Filing for Bankruptcy in Kentucky

In most respects, filing for bankruptcy in Kentucky isn’t any different than filing in another state. The Kentucky bankruptcy process falls under federal law.

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Facing financial challenges is a part of life. But if you're one of the millions struggling financially due to a job loss, illness, or another event in Kentucky, bankruptcy can help. Here, you'll find an explanation of Chapters 7 and 13, checklists to help you understand the process and stay organized, and Kentucky's property exemption laws and filing information.

However, we couldn't squeeze everything into this article, so be sure to check out its companion, What You Need to Know to File for Bankruptcy—you'll find lots more details there.



How Bankruptcy Works in Kentucky

In most respects, filing for bankruptcy in Kentucky isn't any different than filing in another state. The bankruptcy process falls under federal law, not Kentucky state law, and it works by unwinding the contracts between you and your creditors—that's what gives you a fresh start.

But Kentucky's laws come into play in a significant way. They determine the property you can keep in your bankruptcy case. You'll also need to know other filing information, which we explain after going over some basics.

Choosing a Bankruptcy Chapter in Kentucky

Most people file either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. If you don't know the differences between the two, you're not alone. The short explanation below and our handy Chapter 7 versus 13 chart will help clarify things.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Chapter 7 is often a bankruptcy filer's first choice for several reasons. It's quick—it only takes a few months to complete. And it's cheap—you don't pay anything to creditors. It works well for those of us whose property consists of the essential items needed to live and work.

However, people with more assets could lose them, especially if they own unnecessary luxury items. For instance, you might have to give up your RV, baseball card collection, or timeshare in the Bahamas—even your house or vehicle if you have too much equity in it or you're behind on the payments. Unlike Chapter 13, Chapter 7 doesn't have a payment plan option for catching up on late mortgage or car payments. So you could lose your home or car if you're behind when you file.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy. By contrast, Chapter 13 filers must pay creditors some or all of what they owe using a three- to five-year repayment plan. But the payment plan allows Chapter 13 to offer benefits not available in Chapter 7. For instance, not only do you keep all of your property, but you can save your home from foreclosure or your car from repossession. If you need time to repay a debt you can't discharge in bankruptcy, you can use this chapter to force a creditor into a payment plan. The biggest downside to this chapter? It can be expensive. Many people can't afford the monthly payment. Learn more about when filing Chapter 13 is better than Chapter 7.

Caution for businesspeople. Be sure to learn about the ins and outs of small business bankruptcies. The principles discussed apply to consumers only.

Will Filing Bankruptcy in Kentucky Erase My Debts?

Bankruptcy wipes out many bills, like credit card balances, overdue utility payments, medical bills, personal loans, and more. You can even get rid of a mortgage or car payment if you're willing to give up the house or car that secures the debt. (Putting property up as collateral creates a "secured debt"—if you don't pay what you owe, the lender gets to take the property back.)

But you can't discharge all debts. Nondischargeable debts, like domestic support arrearages and recent tax debt, won't go away in bankruptcy, and student loans aren't easy to wipe out (you'd have to win a separate lawsuit). You'll want to be sure that bankruptcy will discharge (get rid of) enough bills to make it worth your while.

Steps in a Kentucky Bankruptcy

We all know that seeing the forest helps us recognize the trees, so it's probably a good time to consider the significant steps you'll take during your bankruptcy journey. Think of this checklist as a roadmap, but you can also use it to track your progress. The good news? You've already made headway on the first two items!

Bankruptcy Steps Checklist

Keeping Property When Filing Bankruptcy in Kentucky

You won't lose everything in bankruptcy. You'll use your state bankruptcy exemption laws to protect your property. We list the significant exemptions below, but first, understanding the following will help you maximize what you'll keep in your case.

  • Exempt and nonexempt property. You can keep property protected by an exemption or "exempt" property. When a bankruptcy exemption doesn't cover the property, you'll either lose it in Chapter 7 or have to pay for it in the Chapter 13 repayment plan.
  • Choosing state or federal exemptions. You can choose whether you use the state exemption list or the list of federal bankruptcy exemptions, but you can't mix and match exemptions from both sets. Filers who use state exemptions can also use the federal nonbankruptcy exemptions.
  • Doubling exemptions. Spouses filing together can double the exemption amount if both own the property.
  • Retirement accounts all filers can protect. You can keep your tax-exempt retirement accounts, including 401(K)s, 403(b)s, profit-sharing and money purchase plans, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, and defined benefit plans and traditional and Roth IRAs to $1,512,350 per person (for cases filed between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2025). (11 U.S.C. 522(b)(3)(C); (n).) Learn more about retirement accounts in bankruptcy.

