Every Type of Bankruptcy Explained

What Is Bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy is a tool for debt relief. There are six different types of bankruptcies under United States bankruptcy law. Each serves either an individual or an entity like a business or local government. Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 are personal bankruptcies that serve individuals who have a lot of medical, credit card, or other consumer debt. Chapters 9, 11, 12, and 15 are bankruptcies that serve business entities that need to reorganize or restructure their debt.

The bankruptcy types are called “chapters” because each one is named after a section called a chapter of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This is the federal law that governs bankruptcy cases. Because the bankruptcy court is a federal court and bankruptcy laws are federal, the bankruptcy process looks similar from state to state.

The Six Bankruptcy Types, Explained

Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy are two of the most common types of bankruptcy filings. But there are four other types — Chapters 9, 11, 12, and 15. Here is a breakdown of the six different types of bankruptcy filings, starting with the most common. 

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy 

People who are struggling with credit card debt, medical bills, or other debt that they can’t get out from under most commonly file Chapter 7. This often provides the quickest path to a financial fresh start. To be eligible for Chapter 7, you have to show the bankruptcy court that you don’t make enough to pay even a portion of your debts. You show this by taking what is called a Means Test.

How Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Works

Chapter 7 is called a “liquidation bankruptcy” because if you own property that is not protected by exemptions, you must liquidate (sell) it to pay toward your debts. While this probably sounds scary, according to the American Bankruptcy Institute, upwards of 96% of Chapter 7 filers get to keep all their belongings. This is because many assets are protected by exemptions. 

Most personal Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases last 4–6 months. Filers often get their bankruptcy discharge (the court order that eliminates your dischargeable debt) about 3–4 months after they file. Chapter 7 bankruptcy can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, but many filers see a noticeable increase in their credit score within two years of filing their case. Keep in mind, you can start rebuilding your credit as soon as you get your discharge.

You can learn more about different aspects of Chapter 7 bankruptcy in our Learning Center:

• Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Basics: Why & When is Property Liquidated?

• What Is A Bankruptcy Discharge?

• What Is A Bankruptcy Trustee?

• Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

This is the second most common type of personal bankruptcy. Unlike Chapter 7 filings, businesses (other than sole proprietors, usually small business owners) are not allowed to file Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Chapter 13 bankruptcy is more complicated than Chapter 7 and lasts much longer due to the required repayment plan. Chapter 13 helps you reorganize your debts. It puts you on a 3–5 year repayment plan. At the end of the repayment period, any remaining unsecured debt is discharged. To file Chapter 13, your secured debt and your unsecured debt (including personal loans) can’t exceed a certain amount. The filing will stay on your credit report for seven years.

Why would someone choose Chapter 13 over Chapter 7? One of the most common reasons is that they want to prevent their home from being foreclosed. Someone might also choose Chapter 13 over Chapter 7 if they make too much money to file Chapter 7.

How Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Works

You create a budget based on your monthly income and living expenses and tell the bankruptcy court how much you can afford to pay each month. The court and the bankruptcy trustee review your proposed reorganization plan. 

Once it’s approved by the court, all you have to do is pay your disposable income to the trustee, and send in your tax return every year. Your remaining debt is wiped out once this is done. 

Some people file Chapter 13 bankruptcy because they make too much money to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Others choose to file Chapter 13 because it gives them a certain benefit they’re not able to get in Chapter 7. You can, for example, avoid the sale of nonexempt assets by filing Chapter 13. 

Filing Chapter 13 also gives you the chance to pay back certain nondischargeable debts, like past due alimony or child support and pay off car loans with a lower interest rate. You can do it all in manageable monthly payments based on your regular income. 

Chapter 9 Bankruptcy

Chapter 9 bankruptcy allows municipalities (including cities, towns, and villages), counties, taxing districts, municipal utilities, and school districts to restructure their financial obligations. 

Much like the wage earner’s plan under Chapter 13 or the Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, a bankruptcy proceeding under Chapter 9 allows the filer to propose a repayment plan to deal with its obligations. 

Since Chapter 9 does not cover states or territories outside of the United States, Congress had to pass the 2016 Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act to allow the U.S. territory access to bankruptcy protection.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Businesses, individuals, or married couples can file Chapter 11. But this chapter isn’t typically included in the list of personal bankruptcy options because the court filing fee alone is more than $1,700 and bankruptcy attorney fees usually start somewhere around $15,000. 

Filing Chapter 11 as an individual usually only makes sense if you’re a very high earner or business owner who can’t file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy because you have too much debt. 

Business Bankruptcy: Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 11

Business bankruptcy refers to bankruptcy cases that are filed for businesses to get out of debt. Businesses can file either Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Almost 91% of all the Chapter 11 bankruptcies filed in 2022, were filed by businesses. ^[1]

Chapter 11 can be used to restructure the business and its financial obligations. The bankruptcy protections granted by the automatic stay give the business an opportunity to propose a payment plan.

Businesses who file Chapter 7 bankruptcy are usually in the process of shutting down. All of the business assets (from real estate to personal property) are sold and unsecured creditors are paid in order of priority. It's important to note that businesses do not get to claim exemptions.

Chapter 12 Bankruptcy

Chapter 12 bankruptcy gives family farmers and those operating a commercial fishing operation the ability to reorganize their debt without having to go through the expensive Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. 

It works similar to a Chapter 13, but includes specific provisions to deal with the unique nature of family farming and family fishermen operations. Once the Chapter 12 repayment plan is completed, the filer receives a bankruptcy discharge.

Chapter 15 Bankruptcy

Chapter 15 bankruptcy comes into play when an individual (or business) files a bankruptcy case under the bankruptcy laws of another country but has assets or liabilities in the United States. Its purpose is to provide an effective way for dealing with cases that involve cross-border issues and to ensure cooperation between foreign and U.S. bankruptcy courts. 

Let’s Summarize...

The U.S. Bankruptcy Code outlines several types of bankruptcies. Your financial situation typically determines what chapter of bankruptcy best meets your goals. 

Remember that bankruptcy is a safety net and there is absolutely no shame in using the United States bankruptcy laws for the purpose of getting a fresh start. That’s what they’re there for. If you need help filing, our free filing tool may be a good option if you’re ready to file but can’t afford to hire a bankruptcy attorney to review your bankruptcy case.