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• Updated: 3 November 2025

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…

What happens if someone makes a money claim against you, saying you owe them money, and how you can respond or defend yourself

• Overview

  You’ll get a letter or email if someone claims you owe them money. You…

• Respond to a claim online

  You’ll need to know which service was used to make the claim. Check your…

• Respond to a claim by post

  If the claim was made using a paper form, you should respond by post. You…

• Resolve the claim through mediation

  Mediation is when an impartial professional (the mediator) helps both…

• Going to a court hearing

  You might have to give more information at a hearing if your offer is…

Find out how to operate PAYE if you pay your employees with assets that can be sold or cashed in, like stocks, shares or cryptoassets.

• Updated: 19 December 2018

Acting as an attorney - duties, including finding an enduring power of attorney, registering an EPA, starting to act, making gifts and stopping being an attorney

Get help with savings if you're on a low income (Help to Save) - how it works, what you'll get, eligibility, how it affects your benefits and how to apply online.

When debt payments can be taken from your wages, changing how much you pay, paying it off early, and reporting a change to your circumstances

Tell HMRC about undeclared income, self-employment, capital gains, profits in a company and foreign income

When you have to pay Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Stamp Duty or Inheritance Tax on money, shares or property you inherit

Find out what income you need to include when working out your tax credits.

• Updated: 6 April 2025