Bankruptcy

What Are the Differences Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
The Bankruptcy Means Test: Are You Eligible for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?
Debt and Marriage: When Do I Owe My Spouse's Debts?
What Bankruptcy Can and Cannot Do

  1. 1/4

    What Are the Differences Between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?

    Find out which is right for you

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  2. 2/4

    The Bankruptcy Means Test: Are You Eligible for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy?

    Find out if you are eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

    Read

  3. 3/4

    Debt and Marriage: When Do I Owe My Spouse's Debts?

    It depends mostly on where you live.

    Read

  4. 4/4

    What Bankruptcy Can and Cannot Do

    Bankruptcy is a powerful tool for debtors, but some kinds of debts can't be wiped out in bankruptcy

    Read
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Intro to Bankruptcy During the Coronavirus Pandemic

When bills become unmanageable, such as after a divorce, illness, or job loss, bankruptcy provides a filer with a financial safety net. It works by wiping out or “discharging” qualifying debt—credit card balances, overdue utility bills, personal loans, gym memberships, and more—and giving the filer a fresh start. If you’re considering filing for bankruptcy, you’ll want to learn what each chapter can and cannot do.

Individuals often file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy because it’s quick and doesn’t require debtors to repay creditors. Higher-income earners who make too much for a Chapter 7 discharge can file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Although a debtor must pay back some amount through a Chapter 13 repayment plan, Chapter 13 has other benefits, like preventing a home foreclosure or car repossession and reducing the amount owed on secured debt. Both bankruptcy chapters stop harassing debt collectors and put an end to wage garnishments, creditor lawsuits, and other collection actions.

Filing for bankruptcy will affect your credit score, but it will improve with time—and often far sooner than most filers expect. In fact, many people find that filing for bankruptcy repairs credit faster than would be possible otherwise.  

Bankruptcy isn’t just for individuals with consumer debt problems. Filing can benefit a small business owner by minimizing personal liability after a company closure or by helping a small business return to profitability.

Finally, no one wants to file for bankruptcy. If you need bankruptcy help but have reservations, you’re not alone. Not only have employers laid off staggering numbers of workers due to the coronavirus outbreak, but companies large and small are closing at a record pace—and many businesses will seek bankruptcy relief. But that’s not as bleak as it might seem. Each fresh start—including yours—moves the economy one step closer toward recovery.

Legal Information & Books from Nolo
Bankruptcy
Should You File for Bankruptcy?
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
Working With a Bankruptcy Lawyer
State Bankruptcy Information
Filing for Bankruptcy
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You should not send any sensitive or confidential information through this site. Any information sent through this site does not create an attorney-client relationship and may not be treated as privileged or confidential. The lawyer or law firm you are contacting is not required to, and may choose not to, accept you as a client. The Internet is not necessarily secure and emails sent through this site could be intercepted or read by third parties.

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