| The Bankruptcy Law: A Work in Progress | p. 1 |
| 1 What Is Bankruptcy? | p. 3 |
| Types of Bankruptcy | p. 6 |
| Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | p. 7 |
| Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | p. 18 |
| How Bankruptcy Stops Collection Efforts | p. 25 |
| The Bankruptcy Trustee | p. 29 |
| Business Bankruptcies | p. 32 |
| 2 Who Can File for Bankruptcy | p. 35 |
| Getting Help With Eligibility Issues | p. 37 |
| Credit Counseling | p. 37 |
| Calculating Your Income Status | p. 40 |
| Chapter 7 Eligibility Requirements | p. 46 |
| Chapter 13 Eligibility Requirements | p. 57 |
| Other Issues That Might Affect Your Decision to File | p. 64 |
| 3 How Bankruptcy Affects Your Debts | p. 69 |
| Debts That Will Be Discharged in Bankruptcy | p. 70 |
| Debts That Survive Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | p. 73 |
| Debts That Survive Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | p. 83 |
| Debts Discharged in Chapter 13 (But Not in Chapter 7) | p. 88 |
| How Joint Debts Are Handled | p. 88 |
| 4 Your Property and Bankruptcy | p. 93 |
| Your Bankruptcy Estate | p. 94 |
| Inventory Your Property | p. 98 |
| Value Your Property | p. 100 |
| Understanding Exemptions | p. 100 |
| 5 Your Home | p. 107 |
| Homeowners Filing for Bankruptcy Under Chapter 7 | p. 108 |
| Homeowners Filing for Bankruptcy Under Chapter 13 | p. 124 |
| Renters Filing for Bankruptcy | p. 131 |
| 6 What Happens to Personal Property That Secures a Loan | p. 135 |
| What Are Secured Debts? | p. 136 |
| How Secured Debts Are Handled in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | p. 136 |
| Eliminating Liens in Chapter 7 Bankruptcy | p. 142 |
| How Secured Debts Are Handled in Chapter 13 Bankruptcy | p. 144 |
| 7 Making the Decision | p. 147 |
| 8 Your Credit Cards | p. 159 |
| If Your Balance Is Zero | p. 160 |
| If You Owe Money But Are Current | p. 161 |
| 9 Your Job, Freedom, and Self-Respect | p. 163 |
| Will You Lose Your Self-Respect? | p. 164 |
| Will You lose Your Job? | p. 165 |
| Effect of Bankruptcy on Job Applicants | p. 166 |
| Other Forms of Discrimination Because of Bankruptcy | p. 166 |
| Effect of Bankruptcy on Child Custody | p. 168 |
| Effect of Bankruptcy on Your Freedoms | p. 168 |
| 10 Bankruptcy Forms and Procedures | p. 171 |
| The Means Test | p. 173 |
| Challenges for Abuse | p. 174 |
| Valuation Hearings | p. 181 |
| Common Chapter 7 Motions and Proceedings | p. 182 |
| Converting From One Chapter to Another | p. 185 |
| Potential Problems in Chapter 13 | p. 187 |
| Filling Out the Bankruptcy Forms | p. 190 |
| 11 Getting Help With Your Bankruptcy | p. 195 |
| Debt Relief Agencies | p. 196 |
| Bankruptcy Petition Preparers | p. 198 |
| Bankruptcy Lawyers | p. 200 |
| Legal Research | p. 207 |
| 12 Alternatives to Bankruptcy | p. 219 |
| Do Nothing | p. 220 |
| Negotiate With Your Creditors | p. 223 |
| File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy | p. 227 |
| File for Chapter 12 Bankruptcy | p. 227 |
| Glossary | p. 229 |
| Appendix: How to Use the Downloadable Forms on the Nolo Website | p. 251 |
| Index | p. 253 |
