Hi Kerrie, I'll try and answer your questions one at a time.
1. When you have decided that BR is the way forward for you, you will need to contact your local court to find out if you need to make an appointment or if you can just turn up - different courts have different ways of doing things.
You can complete the forms online -
www.insovency.gov.uk - I did that and it's much easier as you can save it as you go along and go back and amend things.
On the day you go to court you will need to take the unsigned forms with you (check with the court how many copies they need as it varies) and you will sign them in front of the clerk. You may or may not see the judge as again it varies from court to court. Once the judge has signed the paperwork you are officially bankrupt and free of your debts.
You will then get a phone call from the Official Reciever - some people have waited at the court, others get the call at home. They will tell you when your actual interview is and will send you a BR pack which tells you what will happen, what your responsibilities as a BR are (nothing to worry about really!) and what you need to send to the OR.
2. The OR will not be interested in your household goods unless you have a brand new 50" plasma TV or a few Van Goghs on the walls!
I don't own a property so I don't know a great deal about what happens, but I do know that if there is equity in the property a partner, friend or relative can buy the beneficial interest from the OR. If the property is in negative equity they can buy the interest from the OR for a nominal sum, usually £1 plus costs.
3. If you have animals you are entitled to claim for their 'upkeep' in your income and expenditure, although it seems that some OR's are more animal friendly than others!
4. Going BR will free you from most debts that you have up to the date of the BR. Debts like court fines and maintenance arrears cannot be included, but everything else can.
5. Once you have gone BR your creditors cannot chase you for money. It doesn't mean they won't try for a while afterwards while they update their systems, but if they do refer them to the OR or else send them a copy of your BR certificate.
Whilst going BR wasn't great it was such a weight off my mind. I have about 4 1/2 months until my automatic discharge date and to be honest the time is flying past. I've had a few ups and downs and a few stressy moments, but nowhere near as many as when I owed £65k!
If you have any more questions please ask and I will try to help. I am around for the rest of today and then I'm disappearing until Tuesday to move house!
Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present - a gift to make the most of.
View my blog at
http://skippy13.blogs.iva.co.uk/
