Can Bankruptcy Erase My Debt? What Gets Wiped Out
Can bankruptcy actually erase your debt? Here's what a discharge typically wipes out — and the debts that usually survive filing.
What a discharge does
A bankruptcy discharge legally erases your personal obligation to repay certain debts. For most people that means qualifying unsecured debts — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, and old utility balances can often be wiped out entirely.
What usually survives
Some debts generally can't be discharged: most federal student loans, recent income taxes, child support, alimony, and debts from fraud. Secured debts (like a mortgage or car loan) are treated differently — you typically keep the property only if you keep paying.
Chapter matters
Chapter 7 can discharge qualifying debt in months; Chapter 13 discharges remaining eligible balances at the end of a repayment plan. Which debts clear depends on your chapter and situation.
Find out what would clear for you
Because the answer is so fact-specific, the only way to know exactly what would be discharged is to have a licensed attorney review your debts.
Key takeaway
A bankruptcy discharge legally erases your personal obligation to repay certain debts. A free case review with a licensed attorney is the fastest way to know what applies to you.