Glenn A. Brown, DMD, MBA

Most debts are written off–“discharged”–in bankruptcy. But not “fraud” ones. Watch out for creditors’ use of the “presumption of fraud.”

Bankruptcy doesn’t write off criminal fines, fees, or restitution. So why think about bankruptcy if you have, or expect to have, such debts?

Reach the main goal of most bankruptcies–the “discharge” (write-off) of all or most of your debts–by being honest throughout your case.

Student loans are difficult to write off in bankruptcy because the standard for doing so is very tough. But you might still qualify.