve already completed the course, mail a certificate of completion to the court right away. You may also want to check with the course provider to find out whether they’ll send a copy of your certificate to the court. 

Remember there are two required courses:

• The credit counseling course, which you must take withing 180 days before filing your case. You submit the certificate of completion along with your other required forms when you file your case with the court.

• The debtor education or personal financial management course, which you must take within 60 days of your schedule 341 meeting.

Missed Pay Stubs

You’ll need to submit your paystubs (if you've been working) along with all the other required forms when you file your Chapter 7 case. If you see Missing Pay Stubs in your docket, it means you haven't mailed your trustee your last 60 days of paystubs.

In most cases, your case will be dismissed and your debts won't be discharged unless you call your trustee immediately and mail them your pay stubs. If you don't have pay stubs, you need to mail your trustee your Declaration of No Documents.

If you used the Upsolve tool, this should be included in your trustee packet.

Report of No Distribution

The trustee's Report of No Distribution (NDR) lets the court and all interested parties know that no money will be paid to creditors. This is usually good news!

All that’s left for you to do is wait for your discharge to be entered and the case closed.

How Do You Check Your Bankruptcy Docket?

You can check your Chapter 7 case docket online through PACER, which stands for Public Access to Court Electronic Records. It’s the official federal court system for looking up case information. Most bankruptcy courts update the docket regularly, so it’s a reliable way to see what’s happening in your case.

To use PACER, you’ll need to create an account at pacer.uscourts.gov. After you register, you can log in, search for your case using your name or case number, and view your docket. Keep in mind that PACER charges a small fee per page, but if you don’t use more than $30 worth of records in a quarter, those fees are usually waived.

If you’d rather not use PACER or have trouble navigating it, you can also call your bankruptcy court clerk’s office and ask how to access your docket. Some courts may allow in-person access or provide documents by mail for a small fee.

If you filed your case using Upsolve's free filing tool and you entered your case number, you can also see case updates directly in your my.upsolve account.

Why It’s Helpful to Check Your Docket

Your docket is the best way to stay informed about your case. You can use it to:

• Confirm that the court received your forms

• See if your fee waiver or installment plan was approved

• Find out the date and time of your 341 meeting

• Track whether the trustee or court is asking for more documents

• See if a discharge has been entered or your case has been closed

Many filers check their docket at least once a week while their case is active to make sure they don’t miss anything important.