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Means Test Calculation

Automate Bankruptcy Means Test Calculations in Minutes

3 minutes with Para

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Para is an AI colleague for legal teams. Send it this work by email, Teams or Slack, and it hands back the finished document.

3 minutes with Para

What you'll need

  • Pay Stubs
  • Filing Date Information

Plans from $20 a month, with usage included.

Workflow

Overview

Manually calculating bankruptcy means tests requires tedious analysis of pay stubs, complex YTD income calculations across multiple months, and cross-referencing state-specific median income thresholds. Attorneys and paralegals spend hours performing arithmetic, tracking deduction eligibility, and ensuring compliance with current filing date requirements—all while risking calculation errors that could jeopardize case eligibility.

Calculating the bankruptcy means test is time-consuming and error-prone, requiring precise YTD income adjustments, six-month lookback period analysis, and state-specific median income comparisons. Manual calculations across multiple pay stubs with varying pay periods create opportunities for costly mistakes that could jeopardize client eligibility or invite trustee scrutiny.

CaseMark automatically processes pay stub data, calculates year-to-date income adjustments for the exact six-month window, applies allowable deductions, and compares results against current state median income thresholds. Get instant, accurate means test determinations with complete calculation breakdowns for court filing and client review.

How to hand this to Para

  1. 1. Send Para the files

    Email them, drop them in a Teams or Slack message, or upload them.

  2. 2. Para runs the Means Test Calculation skill

    It works from your files and checks its citations against the record.

  3. 3. The finished document comes back

    Para returns it where you asked, usually as a DOCX, and offers the next step.

Example request · email, Teams or Slack
Para, run the Means Test Calculation skill for the Garcia matter. I've attached the Pay Stubs and Filing Date Information. Send the finished draft back here as a DOCX.

What you get

  • Debtor Median Status Determination (Above/Below Median)

  • Average Monthly Income Calculation

  • Year-to-Date Income Analysis

  • Applicable State Median Income Threshold

  • Eligible Payroll Deductions Summary

  • Six-Month Income Period Breakdown

  • Chapter 7 Eligibility Assessment

  • Supporting Calculations and Methodology

Required documents

  • Pay Stubs

    Recent pay stubs showing year-to-date gross income, preferably covering the six-month lookback period before filing date

    PDF, JPG, PNG, DOCX

  • Filing Date Information

    Intended bankruptcy filing date or date range to determine the applicable six-month calculation period

    PDF, DOCX, TXT

Supporting documents

  • Additional Income Documentation

    Documentation of other income sources such as bonuses, commissions, or irregular payments received during the lookback period

    PDF, XLSX, CSV

  • Tax Returns

    Recent tax returns to verify income consistency and identify additional deductions

    PDF

Why teams use it

Instant above/below median determination with state-specific threshold comparison

Automated YTD income calculation using correct six-month lookback methodology

Accurate identification of eligible payroll deductions (federal, state, FICA, Medicare)

Elimination of manual arithmetic errors in complex means test calculations

Current median income data for all 50 states and U.S. territories built-in

Questions

How does the means test calculator handle different pay periods and filing dates?

CaseMark automatically adjusts YTD calculations based on your specific filing date to capture exactly six full calendar months of income. For example, if filing in October 2025, it analyzes income from April 1 through September 30, adjusting pay stub data to exclude any amounts outside this window. The system handles weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, and irregular pay schedules seamlessly.

What deductions does the calculator automatically apply to gross income?

The system automatically identifies and deducts mandatory withholdings including federal tax, state tax, Social Security, and Medicare from gross income calculations. These deductions are extracted directly from your pay stub uploads and applied consistently across the six-month calculation period to determine accurate average monthly income.

How current are the state median income thresholds in the calculator?

CaseMark uses the most current median income data effective for cases filed on or after May 15, 2025, covering all 50 states and U.S. territories. The system automatically applies the correct threshold based on your client's state and household size, including the $11,100 adjustment for households larger than four people.

Can the calculator handle cases where complete pay stub data is unavailable?

Yes, when YTD information is not available, CaseMark can calculate income based on individual paychecks and payment frequency (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, etc.). The system extrapolates six-month income totals from available pay data while clearly documenting the calculation methodology for court review and trustee inquiries.

What happens if my client is over the median income threshold?

CaseMark clearly identifies whether your client falls under or over the applicable state median, providing the complete calculation breakdown needed for either Chapter 7 qualification or to proceed with the full means test analysis required for over-median filers. The detailed output supports your strategic decision-making about which bankruptcy chapter to recommend.

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