Bankruptcy Articles

How Much Does Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Cost?

Chapter 13 starts with a $313 filing fee, plus attorney fees, a trustee fee, and other costs. Learn what you’ll pay—and how most fees could fit into your plan.

Can You File Bankruptcy on Student Loans?

Filing bankruptcy on student loans is possible—but it takes an extra step. Learn how the adversary proceeding works, who qualifies, and what to do if you don’t.

Getting a Mortgage After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy doesn't end your path to homeownership. Learn how soon you could apply for a mortgage, what lenders consider, and how to prepare your application.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Timeline: What to Expect

Chapter 7 bankruptcy typically takes 3 to 4 months from filing to discharge. Here's what happens at each stage—and what could extend your timeline.

How to File Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Learn how to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy step by step—from credit counseling and gathering documents to the repayment plan and discharge.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Exemptions: What You Can Keep

Chapter 7 bankruptcy exemptions protect your home, car, and essentials. Learn how federal and state exemptions work and what property you could keep.

Rebuilding Credit After Chapter 7

Your discharge is behind you. Here’s what to expect for your credit reports and a plan to rebuild your credit going forward.

Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy damages your credit but doesn't ruin it for life. Learn how to check your reports, choose the right tools, and rebuild step by step.

Chapter 13 vs. Debt Management Plan: How to Choose

Comparing Chapter 13 bankruptcy and a debt management plan? Learn how each works, what they cost, and how to decide which fits your situation.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 bankruptcy lets people with regular income repay debts over 3 to 5 years while keeping assets. Learn how it works, what it costs, and who qualifies.

Bankruptcy Alternatives: Your Options and How to Decide

Behind on debt or worried about it? Bankruptcy isn’t the only option. Learn which alternatives you could qualify for, afford, and that actually fit your goals.

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Which Is Right?

There are two types of bankruptcy: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Find out here which could meet your needs.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Payment Calculator

Estimate your Chapter 13 plan payment and learn how courts calculate what you owe each month. Understand the three tests that set your number.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: What It Is & How It Works

Chapter 7 bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts in 3-4 months. Learn who qualifies, what you’ll keep, costs, and how it impacts your credit

Tax Debt & Chapter 7

Free tips on IRS and state tax debts and filing for bankruptcy. Some IRS tax debts are eligible for including in a bankruptcy. Learn more at bills.com

Reopening a Chapter 7

I filed Chapter 7 two years ago and kept my home, but now I can't afford it. Can I reopen my bankruptcy case and add a mortgage?

Chapter 7 & Mortgage Debt

Most debts owed to federal, state, or municipal agencies can be discharged under the provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Chapter 7 vs. Debt Consolidation

Are you looking to avoid bankruptcy with a debt consolidation loan? Let Bills.com solve your debt consolidation questions so that you can save and avoid bankru

Bankruptcy & Joint Accounts

If you visit an attorney with your mother, do not be surprised if the attorney stops the first meeting at the halfway point and recommends that one of you seek

Chapter 7 & Repossession

Filing for bankruptcy protection creates an 'automatic stay' that prevents creditors from proceeding with any collection action on debts owed by the bankruptcy

Bankruptcy Divorce and Underwater Home

Your ex-spouse filing for bankruptcy can affect you, if you left your ex on the title to the home. Review how bankruptcy and divorce can affect you, when your h

Filing Bankruptcy

Learn about filing bankruptcy, what's involved, and what you should do if you've found yourself in this situation. Before you file, be sure that you...

Bankruptcy and Second Mortgage

If I file bankruptcy will that eliminate my second mortgage balance?

File Bankruptcy With No Money

You can file bankruptcy with no money, and even have bankruptcy filing fees waived if you have little or no income. Learn how to file bankruptcy at no cost by..

Bankruptcy & Mortgages

Bankruptcy and Mortgage | Whether a bankruptcy filing can stop foreclosure action on your home depends on several factors, including the type of bankruptcy, ...

Avoid Bankruptcy

Avoid bankruptcy with these tips from Bills.com. You may be able to get out of debt without filing bankruptcy, if you find the right way to...

2005 Bankruptcy Changes

The bankruptcy reform act wants consumers to educate themselves and ideally find a repayment method outside of the bankruptcy system to repay their debts.

Dismissed & Discharged Bankruptcy

In many cases, a consumer can re-file a previously dismissed bankruptcy once he or she has corrected the problems which led to the initial case being dismissed.

Bankruptcy & Charge Off

Learn more about Bankruptcy and Credit Card Charge Offs, Bills.com has your answers.

Bankruptcy Questions & Answers

Bankruptcy | The following are 19 common bankruptcy questions that readers have asked Bills.com. We include our answers and links to more discussion.

Bankruptcy Laws

Chapter 7, Chapter 11, and Chapter 7 are the three types of bankruptcy available to consumers and owners of small businesses.

Bankruptcy & Your Credit Score

Learn how bankruptcy affects your credit and what steps to take to repair your credit after your bankruptcy discharges. Make sure that you...

Drop in Income During Chapter 13

Information on available recourses if you are experiencing a drop in income during a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing. Bills.com has more free resources to help yo

Bankruptcy & Debt Settlement

Learn the advantages and disadvantages of bankruptcy & debt settlement for resolving debt. A chapter 7 bankruptcy is fast, but you may not qualify. Debt...

Personal Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is one of the most damaging things that can appear on your credit report. However, its effects can be reversed by taking positive steps to soften the

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy | Bankruptcy is an option of last resort, but it can be a very effective way to eliminate debts, if you qualify. Review the ways that you can...

New Debt While in Chapter 13

Incurring New Debt in Ch 13 Bankruptcy | While in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy plan, you are strictly prohibited from incurring new debt without receiving prior...

Debt Consolidation After Bankruptcy

Debt consolidation is possible, even after a bankruptcy. If you built up debt, after a bankruptcy, look at all of your debt consolidation options. Begin by...

Credit Report After Chapter 7

Credit reports are notoriously inaccurate, so it is important to review your credit profile regularly to verify all of the information being reported by credito

Means Test for Bankruptcy

It can be hard to qualify for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Review the means test for bankruptcy as well as the median income requirements

Utility Charges After Foreclosure

Generally, a consumer who is forced to leave his or her home will contact the utility companies to have utility services such as electricity, gas, and water dis

Canada Bankruptcy

I could find no laws concerning a requirement for a private person to be residing in Canada as a condition of filing bankruptcy.

Foreclosure and Bankruptcy

Foreclosure and Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | Look for alternatives to foreclosure, such as a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Before looking to bankruptcy, consult with..

Bankruptcy Protection

Advice you need on bankruptcy protection, and how bankruptcy can help delay foreclosure.

Bankruptcy, Reaffirmation, & Short Sale

If a debtor never reaffirmed a mortgage, then he or she has no personal liability for the mortgage. Therefore, a short sale is unnecessary to avoid liability fo

Discharge and HELOC

Bankruptcy Discharge and HELOC | Ask an attorney what to do about the HELOC and see if it can be discharged in your bankruptcy. If you chose to do a lump-sum...

Lexington Law Firm & Bankruptcy

Lexington Law Firm cannot promise it will remove a bankruptcy from your credit report, but it can say it will try. If you actually filed for BK, don't expect...