About NAVBA
The first nationally recognized professional association for Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants.
Our History
The National Association of Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants (NAVBA) was established on October 1, 2007 — the first nationally recognized professional organization in the United States dedicated to the education and development of the virtual bankruptcy assistant industry. We also work to raise awareness among bankruptcy attorneys of the value that highly skilled, trained Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants bring to their practice.
NAVBA was founded by Victoria Ring, who created the virtual bankruptcy assistant field itself back in 2001. That legacy is why NAVBA remains the only organization offering the VBA Certification Exam — a credential used by law firms to pretest legal assistants and paralegals, and by VBAs seeking national recognition of their skill level.
What Is a Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant?
A Virtual Bankruptcy Assistant (VBA) works under the sole discretion of debtor bankruptcy attorneys, preparing Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy petitions. Hiring a VBA dramatically reduces overhead for attorneys and, by keeping petition work free of everyday office interruptions, improves the quality of the petitions themselves — a smoother process for the attorney, the bankruptcy court, and a better experience for debtors.
VBAs operate as non-attorney bankruptcy petition preparers under 11 U.S.C. § 110— the section of the federal Bankruptcy Code that governs who may assist in preparing a bankruptcy petition for filing. Working strictly under an attorney’s supervision keeps VBAs squarely within that framework.
Up to 46%
Typical reduction in petition-prep overhead when a firm delegates to a VBA instead of handling it in-house
24-Hour
Typical turnaround VBAs can offer on a completed petition once engaged
Figures reflect general industry averages, not a NAVBA guarantee. NAVBA members are independent professionals who set their own workflows, rates, and turnaround times — actual results vary by VBA.
What NAVBA Offers
VBA Certification
NAVBA is the only organization offering the VBA Certification Exam — used by law firms to pretest legal assistants, paralegals, and Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants for a nationally recognized mark of skill.
Training & Education
In partnership with 713 Training, we provide ongoing training, resources, and support to help VBAs build and grow a successful bankruptcy petition drafting business.
Attorney Connections
We help attorneys find highly skilled, trained VBAs through our member directory, and help members find attorney clients — reducing overhead while improving petition quality.
More Than Membership Dues
NAVBA isn’t simply an organization that collects dues and maintains member records. We take an active role in building virtual bankruptcy assistant businesses across the United States, and we’re honored to have members who hold themselves to high ethics and morals while genuinely enjoying helping each other grow. All VBAs who pass the Certification Exam are granted a free one-year NAVBA membership, so they can continue receiving ongoing training and support. Read our full Code of Ethics.
A Note to Attorneys
NAVBA is your partner in locating highly professional Virtual Bankruptcy Assistants to help your law firm grow. If you ever work with a NAVBA member performing below the standard you’d expect, please let us know so we can investigate — we appreciate your help maintaining NAVBA’s high standards.