American Debt Guide Editorial Team

Yes, you can file bankruptcy twice — in fact, you can file as many times as you need in your lifetime. But there’s a catch: if you want your debts discharged (eliminated) the second time, you’ll have to wait. The waiting period depends on whether you filed Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 the first time, … Read more

5 Debts Bankruptcy Can’t Erase (And What to Do About Them) Bankruptcy is powerful — Chapter 7 can wipe out credit card debt, medical bills, and personal loans in a matter of months. But it doesn’t touch everything. Some debts are specifically protected from discharge by federal law, and filing bankruptcy won’t make them go … Read more

How Fast Can You Rebuild Credit After Bankruptcy? A Realistic Timeline The bankruptcy discharge hits your credit report and your score drops — that part is unavoidable. But what happens next is almost entirely within your control. Most people assume bankruptcy means a decade of terrible credit. The reality is that many filers reach a … Read more

Can You File Bankruptcy Without a Lawyer? Pros, Cons, and When It Makes Sense You have the legal right to file bankruptcy without an attorney — it’s called filing “pro se.” But having the right to do something and it being a good idea are two very different things. For some people, filing without a … Read more

What Happens at the 341 Meeting of Creditors (And How to Prepare) If you’re filing bankruptcy, you’ve probably heard about the “341 meeting” and immediately pictured a courtroom full of angry creditors demanding answers. The reality is nothing like that. The 341 Meeting of Creditors is the most misunderstood — and most feared — part … Read more

Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: How to Choose the Right One in 2026 Filing bankruptcy is one of the most stressful financial decisions you’ll ever face — and the first fork in the road is whether to file Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. They sound similar, but they work in completely different ways. Choosing … Read more