Bankruptcy is provided by Federal Law and all the cases related to bankruptcy are handled in Federal Court. Basically it is a legally declared by the court in which any individual or the organization is unable to pay their debts, expenses, bills to their creditors. Those who are bankrupt can file bankruptcy in a way to stop their creditor to collect debt from them.

Chapter 7: Liquidation Bankruptcy & the changes under the new law

It would be very harder for some people to file bankruptcy now. Especially with higher income level category they are now no longer allowed to use chapter 7. They need to pay partial amount of their debt under chapter 13. Before filing a bankruptcy case all the debtors have to undergo for the credit counseling, budgeting and the debt management. This law imposes on the lawyers too so it is very difficult to find an attorney to represent the bankruptcy case. Following are the changes in the Bankruptcy Law –

• Under the old law many filers can choose the type of bankruptcy. Most of them were choosing Liquidation (Chapter 7 - Bankruptcy) over Repayment (Chapter 13 - Bankruptcy) because they proved beneficial for most of them. But under the new law, it would not be the case for the higher income group filers, the new law has prohibited from using chapter 7 bankruptcy for them.

• Now the question arises about how you will define your income is high for filing under the bankruptcy. Under the new rules, the first step is to figure out your monthly income against the median income for a household for your size in your state to file in the chapter 7 bankruptcies. If it is less than that then you can file under chapter 7 and if it is not then you have to pass the means test. Another clause or the law in order to file for chapter 7.

• The means test is to be done to calculate your disposable income and to see whether you have enough disposable income after deducting your expenses, debts, payments under chapter 13. If your income is high up to a certain limit after deducting your expenses, debts and all then you are not eligible for chapter 7 and if it is less than the certain amount then you can file under chapter 7 bankruptcy.

• Now the next step is the counseling from the approved agencies by the United States Trustee’s Office about the credit & debt counseling. Purpose behind this counseling is to see and give an idea about your need to file for bankruptcy.

Counseling is required even if it’s a repayment plan or for the debts that you are facing and you do not want to pay. If the agency come up with a repayment plan the agency proposes and you agree on that propose then you can submit it to the court along with the papers that you have completed the counseling process. Towards the end of your bankruptcy case, you will have to attend the last counseling session to learn about the personal financial management. After submitting the proof to the court you fulfilled this requirement.

These are the new changes in the bankruptcy law. There are other changes that can affect bankruptcy filers negatively. In short, debtors are at more risk of having their property taken and sold by the trustee or the authenticated person.