最常听到的“破产”大概是“公司破产”，但“破产”其实可以大到国家，小到个人。
现在，中国也在考虑推出个人破产制度了，这是什么意思？欠钱太多就不用还吗？
关于个人破产，你了解多少？是否成功申请了个人破产，就可以解除所有债务呢？
中国的细则还没有出来，我们先来看看美国的个人破产是怎样吧。
图片来源：视觉中国
Under the U.S. Constitution, you have the ability to relieve all or part of your debts when you can no longer meet your obligations to creditors and lenders.
根据美国宪法，当您无法履行对债权人和贷方的义务时，您有能力减轻全//www.58yuanyou.com部或部分债务。
Two major types of personal bankruptcy apply to consumers.
消费者们可以申请两种主要的个人破产类型。
Chapter 7 bankruptcy allows debtors to discharge all or part of their debt.
第7章破产允许债务人解除全部或部分债务。
In Chapter 13 bankruptcy, debtors repay all or part of their debt based on a payment plan.
在第13章破产中，债务人则要制定一个计划来偿还全部或部分债务。
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy
第7章破产
Under Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you can have all or part of your debts discharged after your liquid assets are used to repay some of the debt.
根据第7章破产，在你用所有流动资产偿还部分债务后，你可以解除全部或部分债务。
What Are Liquid Assets?
什么是流动资产？
In your possession, you might have liquid assets. These are assets that can quickly be convertedinto cash (e.g., checking and savings accounts).
你的资产中可能有一部分属于流动资产。这些资产可以快速转换为现金（例如，支票和储蓄账户）。
Some of your liquid assets must be turned over to the courts to be distributed among your creditors as partial repayment of the debt you owe.
您的一些流动资产必须交给法院，在您的债权人之间分配，作为您欠债的部分偿还。
These are non-exemptassets. Assets that cannot be used to repay creditors are called exempt assets.
这些是非豁免资产。而那些不能用于偿还债权人的资产称为豁免资产。
Your state has laws that dictate which liquid assets are non-exempt and which are exempt.
您的州有法律规定哪些流动资产不可豁免，哪些可豁免。
After any non-exempt liquid assets have been distributed to your creditors, any remaining debt is discharged.
在向您的债权人分配所有非豁免流动资产后，任何剩余债务均已解除。
You are no longer liablefor any debt discharged. Furthermore, neither creditors nor third-party collectors can attempt to collect these debts from you.
您不再对已解除的任何债务承担责任。此外，债权人和第三方收债人都不能试图向您收取这些债务。
How Do I Qualify?
我如何获得资格？
To qualify for Chapter 7, you must pass a means test proving that your income is less than the median income for your family size in your state.
要获得第7章的资格，您必须通过经济状况调查，证明您的收入低于您所在州的家庭规模收入中位数。
If you fail the means test, you will not be allowed to file Chapter原由网 7. Instead, you can file Chapter 13.
如果您未通过均值测试，则不允许您提交第7章。您可以提交第13章。
In addition to passing a means test, you must receive credit counseling from an approved credit counseling agency.
除通过经济情况调查外，您还必须获得经批准的信用咨询机构的信用咨询。
You can find approved credit counseling agencies at the U.S. Trustee Program’s website.
您可以在美国受托人计划的网站上找到经批准的信用咨询机构。
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy
第13章破产
Under Chapter 13, you repay all or part of your debt through a three- to a five-year repayment plan.
根据第13章，您通过三到五年的还款计划偿还全部或部分债务。
When you make the personal bankruptcy filing, you will also submit a repayment plan to the court.
当您提交个人破产申请时，您还将向法院提交还款计划。
After submitting the plan, you should begin making payments to the court (who then pays your creditors).
提交计划后，您应该开始向法院付款（然后向您的债权人付款）。
This is required even if your plan hasn’t been approved.
即使您的计划尚未获得批准，也需要这样做。
After a few weeks, there will be a hearing to approve your payment plan. While creditors can object to the payment amounts, the judge has the final say.
几周后，将举行听证会批准您的付款计划。虽然债权人可以反对支付金额，但法www.58yuanyou.com官有最终决定权。
After your plan has been approved, you’ll continue making payments to the court. Once you’ve completed your Chapter 13 payment plan, any remaining debt is discharged.
您的计划获得批准后，您将持续向法院付款。一旦您完成了第13章付款计划，任何剩余的债务都将被解除。
You are no longer liable for discharged debts.
您不再对已解除的债务承担责任。
Why Would I Fwww.58yuanyou.comile Chapter 13?
我为什么要提交第13章？
You might choose to file Chapter 13 instead of Chapter 7 if you have secured debt, like a car loan, that you want to continue paying.
如果您已经担保债务（如汽车贷款），您可以选择提交第13章而不是第7章。
Since Chapter 7 bankruptcy requires you to give up certain liquid assets, Chapter 13 might be a better option if you want to kwww.58yuanyou.comeep these assets.
由于第7章破产要求您放弃某些流动资产，如果您想保留这些资产，第13章可能是更好的选择。
Furthermore, if your income above the median for your family size in your state, you will not be able to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
此外，如果您的收入高于您所在州的家庭规模的中位数，您将无法提交第7章破产。
According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, to file Chapter 13, you cannot have more than $922,975 in secured debt and $307,675 in unsecured debt.
根据美国“破产法”，要提交第13章，您的担保债务不会超过922,975美元，无担保债务将不会超过307,675美元。
Like Chapter 7, you must receive credit counseling from an approved credit counseling agency.
与第7章一样，您必须从经批准的信用咨询机构获得信用咨询。
1）convert
[kn'vt]
v. (使)转变；兑换
The signal will be converted into digital code.
信号将被转换成数字码。
Convert the baht into dollars.
把泰铢兑换成美元。
2）exempt
[g'zem(p)t]
adj. 被免除的，被豁免的
Children under two years old are exempt.
两岁以下儿童免票。
These goods are exempt from customs duties.
这些货物免征关税.
3）liable
['lab()l]
adj. 有责任的；有…倾向的
He's liable to hit me if I tell him the whole story.
如果我告诉他整件事，他可能会揍我。
文中的用法：to be liable for sth. 对…承担责任
If he's not careful he will become liable for the debt.
如果不加注意，他将会背上这笔债。
完
https://www.thebalance.com/basic-types-of-personal-bankruptcy-960606
本文编辑：钱香香
翻译：Maxxie
