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I am a Canadian citizen residing in the US. Can I file for bankruptcy in Canada even though I live in the USA?
I am a Canadian citizen living in the USA. I am not working for now and having some financial difficulties. Can I file bankruptcy with my Canadian creditors even if I live in the states?
To learn about bankruptcy in Canada, start with the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy Canada home page. The key resource for you is the declaring bankruptcy page, which outlines the steps a debtor needs to take to file for bankruptcy in Canada. If you are a debtor, be sure to review the resources for debtors page.
The Canada Revenue Agency Bankruptcy page and the Bankruptcy Assistance Program are also good resources.
In Canada, the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (R.S., 1985, c. B-3) covers the law of bankruptcy. The BIA makes references to foreign corporations filing for bankruptcy, but I could find no laws concerning a requirement for a private person to be residing in Canada as a condition of filing bankruptcy. I hasten to add that I am not a Canadian lawyer, and you should consult with a Canadian lawyer who has experience in bankruptcy for a more precise answer.
To learn more about the relationship between US and Canadian credit reports, see the Bills.com resource Canada Credit Report.
I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.
Best,
Bill
www.bills.com/
Struggling with debt?
If you are struggling with debt, you are not alone. According to the NY Federal Reserve total household debt as of Quarter Q3 2023 was $17.291 trillion. Student loan debt was $1.599 trillion and credit card debt was $1.079 trillion.
According to data gathered by Urban.org from a sample of credit reports, about 26% of people in the US have some kind of debt in collections. The median debt in collections is $1,739. Student loans and auto loans are common types of debt. Of people holding student debt, approximately 10% had student loans in collections. The national Auto/Retail debt delinquency rate was 4%.
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You will, however, need to tell the court your address in documents you swear are accurate. It is unclear to me if Canadian consumer credit reporting agencies (credit bureaus) pay any attention to US public records. If they do, then your US bankruptcy may impact your credit report and credit score in Canada. If they ignore US public records, or otherwise never learn of your bankruptcy, then the US bankruptcy will have no impact on your Canadian credit score.