Where to find the source behind a bankruptcy article

Match the source to the question

Use U.S. Courts for introductory explanations and official bankruptcy forms. Use the relevant court's site and orders for local procedure and case-specific instructions. For a Supreme Court case note, read the Court's opinion and check the date and case number.

Three checks before relying on a page

• Authority: is this the court, the statute publisher, an advocate, or a commentator?
• Timing: when was it issued, and is a newer version available?
• Scope: does it answer the same question for the same kind of case?

Keep a source trail

For a research note, record the document title, link, date, and the proposition it supports. Keep commentary separate from the primary material. This publication links its starting sources at the end of each article so readers can continue that work.

A useful distinction

A national explanation is an orientation. A form is a document with instructions. A court order governs matters within its scope. None should be substituted for another simply because they discuss the same topic.