Bankruptcy

What bankruptcy means

In practice, you will see bankruptcy in pleadings, motions, orders and court rules. The definition above explains the general meaning. Even so, the meaning can shift with context. Therefore, always read it alongside the rule or document where it appears.

Where bankruptcy comes up

The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.

How to research the term

To research bankruptcy, begin with the rule, statute or contract where the word is used. Each one can give it a slightly different meaning. Then compare that text with how courts in your area have applied it. Also check the local rules of your court, since they can add requirements. If your case is in state court, the state rules control. So start with our state procedures guide to find them. In the end, always confirm that the source you rely on is current.

You can read the current federal court rules online for free.

Related legal terms

• Authority: the legal power to act or decide, such as a court's authority to hear a case or an agent's authority to bind a principal. The word also means a legal source a court relies on, such as a statute, rule or prior decision.
• Automobile: a self-propelled passenger vehicle designed for travel on roads. In law, an automobile is one kind of motor vehicle. Most statutes use the broader term "motor vehicle" and define it for their own purposes, so read the definition section of the law you are applying.
• Bad faith: dishonest or improper purpose, such as intentionally misleading someone, acting with a motive to harass or delay, or knowingly refusing to meet an obligation.
• Bank: a financial institution that accepts deposits and makes loans, chartered either by a state or by the federal government.

Why precise terms matter

Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.