From April 06 2018, all bankruptcy petitions must be presented online.
You will no longer be required to attend court to apply for bankruptcy. Paper forms will no longer be accepted after that date. Below, I outline the new process.
The petition
If you wish to petition for bankruptcy, you will need to visit https://www.gov.uk to make an application. Once complete, it will be assessed by an adjudicator, who will decide whether a bankruptcy order should be made.
For petitions presented before April 06, you will still have to attend court for the hearing.
After the adjudication
The process remains the same once a bankruptcy order has been made against you.
You may appeal as instructed if the adjudicator does not make the bankruptcy order. This appeal will be based on the information that you have presented.
If no bankruptcy order is made following the appeal, you have 28 more days to appeal to the court.
What happens if you have no internet access?
If you have no internet access, you should consider:
- Using a local library
- Using a friend’s or family member’s internet service
- Contacting a reputable debt advice organisation
- Enquiring about the appointment service available via the Insolvency Service
Lower cost and simplification
Applying for bankruptcy online as opposed to using the courts has several benefits:
- remove the fear of attending court
- lower the cost
- simplify the petition process
As a result, applying for bankruptcy now costs:
- £130 for the application process
- £525 for the official receiver’s fee