Why bankruptcy shouldn’t have a negative stigma

On Behalf of | Feb 2, 2023 | Bankruptcy

There are often some negative stigmas surrounding bankruptcy. For example, some people may be worried about the social stigma and perceive bankruptcy as some type of failure, and this can keep them from filing if they are the type of person who is excessively worried about the opinions of others. Additionally, some people believe that bankruptcy is a moral decision and that people who take out debt should always pay back the debt that they took on.

As common as these views are, they don’t actually hold any water. Bankruptcies shouldn’t have this negative stigma and it’s important to change this perception in the general public.

It’s probably not your fault

The first reason to combat these negative perceptions is just that bankruptcy is often not the fault of the person who is going bankrupt. For example, a business owner could have taken on debt that fully made sense in the current market, but a local recession made it impossible for them to pay their bills.

Additionally, consider that one of the top reasons people in the United States file for bankruptcy every year is just that they have outstanding medical bills. No one chooses to have high medical costs for things like car accident injuries or a cancer diagnosis, but that’s just the reality of having such an expensive healthcare system.

It’s a legal tool

Additionally, remember that bankruptcy is a legal tool that was created on purpose to help people in this situation. That’s why it’s not a moral decision at all. The law simply recognizes that debt can sometimes be overwhelming and provides bankruptcy as a way for people to smoothly eliminate that debt and give themselves a fresh start. Using all of the tools that you have at your disposal is never a bad thing.

If you are thinking about bankruptcy, take the time to carefully consider all of the options that you have.