You can be made bankrupt if you: 

• do not pay your debts and you owe £5,000 or more 
• break the terms of an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (external link) (IVA) 
• gave information that was not true to get an IVA 

There is a separate guide if you choose to declare yourself bankrupt. 

Before you are made bankrupt 

Before you can be made bankrupt, the people you owe (your ‘creditors’) have to try other legal ways to get you to pay your debt. This is usually a statutory demand (external link) or a court judgement. 

What happens if you are made bankrupt 

If you are made bankrupt: 

• your assets (external link) can be used to pay your debts 
• you will have to follow bankruptcy restrictions (external link) 
• your name and details will be published on the Individual Insolvency Register (external link) 

Getting help 

If you are being made bankrupt, you can get free advice: 

• by calling National Debtline (external link) 
• from online, face-to-face and phone services accredited by the Money Advice Service (external link) 
• from Citizen's Advice, you can read guidance about bankruptcy or contact them

If you do not want to be made bankrupt 

You may be able to oppose your bankruptcy petition (external link).