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200+ Free CA CLS Bankruptcy Practice Questions

Pass your California Certified Specialist — Bankruptcy Law Examination exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

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A bankruptcy court orders the debtor to turn over property under §542(a). The debtor refuses. The appropriate remedy is:

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B
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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: CA CLS Bankruptcy Exam

75 MCQ + 8 essays

Exam Format

CBLS uniform format

453

Scaled Passing Score

State Bar of California CBLS

~8.5 hours

Total Exam Time

CBLS uniform format

$513

Total Fees ($359 + $154)

CBLS fee schedule

5 years

Min. CA Bar Membership

CBLS standards

Open-reference

Exam Format

CBLS rules

100

Practice Questions

OpenExamPrep question bank

The CA CLS Bankruptcy Law exam is a one-day, open-reference specialist certification using the uniform CBLS format: 75 multiple-choice questions plus 8 essay questions across approximately 8.5 hours. A scaled score of 453 is required to pass. Candidates must first qualify with 5+ years active CA Bar membership, ≥25% practice in bankruptcy, 45 hours of CLE in the specialty during the prior three years, demonstrated task experience, and peer references. Exam fees are $359 plus a $154 application fee.

Sample CA CLS Bankruptcy Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your CA CLS Bankruptcy exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Debtor files a Chapter 7 petition. The means test under 11 U.S.C. §707(b)(2) compares the debtor's current monthly income to which benchmark?
A.The federal poverty guidelines
B.The state median family income for a household of the debtor's size
C.The debtor's pre-petition income from the prior 12 months
D.The IRS national standards for living expenses
Explanation: §707(b)(7) provides a safe harbor: if the debtor's annualized current monthly income (computed from the six months preceding the petition under §101(10A)) is at or below the applicable state median family income for the debtor's household size, the §707(b)(2) presumption of abuse does not arise and the long-form means test is not required. Only above-median debtors must complete the full §707(b)(2) calculation comparing disposable income to allowed expenses under IRS standards.
2A California debtor wishes to claim the federal bankruptcy exemptions under 11 U.S.C. §522(d). May the debtor do so?
A.Yes, debtors always have a federal/state election
B.No, California has opted out under §522(b)(2) and debtors must use California state exemptions
C.Yes, but only if the debtor has lived in California less than 730 days
D.Only with court approval after a noticed hearing
Explanation: California is an opt-out state under §522(b)(2). California Code of Civil Procedure §703.130 expressly prohibits California debtors from electing the federal §522(d) exemption scheme. Instead, a California debtor elects between two California state systems: CCP §704 (traditional homestead system) and CCP §703.140(b) (the 'bankruptcy-only' system, often called System 2, which mirrors federal exemption amounts but is wholly state law).
3The §362 automatic stay arises at what moment?
A.When the bankruptcy schedules are filed
B.When the §341 meeting is held
C.Automatically upon the filing of the bankruptcy petition
D.When the court enters an order confirming the stay
Explanation: The automatic stay arises by operation of law the instant the petition is filed under §362(a). No court order, notice to creditors, or further action by the debtor is required. Acts taken after the petition by creditors with knowledge of the case are willful violations under §362(k), subjecting them to actual damages, attorneys' fees, and in appropriate cases punitive damages.
4A Chapter 13 plan is for what maximum duration under §1322(d)?
A.Three years
B.Five years
C.Seven years
D.Ten years
Explanation: §1322(d) limits Chapter 13 plans to a maximum of 5 years. For below-median debtors, the 'applicable commitment period' under §1325(b)(4) is 3 years (but a debtor may propose 5 years voluntarily), while for above-median debtors the applicable commitment period is 5 years. The court may not approve a plan exceeding 5 years even with creditor consent.
5A creditor receives a $10,000 payment on an unsecured antecedent debt 60 days before the debtor's Chapter 7 filing. The debtor was insolvent at the time. The creditor would have received only $4,000 in a hypothetical Chapter 7 liquidation absent the transfer. The trustee may recover up to what amount as a §547 preference?
A.$0 because the creditor was acting in good faith
B.$4,000
C.$6,000 (the amount above what the creditor would have received in Ch. 7)
D.$10,000
