Before you file bankruptcy, make sure that it’s something you really want to do.  If it doesn’t help you in the end, there are other options.  In fact, you should only really consider bankruptcy filing if you have no other alternatives.  A bankruptcy stays on your credit report for up to ten years and that’s a hard thing to explain.  Bankruptcy gives you something of a fresh start though, but it doesn’t discharge you from debts like alimony or student loans.  According to the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), before you file for bankruptcy, you need to get at least some consumer credit counseling from a US Trustee approved entity within 180 days of filing.  That’s when you can hear about some other alternatives to bankruptcy you probably haven’t considered or even thought about.  Actually, the most popular forms of bankruptcy are Chapter 13 and Chapter 7, with 7 edging out 13.  However, the BAPCPA has actually made it more difficult to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Also keep in mind how much hiring a bankruptcy attorney and other fees will cost you in the end.  You don’t want to waste even more money through the process of bankruptcy filing.