Understand the Impact of Personal Bankruptcy

By Chris Blanchet

For those who are considering personal bankruptcy, it is unlikely that all of the personal and professional consequences are known. However, the impact is quite serious and, often, harmful.

Bankruptcy is often seen as the last resort to overcome the constant demands of credit companies and debt collectors. Even though it might sound like an easy way out, one must ensure that they do not rush into it. The impact of personal bankruptcy can momentarily pull you out of your brutal financial condition, but at times can also prove to be the most colossal mistake ever made.

The impact of personal bankruptcy can have serious effects on your current and future financial position. Let us see how:

One of the biggest risks that bankruptcy poses to the debtor is that assets are often sold by the trustee to settle debts. Assets are anything of value, including property, investments, and other items of value.

Bankruptcy might not only put current assets at risk, but future assets as well. In the case of an inheritance, creditors may also have a claim against such funds in order to settle their debt.

In addition to the sale of assets, the impact of personal bankruptcy includes harmful records on your credit bureau. Bankruptcy will impact your intentions to act as a company director and obtain non-personal credit for the rest of your life.

Taken one step further, a bankrupt individual cannot have a direct or indirect management position in a company and cannot become a counselor, magistrate, MP, or an Estate Agent. While this might not seem like a big deal, bankrupt individuals cannot hold positions as school or college governors and also cannot work at security firms or in the civil services.

What is likely the harshest impact of personal bankruptcy is something that comes after the bankruptcy notice is advertised. Given the public nature of bankruptcy, the debtor's name and personal business dealings are in jeopardy. Unlike companies who can operate under different trade names, individuals have just one name. And since bankruptcy are publicly available, anyone can access the details of your bankruptcy.

Personal bankruptcy also affects the debtor's reputation. The entire procedure of declaring bankruptcy is very stressful. At times, the financial affairs as well as the conduct of the debtor are examined in open courts thus proving to be a humiliating affair for the debtor.

On top of all of this, a personal bankruptcy will have even more of a financial impact given the court costs and processing fees that come with filing.

If you are considering bankruptcy as a debt clearance option, then try gaining some knowledge about other alternatives. For more information on the impact of personal bankruptcy and its alternatives refer to e-books and manuals available on the net. - 31380

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