Explanation: §547(b) allows the trustee to avoid the entire preferential transfer, not just the excess over hypothetical Chapter 7 distribution. The 'enables the creditor to receive more than it would in a Chapter 7' element of §547(b)(5) is a yes/no test, not a measure of the recoverable amount. Because the creditor would receive only $4,000 in liquidation, the entire $10,000 payment enabled the creditor to receive more — and the full $10,000 is avoidable, subject to §547(c) defenses such as ordinary course or new value.
6Under California CCP §704.730, the homestead exemption amount in 2026 is approximately what range, depending on the county median home sale price?
A.$75,000 fixed for all debtors
B.$175,000 to $600,000 indexed for inflation
C.Approximately $350,000 to $700,000, tied to county median home price
D.Unlimited equity in the principal residence
Explanation: AB 1885 (effective January 1, 2021) and ongoing SB 832 indexing dramatically increased the California homestead. Under CCP §704.730, the exemption is the greater of $300,000 or the countywide median sale price for a single-family home in the preceding year, capped at $600,000 — both adjusted annually for inflation. By 2026 the range is approximately $349,720 to $699,440 depending on county. The §704 homestead is in addition to the §704 exemptions; debtors who elect §703 instead receive a much smaller homestead of approximately $32,650.
7Which of the following is NOT a ground for denial of discharge under §727(a)?
A.Transferring or concealing property within one year before filing with intent to hinder creditors
B.Failing to keep adequate financial records
C.Obtaining a discharge in a Chapter 7 case filed within the past 8 years
D.Owing a non-dischargeable student loan debt
Explanation: §727(a) governs denial of discharge entirely — it wipes out the debtor's right to any Chapter 7 discharge for misconduct. Grounds include fraudulent transfer/concealment (§727(a)(2)), inadequate records (§727(a)(3)), false oath (§727(a)(4)), prior discharge within 8 years (§727(a)(8)), and refusal to obey court orders (§727(a)(6)). Owing a non-dischargeable debt is a §523 dischargeability issue affecting only that specific debt — it does not bar discharge of the debtor's other debts and has no effect under §727.
8In a Chapter 11 case, the 'absolute priority rule' generally requires that:
A.All creditors must vote in favor of the plan
B.Senior classes must be paid in full before junior classes receive or retain anything under the plan over a dissenting class
C.Administrative expenses must be paid before secured claims
D.Equity holders must receive at least 10% of post-confirmation equity
Explanation: The absolute priority rule (§1129(b)(2)(B)(ii)) provides that if a class of unsecured claims rejects the plan, the plan cannot be confirmed unless either (a) the class is paid in full or (b) no class junior to it retains or receives any property under the plan 'on account of' that junior interest. The rule prevents pre-petition equity holders from retaining ownership while unsecured creditors are paid less than in full, subject to the disputed 'new value' exception (Bank of America v. 203 N. LaSalle).
9What is 'property of the estate' under §541(a)?
A.Only property listed in the debtor's schedules
B.All legal and equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case, wherever located
C.Only non-exempt property of the debtor
D.Only property in the debtor's physical possession at filing
Explanation: §541(a)(1) creates an extremely broad estate consisting of 'all legal or equitable interests of the debtor in property as of the commencement of the case,' wherever located and by whomever held. This includes contingent interests, causes of action, tax refunds attributable to pre-petition periods, and similar intangibles. Exemptions under §522 are then claimed against this broad estate — they do not exclude property from §541 in the first instance.
10A creditor learns of a debtor's Chapter 7 filing but proceeds with a state court garnishment, attaching $5,000 of the debtor's wages. The garnishment is a willful violation of the automatic stay. Under §362(k)(1), the debtor is entitled to:
A.Only the return of the $5,000
B.Actual damages including the return of property, costs, attorneys' fees, and in appropriate cases punitive damages
C.Only attorneys' fees, not punitive damages
D.Treble damages but no attorneys' fees
Explanation: §362(k)(1) provides that an individual injured by a willful violation of the automatic stay 'shall recover actual damages, including costs and attorneys' fees, and, in appropriate circumstances, may recover punitive damages.' 'Willful' requires only that the creditor knew of the stay and intended the act — not specific intent to violate. The mandatory damages plus attorneys' fees make §362(k) a powerful enforcement mechanism for individual debtors.

