Bankruptcy is a time-tested means for people overwhelmed by debt to get a fresh start and become secure and productive again. That fresh start has cleared the way for some great accomplishments: two U.S. Presidents have filed for bankruptcy, along with Walt Disney, the founder of Heinz Ketchup and Stan Lee (creator of Spiderman).
One of Henry Ford’s early business ventures ended in declaring bankruptcy, as well. Without the opportunity to clear that debt and start over, Ford might never have revolutionized the automobile industry.
The current U.S. bankruptcy provisions were created by federal legislators, to allow people in over their heads financially to get back on their feet, become self-supporting and contribute to the economy. But, the roots of bankruptcy reach back much further—all the way to the Bible.
At the end of every seven years you shall grant a release of debts. And this is the form of the release: Every creditor who has lent anything to his neighbor shall release it; he shall not require it of his neighbor or his brother, because it is called the LORD’s release.
(Deuteronomy 15:1-2)
This verse may be the most clearly related to bankruptcy, but the idea of forgiveness of debts and the importance of allowing men to start fresh recurs again and again: slaves must be freed in the seventh year, and sent on their way with adequate provisions; families who have sold their homesteads to pay debts will have that property returned to them after fifty years, free and clear.
For thousands of years, laws have been constructed to prevent families from being permanently crippled by debt.
The two most common types of bankruptcy for individuals are Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. These two types of personal bankruptcy provide very different forms of relief for people in different financial circumstances.
We’ll help you determine the best solution for your situation, but here is a basic overview:
