Bankruptcy & Debt. Plain-English guides, state-by-state.
Every bankruptcy & debt guide we've published — fees, timelines, procedure, and calculators for the numbers that matter.
19 guides in Bankruptcy & Debt.
Bankruptcy Filing Costs: Court Fees, Attorney Fees, and Fee Waivers
A complete breakdown of bankruptcy filing costs — court filing fees, attorney fees by state, credit counseling course costs, and how to apply for a fee waiver if you can't afford to file.
10 min read
Bankruptcy and Your Credit Score: How to Rebuild After Filing
A step-by-step guide to rebuilding your credit score after bankruptcy — from secured credit cards and credit-builder loans to mortgage qualification timelines and credit monitoring strategies.
9 min read
Credit Card Debt Relief: Comparing Your Options in 2026
A practical comparison of every credit card debt relief option — from balance transfers and debt snowball to consolidation loans, debt management plans, settlement, and bankruptcy. Includes 2026-specific rate and threshold information.
10 min read
Medical Debt and Bankruptcy: Your Options After Hospital Bills
How to handle overwhelming medical debt — from negotiation and financial assistance programs to Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Includes recent changes to medical debt credit reporting and collection rules.
10 min read
Debt Settlement vs. Bankruptcy: Pros, Cons, and Hidden Costs
An honest comparison of debt settlement and bankruptcy — how each works, what they cost, the risks you face, tax consequences, and how to decide which approach is right for your situation.
10 min read
Debt-to-Income Ratio: What It Means and How to Calculate It
What your debt-to-income ratio means, how to calculate it, why lenders and bankruptcy courts care about it, and how it affects your options for debt relief, mortgages, and financial recovery.
8 min read
Debt Relief Options: Comparing Bankruptcy, Settlement, and Consolidation
Guide comparing every major debt relief option — from Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy to debt settlement, consolidation loans, credit counseling, and DIY strategies. Understand the pros, cons, and hidden costs of each approach.
16 min read
The Automatic Stay in Bankruptcy: How It Protects You
How the bankruptcy automatic stay works, what collection actions it stops, its limitations, and what happens when creditors violate it. A practical guide for families filing Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.
9 min read
Disposable Income in Chapter 13: What Counts and What Doesn't
How disposable income is calculated in Chapter 13 bankruptcy — what income is included, which expenses are allowed, the role of IRS standards, and how the calculation affects your monthly plan payment.
9 min read
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Which Is Right for You?
A side-by-side comparison of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy — eligibility, timeline, cost, asset protection, debt treatment, and credit impact — to help you choose the right chapter for your situation.
12 min read
Can You Discharge Student Loans in Bankruptcy? The Brunner Test and Beyond
The truth about student loan discharge in bankruptcy — the Brunner test, the totality-of-circumstances test, recent legal changes, and when filing an adversary proceeding may be worth pursuing.
10 min read
Dealing with Debt After a Death: What Families Should Know
Learn which debts survive death, whether family members can be held responsible, how the creditor claims process works, and what to do about aggressive debt collectors.
11 min read
Bankruptcy and Car Loans: Reaffirmation, Redemption, and Surrender
Your three options for handling a car loan in Chapter 7 bankruptcy — reaffirmation, redemption, and surrender — explained in plain English with practical guidance on when each makes sense.
9 min read
Chapter 13 Payment Plans: How Monthly Payments Are Calculated
A detailed breakdown of how Chapter 13 monthly payments are calculated — from disposable income and the best-interest test to priority debts, secured claims, and trustee fees.
10 min read
Bankruptcy and Your Home: Homestead Exemptions Explained
How the homestead exemption protects your home in bankruptcy, state-by-state limits, what happens to your mortgage, and when Chapter 13 is needed to save your home from foreclosure.
10 min read
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: How the Repayment Plan Works
A complete guide to Chapter 13 bankruptcy for families — how the repayment plan is calculated, who qualifies, how to keep your home and car, and what happens after you complete the plan.
16 min read
Bankruptcy Exemptions by State: What You Can Keep
A state-by-state overview of bankruptcy exemptions — homestead, vehicle, personal property, retirement accounts, and wildcard exemptions — and how they determine what you keep in Chapter 7.
12 min read
The Chapter 7 Means Test Explained: Do You Qualify?
A step-by-step guide to the Chapter 7 bankruptcy means test — how it works, how to calculate your current monthly income, what expenses are allowed, and what happens if you fail.
12 min read
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: A Complete Guide to Debt Discharge
Everything you need to know about Chapter 7 bankruptcy — from the means test and exempt property to the discharge process, timeline, and life after filing. A plain-English guide for families facing overwhelming debt.
18 min readFree legal calculators
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