Kentucky's Bankruptcy Exemption List

    Below are some commonly used Kentucky bankruptcy exemptions. Statute citations are to the Kentucky Revised Statutes Annotated.

    Kentucky Homestead Exemption

    You'll be able to protect up to $5,000 of equity in any real or personal property in Kentucky that you use as a permanent residence. You can use your homestead exemption to protect a burial plot for yourself or your dependent. (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.060 & 090.)

    Learn about the qualifying for a homestead exemption in a Kentucky bankruptcy and why you might protect more home equity using the federal bankruptcy exemptions.

    Kentucky Motor Vehicle Exemption

    You can protect up to $2,500 of equity in one motor vehicle with accessories. (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.010(1).) Certain professions can keep additional cars.

    Kentucky Wildcard Exemption

    You'll be able to keep any real or personal property of your choosing up to a value of $1,000. (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.160.)

    Other Bankruptcy Exemptions in Kentucky

    • Alimony and awards. Alimony and support to the extent reasonably necessary for you and your dependents' support; crime victim's reparation funds; wrongful death award from the death of a person upon whom you were dependent; up to $7,500 of value in a personal injury award resulting from injury to yourself or your dependent in an amount reasonably necessary for the support of you and your dependents; awards for loss of future earnings in an amount reasonably necessary for the support of you and your dependents. (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.150.)
    • Insurance. Proceeds or benefits paid or to be paid by a cooperative life or casualty insurance company (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.110); life insurance proceeds if clause prohibits proceeds from being used to pay beneficiary's creditors (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 304.14-350); life insurance proceeds or cash value if the beneficiary is someone other than insured (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 304.14-300); group life insurance proceeds (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 304.14-320).
    • Personal property. $3,000 in household goods and wearing apparel; $3,000 in farming tools, equipment, and livestock; professionally prescribed health aids for debtor and dependents (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.010(1).)
    • Pensions and retirement accounts. ERISA-qualified retirement accounts (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.150); police and firefighters' pensions (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 67A.620; 427.125; 427.150(2)(e)); state and county employees' pensions (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 61.690; 427.150(2)(e); 67A.350); teachers' pensions (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 161.700; 427.150(2)(e)).
    • Public benefits. Public assistance (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 205.220); unemployment compensation (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 341.470); workers' compensation (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 342.180).
    • Tools of the trade. $300 in tools used in a trade or profession and $2,500 for a mechanic's automobile (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.030); up to $3,000 for farmer's tools (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.010(1); up to $1,000 of value in a professional library, office equipment, instruments, or furnishings necessary to the practice of an attorney, minister, physician, veterinarian, or dentist (Ky. Rev. Stat. Ann § 427.040).

    Verify Exemptions Before Filing

    Kentucky will amend these exemption amounts regularly, and additional exemptions exist. Visit the website for the Kentucky Legislature to ensure that you are using all exemptions available and that you have the most recent figures.

    Preventing Bankruptcy Exemption Problems

    Exempt your property carefully. The bankruptcy trustee—the court-appointed official assigned to manage your case—will review the exemptions. A trustee who disagrees with your exemptions will likely try to resolve the issue informally. If unsuccessful, the trustee will file an objection with the bankruptcy court, and the judge will decide whether you can keep the property.

    Example. Mason owns a rare, classic car worth $15,000, but the state vehicle exemption doesn't cover it entirely. Believing that the car qualifies as art—at least in his mind—Mason exempts it using his state's unlimited artwork exemption. The trustee disagrees with Mason's characterization and files an objection with the court. The judge will likely decide the vehicle doesn't qualify as art.

    Purposefully making inaccurate statements could be considered fraudulent. Bankruptcy fraud is punishable by up to $250,000, 20 years in prison, or both.

    Qualifying for Bankruptcy in Kentucky

    You'll meet the initial requirement if you've never filed for bankruptcy before. Otherwise, check whether enough time has passed to allow you to file again. The waiting period varies depending on the chapter previously filed and the chapter you plan to file. Learn more about multiple bankruptcy filings.

    You'll also need to meet specific chapter qualifications.

