Bankruptcy Explained
Short, straightforward explainers on Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 — how each one works, what it costs, what you keep, the steps from filing to discharge, and what tends to make self-filing harder. No legalese, no sales pitch.
Why BK Prepare exists
Finding the right bankruptcy forms was harder than it should have been. So I built the tool I wanted when I needed it.
Read →What is Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
The fastest, most common form of consumer bankruptcy in the U.S. — what it does, who it’s for, and the roughly four-month timeline.
Read →Chapter 7 vs 13 vs 11
A side-by-side look at liquidation, a repayment plan, and business reorganization — and how the three actually differ.
Read →What is self-filing software?
“Pro se” means representing yourself. Here’s what tools like this one actually do — and don’t do.
Read →Do I qualify for Chapter 7?
The Means Test in plain language: the income comparison, the lookback period, and what happens if you’re above the line.
Read →When DIY gets complicated
Situations that tend to make self-filing harder, so you know what to watch for before you start.
Read →Alternatives to bankruptcy
Payment plans, debt management, settlement, consolidation, and being judgment-proof. How each one works and what it leaves in place.
Read →What is Chapter 13 bankruptcy?
The repayment-plan chapter: who can file, how the three-to-five-year plan works, and what it does that Chapter 7 can’t.
Read →The filing process, step by step
Every step from the first course to the discharge order, in order, with the deadline that applies to each one.
Read →What it costs to file
The court filing fee for each chapter, how installments and the fee waiver work, and the smaller costs around them.
Read →What you keep: exemptions
Exemptions are the laws that protect your property in bankruptcy. How the federal and state systems work and where they go on the forms.
Read →Local forms and local rules
The national forms are only half the paperwork. Why every court adds its own, and what those additions usually cover.
Read →The documents behind the forms
Pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, a credit report. Which form each one feeds, and how far back each form looks.
Read →The creditor matrix
The mailing list of everyone you owe. It’s the one part of a filing you type yourself, and courts are strict about how it looks.
Read →Filing alone or with a spouse
Joint cases, one spouse filing alone, and why the other spouse’s income and property can count either way.
Read →Why cases get dismissed
Most dismissals come from a missed deadline or a missing document. The reasons, what dismissal means, and how it affects filing again.
Read →Life after discharge
What the discharge order does, what survives it, how long it stays on a credit report, and the protections the law gives you.
Read →Glossary of bankruptcy terms
Plain-English definitions for the words that show up on the forms and in court notices.
Read →Educational information only — not legal advice. BK Prepare isn't a law firm. Everything in Learn is a general overview, not a recommendation for your specific situation — for that, talk to a licensed bankruptcy attorney or a free legal aid clinic.