Bankruptcy BASICS

Bankruptcy Basics is a public information publication from The Bankruptcy Judges Division of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts.  It provides provides basic information to debtors, creditors, court personnel, the media, and the general public on different aspects of the federal bankruptcy laws. It also provides individuals who may be considering bankruptcy with a basic explanation of the different chapters under which a bankruptcy case may be filed and answers some of the most commonly asked questions about the bankruptcy process.

In 2005, the Bankruptcy Code was amended making substantial changes.  Most of the changes effect cases filed after the new code's effective date, October 17, 2005.  A version of the Bankruptcy Basics publication is available for both versions of the code:

Bankruptcy Basics [under BAPCPA]
for cases filed on or after October 17, 2005

Bankruptcy Basics [prior to BAPCPA]
for cases prior to October 17, 2005

Each publication is also available on pdf format [Bankruptcy Basics under BAPCPA and Bankruptcy Basics prior to BAPCPA], and at the United States Bankruptcy Courts web site.