How bankruptcy attorneys request a mortgage statement from clients
By Arthur Teboul, DokuTrak · Published
In short
Ask the client for the most recent monthly mortgage statement for every loan on the home, first mortgage, second mortgage and home equity line. It gives the servicer, loan number, principal balance, escrow and any past-due amount, which you need for Schedule D and, in Chapter 13, to plan how missed payments will be caught up.
Why bankruptcy attorneys need a mortgage statement
A mortgage is a secured debt listed on Schedule D, and the servicer named on the statement is the party that receives notice. The statement also shows arrears, late fees and escrow shortages. In a Chapter 13 case those arrears are often paid through the plan, so the past-due figure on the statement is the starting point for the numbers.
What exactly to ask for
The latest full statement for each loan secured by the home, all pages, plus any recent notice of default, foreclosure letter or loan modification paperwork. If the client stopped opening the mail, ask for the servicer’s name and the loan number so you can request a payoff or reinstatement figure.
What to check when it arrives
- The servicer’s name and address match the company that currently handles the loan.
- The past-due amount, late fees and escrow shortage are visible, not only the regular payment.
- Every loan on the home is covered, including a second mortgage or home equity line.
Email to send your client
Replace the bracketed parts. The same text fits in the message of a DokuTrak request (up to 1,000 characters).
Subject: Your mortgage statement
Hi [Client name],
I know worry about the house can sit heavy, and I want you to know we are looking at this carefully with you.
Please send me your most recent mortgage statement, every page. If you have more than one loan on the home, such as a second mortgage or a home equity line, send the latest statement for each. If you received any letters about missed payments or foreclosure, please include those as well, even if they are hard to look at.
Could you send them by [date]? If you cannot find a statement, the lender’s name and your loan number are enough for me to start.
With care, [Your name]
Sources
The rules above come from these primary sources. Check them, and your local rules, before you rely on them.
Ask once. DokuTrak does the chasing.
- Your client uploads from one link, with no account and no password.
- Reminders go out on a schedule, by default 2, 5, 10 and 14 days after the request, until the file arrives.
- With AI review switched on in your workspace (it is off by default), each upload gets a first pass that flags a file that is not a mortgage statement or an unreadable or blurry scan. It says so when it is not sure.
- You accept every file or mark it for re-upload, and your client gets the note by email. The AI never accepts a file.