About the CA CLS Bankruptcy Exam

The California Certified Specialist — Bankruptcy Law Examination is offered by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) under the uniform CBLS format. It tests advanced knowledge of consumer and business bankruptcy under Title 11, automatic stay, avoiding powers, exemptions (including the California §704/§703 election), Chapter 7, Chapter 13, Chapter 11 (including Subchapter V), and adversary procedure. The exam is open-reference (open-book) — candidates may bring statutes, rules, and case materials.

Questions

75 scored questions

Time Limit

~8.5 hours (75 MCQ + 8 essays)

Passing Score

453 (scaled)

Exam Fee

$359 exam + $154 application (State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization)

CA CLS Bankruptcy Exam Content Outline

20%

Chapter 7 Liquidation

Eligibility and means test under §707(b), exemption election §704 vs §703, dischargeability exceptions §523, grounds for denial of discharge §727, trustee duties, §341 meeting

18%

Chapter 13 Adjustment of Debts

Eligibility debt limits, 3-5 year plan, projected disposable income, §1325 confirmation standards, lien stripping and cramdown, §1322 plan modifications, hardship discharge §1328(b)

14%

Chapter 11 Reorganization

Debtor in possession authority, exclusivity period, disclosure statement §1125, plan voting and acceptance §1126, absolute priority rule, Subchapter V small business reorganization

12%

Automatic Stay §362

Scope, statutory exceptions §362(b), procedure and standards for relief from stay §362(d), in rem relief, sanctions for willful violations §362(k), stay extension and reimposition

10%

Avoiding Powers

§544 strong-arm hypothetical lien creditor, §547 preference elements and defenses (ordinary course, new value, contemporaneous exchange), §548 fraudulent transfers, §549 post-petition, §550 recovery

10%

Property of Estate & Exemptions

§541 property of the estate, §522 federal vs state exemption election, lien avoidance §522(f), abandonment §554, turnover §542, post-petition earnings

8%

Adversary Proceedings & Contested Matters

FRBP 7001 list of adversary proceedings (dischargeability, lien validity, recovery), contested matters under FRBP 9014, service, summons, default, and trial procedure

8%

California-Specific Issues

California CCP §704 system 1 homestead vs §703 system 2 wildcard election, CA Family Code community property in bankruptcy, RPL recording and lien issues, state law interplay

How to Pass the CA CLS Bankruptcy Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 453 (scaled)
  • Exam length: 75 questions
  • Time limit: ~8.5 hours (75 MCQ + 8 essays)
  • Exam fee: $359 exam + $154 application

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

CA CLS Bankruptcy Study Tips from Top Performers

1Because the exam is open-reference, build tabbed, well-indexed copies of Title 11, the FRBP, and California CCP §§ 703–704 — but never rely on lookup; you must know the rules cold and use materials only to verify exact statutory language
2Master the §547 preference elements (transfer, antecedent debt, while insolvent, within 90 days/1 year for insiders, enabling greater recovery than Ch. 7) and the §547(c) defenses (contemporaneous exchange, ordinary course, new value, floating lien) — these are heavy MCQ and essay targets
3Memorize the §523 dischargeability exceptions versus §727 denial-of-discharge grounds — §523 attacks specific debts (fraud, willful and malicious injury, DSO, tax, student loan) while §727 wipes out the discharge entirely for misconduct
4Learn the CA §704 vs §703 election cold, including the §704.730 homestead amounts (currently around $349,720–$699,440 depending on county median home price under SB 832 indexing) and the §703.140(b)(5) wildcard amount
5Practice Chapter 13 confirmation under §1325(a) — projected disposable income test, best interests of creditors (liquidation test), good faith, feasibility — and master cramdown under §1325(a)(5)(B) and the 910-day rule for purchase-money auto liens
6For Chapter 11, know the absolute priority rule, the new value exception (Bank of America v. 203 N. LaSalle), Subchapter V's elimination of the rule for small businesses, and the disclosure statement adequate-information standard

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the format of the CA Bankruptcy Law Specialist exam?

The exam follows the uniform CBLS format: 75 multiple-choice questions plus 8 essay questions, administered over approximately 8.5 hours in a single day. The exam is open-reference (open-book), meaning candidates may bring annotated statutes, rules, and case materials into the testing room. A scaled passing score of 453 is required.

Who is eligible to sit for the CA CLS Bankruptcy exam?

Candidates must be active members of the State Bar of California for at least 5 years, dedicate at least 25% of their practice to bankruptcy law during the prior three years, complete at least 45 hours of approved CLE in bankruptcy during that period, demonstrate task experience across consumer and business bankruptcy matters, and provide peer references from attorneys and judges familiar with their work.

How much does the CA CLS Bankruptcy certification cost?

The exam fee is $359, plus a $154 application fee, for a total of approximately $513 to apply and sit for the exam. Additional costs include CLE coursework (~$1,500–$3,000), commercial study materials, and ongoing recertification every five years.

What is the California §704 versus §703 exemption election?

California is an opt-out state that prohibits the federal exemptions in 11 U.S.C. §522(d). Instead, California debtors elect between two state systems: CCP §704 (the traditional homestead system with a larger homestead but no wildcard) or CCP §703 (the 'bankruptcy-only' system with a smaller homestead but a substantial wildcard usable for any property). The election is made under §522(b) and is irrevocable for the case absent leave.

Is the CA Bankruptcy Specialist exam open-reference?

Yes. The CBLS Bankruptcy Law exam is open-reference: candidates may bring annotated statutes (Title 11, FRBP, California CCP exemption sections, Local Rules), case outlines, and personal study materials into the exam room. Despite being open-book, the exam tests advanced doctrinal mastery — there is rarely time to look up unfamiliar rules during the test.

How often must I recertify as a CA Bankruptcy Law Specialist?

Certification is valid for five years. Recertification requires continued substantial involvement in bankruptcy practice, ongoing CLE in the specialty (typically 45 hours per cycle), updated task experience, and peer references — but does not require retaking the written examination unless the specialist has lapsed.