Bankruptcy Overview

Bankruptcy Basics - This public information series provides a comprehensive overview of bankruptcy, including information on: the discharge, a summary of each individual Chapter, the Securities Investor Protection Act, and bankruptcy terminology.
*View the Bankruptcy Basics Video Series: English Spanish

U.S. Trustee Program - The United States Trustee Program is the component of the Department of Justice responsible for overseeing the administration of bankruptcy cases and private trustees under 28 U.S.C. § 586 and 11 U.S.C. § 101, et seq. The Program’s website contains information about the U.S. Trustee Program and the federal bankruptcy system.

Bankruptcy Information Sheet - A helpful resource provided by the U.S. Trustee Program that provides general information about what happens in a bankruptcy case, including when you should file, what a discharge is, and what a reaffirmation agreement is.

Disclaimer:

Please note that though the resources above provide a good overview of bankruptcy, this information is not a complete overview of these topics and should not be used as a substitute for reference to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure, which can be found under the Legal Links of this website. Due to the complexity and long-term financial effects of filing for bankruptcy, individuals are encouraged to obtain legal advice from a competent attorney before filing a petition.

The Clerk’s Office is limited in the assistance it can provide parties in the filing process. It cannot provide legal advice. To find out more about what services the Clerk’s Office can provide, please click here. To find an attorney (sometimes for free) or obtain legal information, please click here. If you are considering filing a petition or claim without an attorney (i.e., pro se), please review the Information for Debtors Without an Attorney or Information for Creditors (and Other Non-Debtors) Without an Attorney section of this website.