    You'll qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy if your family's gross income is lower than the median income for the same size family in your state. Add all gross income earned during the last six months and multiply it by two. Compare the figure to the income charts on the U.S. Trustee's website (select "Means Testing Information").

    Want an easy way to do this online? Use the Quick Median Income Test. If you find that you make too much, you still might qualify after taking the second part of the "means test." If, after subtracting expenses, you don't have enough remaining to pay into a Chapter 13 plan, you'll qualify for Chapter 7.

    Qualifying for Chapter 13 can be expensive because the extra benefits come at a hefty price, and many people can't afford the monthly payment. To qualify, you'll pay the larger of:

    • your priority nondischargeable debt
    • the value of nonexempt property, or
    • your disposable income.

    Find out more about calculating a Chapter 13 bankruptcy payment.

    Hiring a Bankruptcy Lawyer in Kentucky

    Most people find it worthwhile to get counsel. A bankruptcy attorney will help you:

    • qualify for the chapter of your choice
    • determine when it's time to file
    • help you keep the property you want
    • make sure you don't run afoul of fraud or other issues, and
    • explain when you can stop paying the bills you'll erase in your case.

    You can expect creditors to call until you file. It's usually best to ignore them because telling creditors about your bankruptcy can encourage them to take more drastic collection steps before losing the right to collect altogether. However, if you hire counsel and refer creditors to your lawyer, they'll have to stop calling you.

    Are you curious whether your case is simple enough to file yourself? Our quiz will help you identify potential complications while educating you about bankruptcy. You'll find it here: Do I Need a Lawyer to File for Bankruptcy?

    Filing Your Bankruptcy in Kentucky

    Now that you've decided to file, the fun begins! Well, not really. The first step—gathering your financial information—can be a bit of a chore. But using our bankruptcy document checklist should help you organize the things you (or your attorney) will need.

    Bankruptcy Document Checklist

    Bankruptcy Forms, Means Test Multipliers, and Course Providers

    After assembling the documents, your next step will be to prepare the paperwork. Here's what you'll need and where to find it.

    • Bankruptcy forms. You'll find free downloadable bankruptcy forms on the U.S. Courts website.
    • Means test multipliers. Go to the U.S. Trustee website to get the figures needed to complete the means test.
    • Education providers. The U.S. Trustee website also lists providers under "Credit Counseling & Debtor Education." Scroll down until you get to your district. And don't give up—it's a long list. (Individuals must complete credit counseling during the 180 days before filing for bankruptcy and a debt management course after filing the bankruptcy case.)

    Kentucky Bankruptcy Court Website and Locations

    Your case starts when you file your paperwork with the local bankruptcy court and either pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver. Also, keep in mind that each court creates its own rules that you must follow, and some might have local forms, too.

    There are two federal districts in Kentucky, and each has its own bankruptcy court. Each district is further divided into divisions, but not all divisions have offices that will accept bankruptcy filings. For guidance on where to file your case, contact an office using the number listed below or visit the Federal Court Finder page.

    On each court's website, you'll find the court's local rules and instructions for filing your paperwork (under either "Bankruptcy Info" or "Pro Se Resources"). Click on one of the links below to go directly to the court's website.

    Eastern District of Kentucky

    Western District of Kentucky

    Ashland, Covington, Lexington, London, and Pikeville divisions:

    (859) 233-2608

    Louisville division:

    (502) 627-5700

    After Filing for Bankruptcy in Kentucky

    Your creditors will stop bothering you soon after you file. It takes a few days because the court mails your creditors notice of the "automatic stay" order that prevents most creditors from continuing to ask you to pay them. Here's what will happen next:

    • You'll turn over financial documents proving the statements in your bankruptcy paperwork.
    • You'll attend the 341 meeting of creditors—the one appearance all filers must attend.
    • You'll complete a debtor education course and file the completion certificate.

    These things all must happen before you get a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge. Chapter 13 filers will also attend a repayment plan confirmation hearing and complete the three- to five-year payment plan.

    Need More Bankruptcy Help?

    Did you know Nolo has been making the law easy for over fifty years? It's true—and we want to make sure you find what you need. Below you'll find more articles explaining how bankruptcy works. And don't forget that our bankruptcy homepage is the best place to start if you have other questions!


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    United States Courts Bankruptcy Forms


    We wholeheartedly encourage research and learning, but online articles can't address all bankruptcy issues or the facts of your case. The best way to protect your assets in bankruptcy is by hiring a local bankruptcy lawyer.

    Updated April 18, 2022

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