It’s quite difficult to hide a bankruptcy filing. Not only will it be on your credit report for years, affecting your credit score, but it can also be a part of the public record. If you have any privacy concerns, you’ll want to talk them over with a Bergen County Chapter 7 bankruptcy lawyer from our firm before you make any moves.
Will My Bankruptcy Filing Be Public Record in NJ?
When you file for bankruptcy, it does become a part of the public record. If someone is inclined to, they can easily look up your case and get some information about you and your bankruptcy filing. If you do not want this information to be available to others, there are few options available to you. This may be something you want to think about before you declare bankruptcy.
What About My Bankruptcy Will Be in the Public Record?
If you want more specific information about what will be on the public record, we can help you with that. When someone looks up your case they are likely to find data like:
- The name of the debtor, so your name
- The date that the bankruptcy was filed
- What kind of bankruptcy was filed, like if it was Chapter 7 or Chapter 13
- Any accounting of your personal assets
- Name and contact information for your attorney
- Information about the bankruptcy trustee
- How the case concluded
- Any official documents filed
- Any motions or petitions made
This is a lot of information to have out there in the public record, so we’re not surprised that some of our clients want to know about expunging or sealing their case.
Can My Bankruptcy Be Expunged?
It is rare to have a court seal or expunge your bankruptcy filing. This usually is not a big deal though. Unless someone knows that you filed for bankruptcy, they are unlikely to go searching for your records. If you are committed to getting this erased from your record, we can help you figure out your options, but most filers should be more concerned about the effect this has on their credit history and how they plan to raise their credit score back up.
Can Bankruptcy Filers Remove Any Information From the Public Record?
There may be some ways to remove some information from the public record though. In some cases, you can ask to have the following redacted:
- Any business or trade secrets
- Information that might be used for litigation
- Other sensitive information
Talk to a Bankruptcy Lawyer Today
When you are ready to file for bankruptcy, don’t do it on your own. This process requires a lot of paperwork and you need to make sure that everything is done correctly. Our lawyers can help you with that, so contact the Law Office of Boyd & Squitieri to schedule a consultation and learn more about how we can be of assistance.
