Should I file bankruptcy with my partner?

I'm not sure I completely understand your question.  Are you asking if either or both of you NEED to file bankruptcy, or how to go about filing bankruptcy for each of you? To file a bankruptcy case, the first step is to have a consultation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney in your area.  They can advise on your options, eligibility, and alternatives to bankruptcy as well as to ultimately evaluate whether bankruptcy is a good option for you. If you both need to file bankruptcy, they would need to be separate bankruptcy cases since you are not married. Mark Markus has been practicing exclusively bankruptcy law in California since 1991.  He is a Certified Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization,  AV-Rated by martindale.com, and A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.