One and a half million American people a year file to the courts for bankruptcy. For many families this is seen as a shameful experience, and a last ditch choice, that is reluctantly made to cope with unmanageable circumstances.
What Does Filing for Bankruptcy Mean?
Bankruptcy is a legal process through the federal court whereby individuals and businesses can eliminate or 'discharge' some or all of their debt.
People file bankruptcy to get this 'discharge' which is a court order that states that you do not have to pay most of your debts. This is obviously a great relief to those who feel they are drowning in uncontrollable debt - but not all debts are included. Tax, child support, alimony and student loans are examples of exceptions from the debts that are discharged.
