Research Guides: Bankruptcy: Introduction

Bankruptcy Basics

The law of bankruptcy is codified in Title 11 of the United States Code. Procedural rules on bankruptcy can be found in the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure and local rules for each court. Bankruptcy cases are heard by United States Bankruptcy Courts. Bankruptcy cases are described by the chapters of the Bankruptcy Code under which they are filed:

Chapter 7: Liquidation
Chapter 9: Adjustment of Debts of a Municipality
Chapter 11: Reorganization
Chapter 12: Adjustment of Debts of a Family Farmer or Fisherman with Regular Annual Income
Chapter 13: Adjustment of Debts of an Individual with Regular Income
Chapter 15: Ancillary and Other Cross-Border Cases

Glossaries of Bankruptcy Terminology:

Glossary of Legal Terms (including bankruptcy) and Bankruptcy Basics Glossary: Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Norton Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terms (Westlaw)
Bernstein's Dictionary of Bankruptcy Terminology: From the law firm Bernstein-Burkley,PC

Introductory resources on bankruptcy :

Bankruptcy Basics: A Primer (CRS Report R45137)
Bankruptcy Basics: A publication of the Bankruptcy Judges Division of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts
Bankruptcy Desk Guide (Westlaw)
Bankruptcy Overview: Issues, Law, and Policy (Bloomberg)

Bankruptcy Study Aids on Reserve in the MacMillan Law Library or in the online West Academic Study Aids package:

The Elements of Bankruptcy by Douglas G. Baird
Call Number: Law Library: Study Aids, KF1524 .B32 2022

ISBN: 9781647083762

Publication Date: 2022-03-11
Lawton's Gilbert Law Summary on Bankruptcy, 3d by Anne Lawton
Call Number: Law Library: Study Aids, KF1524.85 .L39 2023

ISBN: 9798887860503

Publication Date: 2023-05-26
Examples and Explanations for Bankruptcy and Debtor/Creditor by Brian A. Blum; Samir D. Parikh
Call Number: Law Library: Study Aids, KF1524.85 .B58 2023

ISBN: 9798886140699

Publication Date: 2023-01-31
Understanding Bankruptcy by Jeffrey Ferriell
Call Number: Law Library: Study Aids, KF1524 .F47 2021

ISBN: 9780769859200

Publication Date: 2020-01-01
Bankruptcy in a Nutshell by David Epstein
Call Number: Law Library: Study Aids, KF1501 .E67 2021

ISBN: 9781647082543

Publication Date: 2021-05-24
A Short and Happy Guide to Bankruptcy by Bruce Markell; Lawrence Ponoroff
ISBN: 9781647083779

Publication Date: 2021-05-07
Questions and Answers: Bankruptcy by Mary Jo Wiggins
Call Number: Law Library: Study Aids, KF1524 .Q84 2018

ISBN: 9781531002121

Publication Date: 2018-04-01

Guide Authorship and Currency

Originally published February 21, 2018 by Amy Flick.

Updated June 3, 2024 by Amy Flick.

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