Bankruptcy
How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy work in Utah — exemptions, the means test, and what filing actually does to your debts.
Can You Keep Your Car or House in Utah Bankruptcy?
Most people filing bankruptcy in Utah keep their car and house — the real question is usually whether you stay current on the loan, not whether the trustee takes the property.
Utah Bankruptcy Means Test: Do You Qualify for Chapter 7?
If your household income is at or below Utah's median for your family size, you generally pass the means test automatically — above it, a second calculation of allowable expenses decides.
The Automatic Stay: How Bankruptcy Stops a Utah Lawsuit or Garnishment
Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay the moment your case is filed — but it isn't unlimited, doesn't erase the underlying debt, and creditors can ask the court to lift it.
Utah Bankruptcy Exemptions: What You Can Keep
Utah is an 'opt-out' state — you must use Utah's own exemption list in bankruptcy, not the federal one, and Utah has no general cash wildcard exemption.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy in Utah: How It Works
Chapter 13 lets you keep property while repaying debt over three to five years under a court-approved plan — the tradeoff for a slower process than Chapter 7.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in Utah: How It Works
Chapter 7 is the faster of the two common consumer bankruptcy types — most cases are open only a few months — but qualifying for it depends on passing an income-based means test first.