What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a formal court procedure which you can start or which one or more of your creditors owed at least £5,000 can start. Your assets (with certain exceptions) are sold to help pay your creditors. However, you can usually keep your personal belongings, the contents of your home and your tools of trade (which may include your car) unless they have a high value. If you have surplus income after meeting your essential household and personal expenses, you will have to make payments out of your income for up to 3 years.
Your assets and income are dealt with by a licensed and regulated insolvency practitioner or by a government official called the official receiver. Bankruptcy usually lasts for 1 year, and once you have been freed (discharged) from your bankruptcy, you are released from your debts (with certain exceptions).
Advantages of Bankruptcy
Debts are written off, with certain exceptions.
It allows you to make a fresh start after only a year.
Creditors cannot take further action unless the debts are secured.
You maybe able to avoid having to sell your home.
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Things to Consider
Your bankruptcy is entered on a public register and is advertised.Bankruptcy will stay on public record for 15 months and on your credit record for six years.
If you apply
to the court for your own
bankruptcy, you will have to pay a
court fee and deposit totalling
£510.
You will
remain liable to pay certain debts –
in particular student loans, fines
and some debts arising from family
proceedings.
Your
employment may be affected.
Certain
professionals are barred from
practising if they are made
bankrupt.
You cannot
act as a director of a company or be
involved in its management unless
the court agrees.
You will be
committing an offence if you get
credit of £680 or more without
disclosing that you are
bankrupt.
You may
have a bankruptcy restrictions
order. Made against you for 2 to 15
years if you acted irresponsibly,
recklessly or dishonestly.
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