Should I File for Bankruptcy?

For many people, the toughest part of bankruptcy is deciding whether to file or not. Bankruptcy is meant to help people struggling with debt to get a fresh start. But not all debts are discharged (wiped out). And if your goal is to save your house or car, bankruptcy might not help you.

Before you plunge into Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, do the following:

• Learn about the pros and cons of bankruptcy.
• Check out nonbankruptcy options for dealing with debt. You can do that here. You might find that one of these options works better for you. Or you might discover that bankruptcy really is the best way to go.
• Learn about Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy, so you know what happens to your property and debt, and the basic filing and case process. You can learn about bankruptcy here.