Student Loans In Bankruptcy

This is an answer given at the bankruptcy.lawyers.com web site, as to clearing student loans through bankruptcy.

Student loans are not dischargeable in bankruptcy unless you can show that your loan payment imposes an "undue hardship" on you, your family, and your dependents. Non-dischargeable debts are those debts that you cannot totally eliminate when you file for bankruptcy and will have to be paid by you.

It is almost impossible to show an undue hardship unless you are physically unable to work and the chances of your obtaining any type of gainful employment in the future are non-existent.

Under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, privately funded student loans are treated the same way that loans funded and guaranteed by the federal government or nonprofit institutions. Prior to the new law, if you had a loan from a private-sector lender that was not guaranteed, it could be discharged under chapter 7. The new law gives these loans the same protection as the guaranteed loans.

If you would like to discharge your student loans under the "undue hardship" exception, you must file a separate motion with the bankruptcy court and then appear before the judge to explain your hardship. This is not an easy task, so if your student loans are the main part of your debt, you would be better off not facing the harshness of bankruptcy as courts are extremely reluctant to discharge student loans.