If I had my way, bankruptcy would not have the stigma it has. It is a great tool for people who are trying to keep their head above water and are ready to make real changes to get a new financial start. The second you file bankruptcy can be the beginning of a new life without the stress and pressure of debt.
If you are worried about people finding out if you have filed bankruptcy, you should know that bankruptcy records are public. Section 107 of the Bankruptcy Code provides bankruptcy records, “are public records and open to examination by an entity at reasonable times without charge.”
But before you get to concerned, you should know that only creditors and co-debtors (people who have co-signed a loan for you) will get notice of your bankruptcy filing. Anyone else who wants to read your bankruptcy case will have to go to the trouble of going to the bankruptcy court or getting a PACER account to look at it, which is probably more work for someone whom you don’t owe money to, to do.