Bankruptcy cannot, however, cure every financial problem. Nor is it the right step for every individual. In bankruptcy, it is usually not possible to:
- Eliminate certain rights of ”secured” creditors. A ”secured” creditor has taken a mortgage or other lien on property as collateral for the loan. Common examples are car loans and home mortgages. You can force secured creditors to take payments over time in the bankruptcy process and bankruptcy can eliminate your obligation to pay any additional money if your property is taken. Nevertheless, you generally cannot keep the collateral unless you continue to pay the debt.
- Discharge types of debts singled out by the bankruptcy law for special treatment, such as child support and alimony (known as Domestic Support Obligations), student loans (but tuition is dischargable), court restitution orders, criminal fines, and some taxes.
- Discharge cosigners on your debts. If a relative or friend has cosigned a loan, and the debtor discharges the debt in bankruptcy, the cosigner may still be liable to repay all or part of the loan.
- Discharge debts that arise after bankruptcy has been filed.
