This Note examines the purpose of a bar date for filing proofs of claims in a debtor's bankruptcy case, the contents and requirements of a debtor's motion to set a bar date, the various types of bar dates, the accompanying notices to creditors potentially holding claims and best practices for a debtor seeking to set a bar date. This Note also includes links to summaries of the local rules for setting bar dates in certain jurisdictions, allowing attorneys to compare rules across different bankruptcy courts.