Bankruptcy
How Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy work in Utah — exemptions, the means test, and what filing actually does to your debts.
Rebuilding Credit After Bankruptcy in Utah
A Chapter 7 stays on your credit report for up to 10 years and Chapter 13 for up to 7 — but many filers reach the high 600s or low 700s within 2-3 years through consistent, deliberate rebuilding.
Do You Need a Bankruptcy Attorney in Utah? Costs and DIY Filing
Most straightforward Utah Chapter 7 cases run $1,200-$1,800 in attorney fees; Chapter 13 attorney fees (often $3,000-$3,500) are usually built into the repayment plan rather than paid upfront.
What Happens to a Co-Signer When You File Bankruptcy in Utah?
In Chapter 7, your co-signer gets no protection at all and remains fully on the hook. Chapter 13's 'codebtor stay' offers real but temporary and limited protection instead.
What Bankruptcy Can't Erase: Non-Dischargeable Debts in Utah
Child support, alimony, most recent taxes, and student loans (absent undue hardship) generally survive bankruptcy — filing doesn't erase every debt on your schedules.
Are Student Loans Dischargeable in Utah Bankruptcy?
Student loans were once considered nearly impossible to discharge in bankruptcy — a 2022 DOJ policy change made it meaningfully more realistic if you can show genuine undue hardship.
Chapter 7 vs. Chapter 13 in Utah: Which Is Right for You?
Chapter 7 is faster but requires passing an income-based means test; Chapter 13 takes three to five years but lets you catch up on a mortgage or car loan while keeping the property.
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.
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 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.
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.