The bankruptcy code in the United States of America has been designed to protect the rights of debtors and creditors. There are various chapters, rules, and clauses in the US code. Some laws are in favor of the debtors, while others are in favor of the creditors. Time to time, new laws are also added to this system, in order to fill the loopholes, if any. The liquidation laws in America is some of the strongest laws in the world, where there is very little or no possibility to commit frauds. However, the code has also made enough provisions to save the financial life of the debtor, if his or her case is genuine.
Bankruptcy Code Is Divided In Various Chapters
There can be various types of bankruptcy cases. In order to deal with specific cases, things have been categorized in the bankruptcy code under the various chapters. For example, the chapter 7 bankruptcy deals with straight filing bankruptcy. The debtors who are in the worst phase of their financial life and whose income is not even enough to pay off the necessities of the life, can use this chapter. This chapter takes everything from the debtor other than the legally exempted assets and properties. The money thus collected by selling off the unexpected assets is then used to settle the creditors’ claims. On the other hand, a chapter 13 deals with individual or businesses that have mismanaged their finances, but have not yet lost all hopes. If they get some time and a little favorable situation, they might get their business back on the path of profit. The chapter 13 rules allow them to do just that. There are several chapters as well, such as chapter 11, 17, 20 etc.
The Bankruptcy Code Is Same In All the States
Some people have the misconception that insolvency code changes from state to state, which is not the case. It the bankruptcy laws and not the code that varies from state to state. It is important for you to understand that the new laws are not different things. They are just parts of the impoverishment system. However, as far as the laws variation in state is concerned, the major difference lies in the way the various property exemptions have been interpreted in various states. Some states have been very liberal in allowing exemptions for the debtors, while some other states are very rigid and they are more concerned towards the rights of the creditors.
You should note that the bankruptcy code is all the same all the states. If a modification is done in the code, the change will come into affect in all the fifty states of America.