Should I file for bankruptcy? It is a personal decision that should be based on your own specific circumstances. While all factors should be considered, your decision to file is greatly influenced by the amount of debt you owe and your ability to repay it in the near future.

Should I File for Bankruptcy? Deciding to File Bankruptcy is a Personal Decision

Studies suggest that filing bankruptcy with a bankruptcy attorney may be right for you in any of the following scenarios:

• You have a large number of dependents
• You are older in age
• You have a large amount of dischargeable debt
• You have a small amount of savings and assets

Threats of garnishments, repossessions, foreclosures, liens, and general creditor harassment may all lead you to the decision that bankruptcy is right for you. If possible, it’s best to file for bankruptcy before these types of collection activity force you to rush into filing bankruptcy.

Even if you could eventually pay off all of your debt, you still may choose to file bankruptcy since you can use your future income to save for your long-term goals instead of paying off old debt. You may also file for bankruptcy to provide relief from emotional distress or depression that is commonly related to debt.

Bankruptcy’s Primary Purpose

Bankruptcy’s primary purpose is to protect you from your creditors and provide relief by giving you an opportunity to reorganize or eliminate your debts.

The filing of bankruptcy generally results in the discharge (or release from obligation) of most of your debts, so that no further legal actions can ever be taken against you for those debts.

In short, bankruptcy gives you an opportunity to receive a fresh-start, rebuild your credit, and improve your life.

Bankruptcy may help you in any of the following scenarios:

• You can’t pay your debts
• You’re receiving telephone calls from collectors demanding payment
• Your home is in foreclosure
• You’re in danger of losing your business
• You’re being sued by one of your creditors

Bankruptcy’s primary purpose is to protect you from your creditors and provide relief by giving you an opportunity to reorganize or eliminate your debts. 

If one or more of the following applies to you, consider your bankruptcy options and consult with a bankruptcy attorney.

• A creditor garnishes your wages or freezes your bank account
• Your mortgage company files a foreclosure proceeding against you
• Your auto lender threatens to (or has already) repossess you car
• Your driver’s license is suspended because of an accident or parking tickets
• You have a large amount of unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills, repossessions, broken leases, utility bills, etc.)
• You cannot afford to repay your all your consumer debt over the next 5 years
• Collection agencies and creditors call you at home or at work
• Your payments are more than 30 days behind on two or more bills
• Your creditors file collection lawsuits against you
• You cannot pay large medical bills not covered by your health insurance
• You owe income taxes, student loans or government fines that you are unable to pay in one lump sum
• Your debt total remains the same even though you are making payments
• You recently lost a source of income necessary to repay your debts
• Due to divorce or separation, you are either left with all the debts or can’t afford to repay your debts because of the loss of a portion of the household income.

Who Can Especially Benefit From Filing Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy offers the most benefits if your wages are garnished, your home is in foreclosure, your vehicle is about to be repossessed, or your driver’s licenses is suspended due to an uninsured or underinsured accident.

The filing of a bankruptcy can stop a court ordered garnishment, stop a foreclosure proceeding, save a car from repossession, recover a vehicle that was repossessed, and get your driver’s license reinstated.

Bankruptcy is Not Always Right for Everyone

Below are some examples where bankruptcy may not be the best fit for your situation:

• You own assets and/or can repay your debt
  If you own stocks, investments, significant equity in your home, or savings that you could use to repay your debts, or you have a large enough disposable income to repay all your debts in the near future, you may not need to file for bankruptcy.

• You are “judgment proof.”

  You may not have any wages or property that your creditors would be allowed to take from you. People who fit this description are often referred to as “judgment proof”. “Collection proof” would be a better description, because your creditors can still file a lawsuit and obtain a judgment against you; they just cannot enforce the judgment against you and collect any money. “Judgment proof” individuals are typically senior citizens on a fixed income who do not own many assets or home.
  Even if you are considered “judgment proof”, considering bankruptcy options can be helpful to stop future lawsuits or creditor harassment.

• You defrauded your creditors

  Bankruptcy law was created for honest people who need the help of the Bankruptcy Court to get a fresh start. If you have purposefully engaged in activities to either hide your assets or defraud your creditors, such as the recent transfer of assets to your family or friends to hide them from your creditors or lying on a credit application about your income, a bankruptcy may not be your best course of action.

• You recently incurred debts for luxury purchases

  If all of your debts are a result of a recent luxury spending spree, filing for bankruptcy may not help your situation. Most luxury debts incurred just before filing bankruptcy are not dischargeable if the creditor objects. However, if these luxury debts are not recent or intentionally fraudulent, you may be able to eliminate them in a bankruptcy.

• You expect to incur more debts for future necessities

  If you expect to incur more debts for necessities, such as upcoming medical costs for an illness or medical condition, consider delaying filing for bankruptcy until all your upcoming debts have been incurred. Debts incurred after filing for bankruptcy cannot be included in your bankruptcy.

• A friend or relative cosigned a loan for you

  Anyone who cosigned a loan or otherwise took on a joint obligation with you can be held wholly responsible for the debt if you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. You may be able to protect a cosigner in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy. See Protect Cosigners from Your Mutual Creditors.

• You previously received a bankruptcy discharge

  You can’t file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy if you previously obtained a Chapter 7 discharge within the past eight years. In this situation, Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be available to you.

• Your previous bankruptcy case was dismissed

  You may not be able to re-file a bankruptcy if your previous bankruptcy was dismissed within the past 180 days for violating a court order or you requested the dismissal of your bankruptcy after a creditor was granted relief from the automatic stay.