Changes to the Bankruptcy Form

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Summary

The Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) is introducing new forms, and updating some existing forms and processes used when applying for bankruptcy or filing a ‘Statement of Affairs’ for sequestration orders in line with legislative requirements.

Phase 1:

Phase 1 comes into effect from September 2025 and includes:

Topic From September 2025
Bankruptcy Form

The current Bankruptcy Form will be separated into two forms:

  1. 'Debtor’s Petition'
  2. 'Statement of Affairs'
     
  • People applying for bankruptcy by 'Debtor's Petition' must complete both forms.
  • People made bankrupt by sequestration order will need to complete the ‘Statement of Affairs’ only.
Request for information to be withheld, removed, or corrected on the National Personal Insolvency Index
  • Applicants will have the option to complete an updated ‘Request for information on the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) to be withheld, removed or corrected’ form, which can be submitted at the same time. This will no longer be a question within the ‘Statement of Affairs’.
Statement of Affairs for sequestration orders
  • Under legislative requirements, debtors are required to provide their trustee with a copy of the ‘Statement of Affairs’ for sequestration orders filed with the Official Receiver, within 14 days of being notified of the bankruptcy.
  • AFSA will no longer provide copies of an accepted ‘Statement of Affairs’ for sequestration orders to the trustee.
  • Statements of affairs for sequestration orders can be submitted via AFSA’s Online Services portal.
Change to lodgement process
  • People and their representatives will be able to submit their ‘Debtor’s Petition’ and ‘Statement of Affairs’ by both paper, and online via AFSA’s Online Services

Frequently asked questions

Can the applicant continue to use the single Bankruptcy Form from September 2025?

Where possible, applicants and their representatives are encouraged to use the ‘Debtor’s Petition’ and ‘Statement of Affairs’ forms from September 2025.

Can the Bankruptcy Form be used from September 2025 if the applicant would like for their address and other information to be withheld, removed or corrected on the National Personal Insolvency Index?

Applicants who wish for their details to be withheld, removed or corrected from the NPII will need to complete the updated ‘Request for information on the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) to be withheld, removed or corrected' form from September 2025.

Important: If this form is not submitted at the same time as the applicant’s ‘Debtor’s Petition’ and/or ‘Statement of Affairs’, their information may be published on the NPII.

As this is a phased approach, are additional changes due to be occurring?

Yes. We will be introducing new forms for Partnership and Joint bankruptcy applications, and there may be additional changes and updates in the coming months.

Further information

Information about changes to the Bankruptcy Form and effective dates will be shared as the program progresses. For further information, please: