Bankruptcy and Student Loans: What You Need to Know for Financial Relief
Student loans have been an integral part of the higher education system in the United States for decades. However, with the rising cost of education and the increasing amount of debt that students have to take on to finance their education, more and more people are struggling to repay their student loans. In some cases, this may lead to bankruptcy. If you are considering bankruptcy and you have student loans, there are some things that you need to know.
What is Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy is a legal process that allows individuals and businesses to discharge their debts or reorganize their financial affairs. Bankruptcy is governed by federal law and is designed to give debtors a fresh start by wiping out most or all of their debts.
There are two main types of bankruptcy for individuals: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13. Chapter 7 bankruptcy is a liquidation process in which the debtor's non-exempt assets are sold to pay off creditors, and the remaining debt is discharged. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is a reorganization process in which the debtor enters into a repayment plan to pay off some or all of their debts over a period of three to five years.