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How to apply for bankruptcy. What to do if you’ve been made bankrupt: if you’re at risk of violence, how long it lasts, bankruptcy restrictions, what happens to your home and possessions when you're bankrupt.

• Overview

  Becoming bankrupt is one way to deal with debts you cannot pay. It means…

• Applying to become bankrupt

  There are other options for dealing with your debts that do not restrict…

• If someone's applying to make you bankrupt

  Someone you owe money to can apply to a court to make you bankrupt if you:…

• If you're at risk of violence

  When you’re made bankrupt, your name and address will be published in: the…

• After you've become bankrupt

  You’ll receive a copy of the bankruptcy order. Your name and address will…

• Restrictions

  When you’re bankrupt, you cannot: borrow more than £500 without telling…

• Your home

  The person dealing with your bankruptcy (the ‘trustee’) might sell your…

• Your possessions

  The person dealing with your bankruptcy (the ‘trustee’) will decide if the…

• Your money and income

  You must give the person dealing with your bankruptcy (the ‘trustee’)…

• If you're self employed

  Your business is very likely to be closed, unless the person dealing with…

• Cancel a bankruptcy

  You can apply to cancel (‘annul’) your bankruptcy if: the bankruptcy order…

• When bankruptcy ends

  After 12 months, you’re usually released (‘discharged’) automatically from…

Making someone bankrupt is one way to recover money owed to you – bankruptcy petition fees and download a guide to creditor bankruptcy petitions

• Overview

  You have to present a bankruptcy petition to a court if you want to…

• Prove you're owed £5,000 or more

  To make someone bankrupt you must be owed one of the following: at least…

• Check for other bankruptcy petitions

  You must check if the debtor has had any bankruptcy petitions against them…

• Apply

  The bankruptcy petition form you fill in depends on whether: the debtor…

Search the Individual Insolvency Register for details about bankruptcy orders, Debt Relief Orders, Individual Voluntary Arrangements, and restrictions orders and undertakings

Full guidance on what happens when you're made bankrupt.

• Updated: 9 January 2025

Complain about a bankrupt person or someone with bankruptcy or debt relief restrictions who is not acting honestly or is acting as a company director

• Updated: 9 January 2025

How to apply for bankruptcy online: how much it costs, get help paying the fee, what you’ll need

This guidance is for undischarged bankrupts and explains your restrictions when a bankruptcy order is made against you.

• Updated: 3 May 2022

The Insolvency and Companies List was formerly known as the Bankruptcy Court. We handle petitions to bankrupt individuals living in London where a creditor has made the petition and is owed £50,000 or more. If the petition is less than...

• Updated: 15 April 2021

If you're owed money in a bankruptcy or company liquidation case, use a Proof of Debt form to register as a creditor and make a claim for the money you're owed