To be made bankrupt, a court has to issue a bankruptcy order against you. This can happen for 2 reasons:

• You can apply to the court if you’re unable to pay your debts
• Your creditors (the people you owe money to) apply to make you bankrupt if you owe them £750 or more

When you’re made bankrupt:

• Your assets can be used to pay your debts
• You must follow certain rules called the ‘bankruptcy restrictions’
• Your name and details will be published on a bankruptcy register called the ‘Individual Insolvency Register’
• After 12 months you’re usually discharged (freed) from your bankruptcy

The bankruptcy process is different in Scotland and Northern Ireland.Read the Citizens Advice bankruptcy advice guide, the Money Advice Service’s guide on options for writing off your debt or contact the National Debtline for bankruptcy advice.­Bankruptcy only applies to individuals. Limited companies that can’t pay their creditors are ‘insolvent’ and can face compulsory liquidation. You have to ask (‘petition’) the court if you want to be declared bankrupt. They will decide whether or not to allow it. If they do, they’ll issue a bankruptcy order against you. You’ll then be officially bankrupt. Becoming bankrupt will have a serious effect on your life. There may be other ways to deal with your debts.

Forms

You need forms 6.27 and 6.28. The court needs the completed forms and usually 2 copies of each.

For help filling in the forms, contact the Insolvency Enquiry Line.

Fees

The fees are:

• £525 for managing your bankruptcy
• £175 for court costs, if you’re on income support you may not have to pay this - court staff can advise you

You can pay using cash, postal orders or a building society, bank or solicitor’s cheque made payable to Her Majesty’s Courts & Tribunal Service.

The court won’t accept your petition unless the fees are paid. Citizens Advice can tell you about any charities in your area that can help pay the fees.

Find a bankruptcy court

Use the court finder to find your nearest bankruptcy court. Not all courts deal with bankruptcy and you must use the bankruptcy court nearest to where you live or trade (whichever is for the longest period in the last 6 months). If you’re made bankrupt by the court you have to follow ‘bankruptcy restrictions’. This means you can’t:

• Borrow more than £500 without telling the lender you’re bankrupt
• Act as a director of a company
• Create, manage or promote a company without the court’s permission
• Manage a business with a different name without telling people you do business with that you’re bankrupt
• Work as an insolvency practitioner (an authorised debt specialist)

How long the restrictions last

The restrictions usually last for 12 months from the date the court made you bankrupt. Check the Individual Insolvency Register to find out when the restrictions end.

When the restrictions can be extended

Bankruptcy restrictions can be extended if your careless or dishonest behaviour caused your bankruptcy. For example, you tried to hide assets or you got credit using false information. The Official Receiver (an officer of the bankruptcy court) will tell you if the restrictions are going to be extended. To extend the restrictions, you’ll be asked to agree to a Bankruptcy Restrictions Undertaking. If you don’t agree, they’ll ask the court to issue a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order. Your assets will be sold to pay your bankruptcy debts. You have to hand over your assets to the person appointed to manage your bankruptcy. This person is called your ‘trustee’ and can be:

• An Official Receiver - an officer of the bankruptcy court
• An insolvency practitioner - an authorised debt specialist

To begin with, the Official Receiver usually acts as your trustee.

Interview with the Official Receiver

Within 2 weeks of the court making you bankrupt, an Official Receiver will contact you to arrange an interview. The interview can be in person or over the telephone.

Information you need to provide

Usually, you’ll be asked to provide information about your debts, creditors, assets and income. You’ll be sent a letter telling you what you need to do and by when.

What happens

At the interview, the Official Receiver will:

• Check the information they have about your debts and assets
• Ask for more details - for example, about your pension or savings
• Ask how and why you became bankrupt
• Answer any questions you have about the bankruptcy process

Assets you can keep

You can usually keep:

• Items needed for your job - for example, tools, books or a vehicle
• Household items - for example, clothing, bedding or furniture

However, you may have to give these items up if they cost more than a reasonable replacement.

Your bank accounts

You must give the Official Receiver your bank cards, cheque books and credit cards. Your accounts will be frozen but your trustee may release:

• Any money you need urgently - for example, to buy food
• Your partner’s share of any money in a joint account

It’s up to your bank if they allow you to continue using the accounts.

Your pension

To find out what happens to your pension speak to your trustee. You can read the basics from the Insolvency Service.

• Your beneficial interest - your share of the property after any secure debts (like a mortgage) have been paid
• The legal title - the document showing who the legal owner is

Sole owners

The legal title and beneficial interest are transferred to your trustee. This means you can’t sell the property or claim any money from a sale. A Bankruptcy Restriction Notice is added to your property’s entry in the Land Registry confirming this.

Joint owners

The legal title and beneficial interest aren’t transferred to your trustee. Instead, a ‘Form J Restriction’ is added to your property’s entry in the Land Registry. This means:

• The court can order you to sell your home and your trustee will claim your beneficial interest
• Your trustee will be told of any dealings connected with your home - for example, if you try to sell it

Stop the sale of your home

You might be able to stop or delay the sale of your home if, for example:

• The value of your beneficial interest is less than £1,000
• The beneficial interest or legal title can be transferred to someone else - for example, a partner
• You need to organise somewhere for children or a partner to live - the sale can be delayed for up to 1 year

Rented property

If you live in rented property, check your tenancy agreement to see if bankruptcy affects your renting situation. Your landlord may be told that you’re bankrupt. Your trustee will tell you if you have to make monthly payments from your spare income. This happens if you can afford it and the money raised from the sale of your assets doesn’t pay your bankruptcy debts. The arrangement can last for up to 3 years and is called an Income Payments Agreement (IPA). If you don’t agree to the IPA your trustee can ask the court to order you to make monthly payments. This is called an Income Payments Order (IPO).

How much you pay

The actual amount depends on how much you can afford after essential expenses like food and bills are paid. Your bankruptcy and the restrictions generally end when you’re ‘discharged’. This is usually 12 months after the court made you bankrupt. It can be longer, for example, if you break the bankruptcy restrictions or don’t co-operate with your trustee. Check your discharge date online using the Individual Insolvency Register.

Proof of discharge

Discharge is usually automatic - you won’t be sent a letter. To get proof, you can:

• Ask the official receiver for a confirmation letter (no fee)
• Ask the court for a ‘Certificate of Discharge (£70 and £5 for extra copies)

If you’re discharged early you’ll be sent a ‘Notice of early discharge’. This can happen if the Official Receiver (a bankruptcy court officer) finishes looking into your affairs and your creditors don’t object.

Bankruptcy registers

These are updated as follows:

• The Individual Insolvency Register - within 3 months of your discharge
• The Land Registry - when the property is no longer needed to pay your bankruptcy debts
• The Land Charges Register - 5 years from the date the court made you bankrupt

For more detail, speak to your trustee.

Your credit record

Send the credit reference agencies a copy of any official document about your discharge. It’s your responsibility to update your credit file.

Cancel a bankruptcy

There are times when your bankruptcy can be annulled (cancelled). Read further guidance from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.