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One of the new bankruptcy laws prohibits a debtor with a higher income from filing under Chapter 7. If an individual debtor's monthly income is less than or equal to the median income for the debtor's size household in the debtor's state, the debtor can file under Chapter 7.

If the debtor's income is greater than the median income, the debtor must pass the "means test". This test figures if the debtor has enough disposable income to make payments on a Chapter 13 plan. Only certain expenses and required debt payments are allowed to be subtracted from the debtor's income.

The free Bankruptcy Worksheet is a good place to start for anyone considering the legal issues surrounding personal or business bankruptcy. You can also Consult a Legal Pro today to help you with credit and bankruptcy legal information and bankruptcy filing.

Please note: This page offers general legal information, not but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.


Written and Reviewed by Experts
Written and Reviewed by Experts
This article was created, edited and reviewed by trained editorial staff who specialize in translating complex legal topics into plain language.

At Rocket Lawyer, we believe legal information should be both reliable and easy to understand—so you don't need a law degree to feel informed. We follow a rigorous editorial policy to ensure every article is helpful, clear, and as accurate and up-to-date as possible.

About this page:

  • This article was written and reviewed by Rocket Lawyer editorial staff
  • This article was last reviewed or updated on Feb 11, 2025

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