Bankruptcy, explained to a high school kid!
Bankruptcy is a legal process that helps people who are struggling with overwhelming debt.
2. Filing for Bankruptcy: Your trustee will file the bankruptcy paperwork with the government. This officially starts the process. Once you file, most of your creditors (the people or companies you owe money to) can't contact you to collect payments.
3. Selling Assets: In some cases, your trustee may need to sell certain assets, like a second car or valuable belongings, to pay off some of your debts. You will likely keep a lot of your assets. Your licensed insolvency trustee will help you navigate this.
4. Monthly Payments: If you have a regular income, you will make monthly payments to your trustee, based on your ability to pay. This helps cover the costs of the bankruptcy process and goes toward paying off your debts.
5. Creditors Meeting: Although it is not probable, you could be required to attend a meeting with your creditors. During this meeting, they can ask you or the trustee questions about your finances and the bankruptcy process.
6. Financial Education: In Canada, you are required to attend two financial counseling sessions to help you manage your finances better in the future. These are given by the Licensed Insolvency Trustee.
7. Discharge: Once you've completed all the required steps, that your trustee is satisfied and that no one has opposed your discharge, you'll receive a discharge from bankruptcy. This means that you are no longer legally responsible for the debts you owed before filing for bankruptcy.
8. Rebuilding Your Credit: While bankruptcy can help you get a fresh start, it can also affect your credit rating for several years. You'll need to work on rebuilding your credit by using credit responsibly and paying bills on time.