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Bankruptcy legal guides

Plain-English answers to common bankruptcy questions, before you call a lawyer.

• Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Which Applies to You?

  Chapter 7 sells what you can't protect and closes the case. Chapter 11 keeps you in control under a repayment plan. Here is who uses each, including Subchapter V.

• Bankruptcy Exemptions: What Property You Get to Keep When You File

  Most people who file bankruptcy keep all or nearly all their property. This guide explains how bankruptcy exemptions protect your home, car, retirement, and more.

• Student Loans and Bankruptcy: When Discharge Is Actually Possible

  You can discharge student loans in bankruptcy, but only by proving undue hardship in a separate lawsuit called an adversary proceeding. This guide explains the standard and the process.

• How to Rebuild Your Credit After Bankruptcy: A Step-by-Step Timeline

  You can rebuild credit after bankruptcy by opening a secured card, paying every bill on time, fixing report errors, and adding positive history. Here is the realistic timeline.

• How the Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy Protects You

  The automatic stay is a federal injunction that stops most collection actions the moment you file bankruptcy. Here is what it covers, what it does not, and how long it lasts.

• How the Bankruptcy Means Test Works: A Plain-English Guide

  The means test compares your six-month average income with your state's median, then subtracts IRS-based expenses. A line-by-line Ohio example shows how to read the result.

• What Is Chapter 7 Bankruptcy? How It Works and Who Qualifies

  Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out most unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills through a court discharge, usually in about three to six months. Here is how it works, who qualifies, and what you keep.

• Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: How the Repayment Plan Works

  Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets you keep your property and repay debts through a three-to-five-year court-approved plan. Here is how the repayment plan is built, confirmed, and completed.

• Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Which Is Right for You?

  Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt in a few months by liquidating non-exempt assets; Chapter 13 lets you keep property and repay debt over three to five years. Here is how to compare them.

• Bankruptcy Law: A Complete Guide to How Bankruptcy Works

  A plain-English overview of how bankruptcy works in the United States, including Chapter 7 and Chapter 13, the automatic stay, the means test, exemptions, and what happens from filing to discharge.