What are consumer debts and why are they important in personal bankruptcy cases?
The Bankruptcy Code defines consumer debts as debt incurred by an individual primarily for a personal, family or household purpose. There are special provisions of the Bankruptcy Code that are only applicable to individuals having consumer debts. The “means test” (discussed below) only applies to an individual debtor in a chapter 7 case whose debts are primarily consumer debts. Debt that an individual incurred for a business, trade or profession that he or she was engaged in would not be consumer debt.
The Bankruptcy Code defines consumer debts as debt incurred by an individual primarily for a personal, family or household purpose. There are special provisions of the Bankruptcy Code that are only applicable to individuals having consumer debts. The “means test” (discussed below) only applies to an individual debtor in a chapter 7 case whose debts are primarily consumer debts. Debt that an individual incurred for a business, trade or profession that he or she was engaged in would not be consumer debt.
