How to Apply for Your Own Bankruptcy: 2026 Online Application Walkthrough

Last updated: 4 May 2026

Quick answer

To apply for your own bankruptcy in England and Wales, complete the online application at gov.uk/apply-for-bankruptcy, pay £680 (£550 deposit + £130 court fee), and answer the Adjudicator's questions about your debts, assets, and income. The Adjudicator decides within 28 days. You will not normally have a court hearing. The order takes effect on the date the Adjudicator makes it. You are then discharged automatically after 12 months. The whole process is administrative, not adversarial — it is designed to be done without a solicitor.

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Before you start

Three things to settle before you sit down to apply.

1. Confirm bankruptcy is the right answer. If your debts are £50,000 or less, your assets are under £2,000, your monthly disposable income is £75 or under, and you do not own a home with equity, a Debt Relief Order at £90 will achieve the same outcome cheaper. See our Bankruptcy vs DRO comparison.

2. Get the £680 ready. The fee cannot be waived and cannot be paid in instalments through the application. Some debt charities will help with the £550 deposit through a hardship fund, but you must arrange that before you start. The £130 court fee can be reduced if you receive certain benefits or are on a low income — apply with form EX160 separately if needed.

3. Open a basic bank account in advance. When the bankruptcy order is made, your existing bank will usually freeze your account on the day. Open a basic bank account with a provider that accepts customers in insolvency procedures before you apply — speak to a debt adviser for current options, or see the MoneyHelper basic bank account guide. The Insolvency Service does not notify your bank directly; the trigger for any freeze is your name appearing on the Individual Insolvency Register, normally within 24 hours of the order.

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What you need to hand

The online form will not let you save and come back partially through some sections, so gather these before you start:

• National Insurance number
• Your last three months of bank statements for every account you hold
• A list of every debt: creditor name, amount, account reference, type of debt
• Your last six months of payslips or self-employment accounts
• Mortgage statement (if you own a home)
• Tenancy agreement (if you rent)
• Pension paperwork for any pension you draw from or contribute to
• Council tax bill, utility bills, broadband bill for the last 12 months
• Vehicle registration and current valuation (Auto Trader or similar guide)
• Credit report from one of the major agencies — useful for catching debts you may have forgotten

If you are missing any of these, you can fill in the form to the best of your knowledge — there is space for "I don't know" on most fields. But the more accurate the figures, the smoother the process. The Official Receiver will check your figures against credit-reference data after the order is made.

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The application — section by section

The form has 13 sections. Here is what each one asks for, what trips people up, and what the Adjudicator is looking for.

Section 1 — About you

Name, date of birth, address, contact details, National Insurance number. Plus any other names you have used in the last six years (maiden names, business trading names).

Watch out for: if you have moved in the last three years, list every address. The Adjudicator uses these to cross-check creditor records.

Section 2 — About your debts

You list every unsecured debt. Not just the big ones. Every credit card, every personal loan, every overdraft, every catalogue, every "buy-now-pay-later" balance, every council tax arrear, every unpaid utility bill, every CCJ.

Watch out for: a debt you cannot remember will not be discharged unless you list it. If you forget a £4,000 store card balance and the bankruptcy ends, that store card can still chase you afterwards. Pull a credit report (Experian, Equifax, TransUnion all do free statutory reports) and cross-check.

Section 3 — About your assets

Cash, savings, investments, premium bonds, ISAs, vehicles, jewellery worth over £500, valuable household items, business assets.

Pensions held in approved schemes are protected under section 11 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 — most occupational and personal pension schemes registered with HMRC qualify. Pensions already drawn down (cash in your account) are not protected. Do not assume — check the scheme rules and take advice for any non-standard arrangement (e.g. SIPPs with unusual investments, QROPS).

Section 4 — About your home

If you rent: tenancy type, rent amount, deposit, length remaining.

If you own: market value, mortgage outstanding, equity, whether jointly owned. The Adjudicator will not refuse the application based on home equity, but the trustee in bankruptcy will deal with it after the order.

Section 5 — About your income

Take-home pay, self-employment net profit, benefits, pension drawdowns, rental income, any side income.

Watch out for: under-stating income to look "more bankrupt" backfires. The Official Receiver pulls HMRC PAYE data and benefit data. Inconsistency triggers an Income Payments Order assessment with stricter scrutiny.

Section 6 — About your spending

Rent or mortgage, utilities, food, transport, insurance, phone, broadband, childcare, debt repayments. The Adjudicator uses the Standard Financial Statement figures as a benchmark. Spending wildly above the trigger figures will be questioned.

Section 7 — About your job and business

Employment status, employer, job title, length of service. Self-employed: trading name, sector, turnover, business assets, business debts (which become personal debts in bankruptcy if you are a sole trader or partner).

Section 8 — Recent transactions

The Adjudicator and Official Receiver want to know if you have:

• Transferred any asset (sold a car for less than market value, gifted property to a relative, paid one creditor in full to escape another)
• Made any "preferences" — paid a friend or family member ahead of other creditors
• Run up new debt knowing bankruptcy was coming

These transactions can be unwound under the Insolvency Act 1986, sections 339-343. Disclosing them does not stop the bankruptcy — concealing them is misconduct that can extend the bankruptcy under a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order.

Section 9 — Why you are bankrupt

A short narrative — a paragraph or two. Common causes: business failure, redundancy, divorce, illness, bereavement, problem gambling, fraud (someone else's), pandemic disruption.

