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Bankruptcy Resources

Bankruptcy Attorney Finder

Please click here for a local attorney in your area. If you do not find an attorney near you, please visit the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA) for further assistance.

United States Department of Justice

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 is a law enacting several significant changes to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. The BAPCPA was intended to make it more difficult for debtors to file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy—under which most debts are forgiven (or discharged)–and instead force debtors to file a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy—under which debts are discharged only after the debtor has repaid some portion of these debts. Section 109(h) of the BAPCPA states that a debtor will no longer be eligible to file under either chapter 7 or chapter 13 unless within 180 days prior to filing the debtor received an “individual or group briefing” from a nonprofit budget and credit counseling agency approved by the United States trustee or bankruptcy administrator.

Free Copy of Your Credit Report

AnnualCreditReport.com provides consumers with the secure means to request and obtain a free credit report once every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer credit reporting companies in accordance with the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACT Act).

Three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion

An agency that collects individual credit information and sells it for a fee to creditors so they can make a decision on granting loans. Typical clients include banks, mortgage lenders, credit card companies, and other financing companies.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

The FTC deals with issues that touch the economic life of every American. It is the only federal agency with both consumer protection and competition jurisdiction in broad sectors of the economy. The FTC pursues vigorous and effective law enforcement; advances consumers’ interests by sharing its expertise with federal and state legislatures and U.S. and international government agencies; develops policy and research tools through hearings, workshops, and conferences; and creates practical and plain-language educational programs for consumers and businesses in a global marketplace with constantly changing technologies.