This is not a moral judgement section. It is a factual classification. Be honest, be brief.

Section 10 — Previous insolvency

Have you been bankrupt before? Have you had a DRO? Have you had an IVA or company directorship that ended in insolvency? List dates.

Section 11 — Confirmation and declaration

You confirm everything you have said is true to the best of your knowledge and belief. Knowingly making a false representation, or fraudulently doing or omitting any act for the purpose of obtaining the bankruptcy order, is an offence under the Insolvency Act 1986, sections 356 and 357 — punishable by up to seven years' imprisonment on indictment.

Section 12 — Payment

£680 by card. The £550 deposit is non-refundable even if the application is rejected. The £130 court fee can be remitted in part or full under HMCTS fee remission if you receive Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Income-based JSA, Income-related ESA, Income Support, or have an income below the thresholds set out in the EX160A guidance.

Section 13 — Submission

You receive a reference number. The Adjudicator has 28 days to decide.

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What happens after submission

Days 1-14: the Adjudicator reviews

You may get a request for additional information. Respond within 14 days or the application is refused (and you lose the £550 deposit).

The order

When the Adjudicator makes the order, you receive an email and letter. The order takes effect on that date.

Days 1-7 after the order

• Your name appears on the Insolvency Register within 24 hours
• Your bank account is frozen
• You receive a letter from the Official Receiver inviting you to a Statement of Affairs interview (usually telephone)
• Your creditors are notified by the Official Receiver

Days 14-28 after the order

• Your interview with the Official Receiver — typically a 30-90 minute phone call
• The Official Receiver decides whether assets justify appointing a private trustee in bankruptcy
• If you have a home with equity, a vehicle worth more than £2,000, or a business, expect a private trustee

Months 1-12

• The trustee deals with your assets
• You comply with any Income Payments Order or Agreement
• You attend any further interviews if asked
• You do not act as a company director, do not borrow over £500 without disclosing, do not trade under a different name

Month 12: discharge

Discharge is automatic at 12 months under the Insolvency Act 1986, section 279. You receive a discharge certificate. The bankruptcy comes off the public register three months later. Most unsecured debts are now legally extinguished.

If the Official Receiver believes your conduct warrants it, they can apply for a Bankruptcy Restrictions Order extending some restrictions for 2 to 15 years. This is rare and usually triggered by serious misconduct (fraud, deliberate concealment, repeated insolvencies).

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Common mistakes that delay or refuse applications

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What if the application is refused

The Adjudicator can refuse for three main reasons:

1. You do not meet the criteria for bankruptcy (your case fits a DRO, or your debts are not properly enforceable)
2. Information missing or inconsistent that you did not provide on request
3. Reasonable belief the application is an abuse of process (very rare)

You can appeal a refusal by issuing an application in the County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction within 28 days, supported by a witness statement explaining the grounds. The court bundle for that appeal needs CPR Practice Direction 32 compliance — paginated, indexed, witness statement at the front.

You can also re-apply once the issue is fixed. The £550 deposit on the refused application is lost; you pay it again.

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How BundleCreator helps if you end up in court

Most own-application bankruptcies do not need a hearing. But these do:

• An appeal against an Adjudicator's refusal
• An application to annul a bankruptcy order (Insolvency Act 1986, section 282)
• A defended Income Payments Order
• An application about your home (trustee's order for sale at the County Court)

For all of those, the County Court hearing centre with insolvency jurisdiction will expect a paginated, indexed bundle in line with the Insolvency Practice Direction. BundleCreator's Bankruptcy and Insolvency template produces this format with pagination, hyperlinked index, OCR, and bookmarks in around 15 minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

Do I need a solicitor to apply?

No. The application is designed to be done without a solicitor. Solicitors are useful for complex situations: business assets, contested petitions, allegations of misconduct, equity in a home where a partner is also affected. For a straightforward own-application bankruptcy, an experienced debt adviser at Citizens Advice or StepChange is enough.

How long does the whole process take from application to discharge?

Roughly 13 months: 28 days for the Adjudicator + 12 months from the order to discharge. Add another 3 months for the entry to come off the public register.

Will I lose my car?

The trustee can claim a vehicle worth more than around £2,000-£3,000. The threshold is not statutory — it is a Insolvency Service operational threshold. If your car is worth more, the trustee will normally agree to sell it and replace it with a cheaper one, taking the difference. If the car is essential for work and the family member who could buy it out can pay, that is often the cleanest route.

Will I lose my pension?

Approved occupational pension schemes and most personal pensions are protected. Pensions you have already drawn down (the cash in your bank account) are not protected. Pensions on the books, unaccessed, are.

Can I keep one credit card to pay essential bills?

No. All your unsecured debts, including credit cards, become part of the bankruptcy. Credit card accounts are closed. You will need to use a basic bank account debit card or, after discharge, apply for a credit-builder card.

Will my partner be affected?

Joint debts are enforceable against the non-bankrupt partner. Joint assets (including a jointly owned home) are dealt with by the trustee in proportion to your share. The non-bankrupt partner's solo debts and solo assets are unaffected.

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Further reading

• Apply for your own bankruptcy — Official application portal
• Insolvency Act 1986 — Statute
• Insolvency Proceedings Practice Direction — How insolvency hearings are run
• Bankruptcy Petition vs Debt Relief Order: How to Choose in 2026
• Statutory Demand Defence: Setting Aside Under Insolvency Rules 2016