Who Can See That I Have Declared Bankruptcy in Massachusetts?

Although declaring bankruptcy can be a smart move in many cases, residents of Massachusetts are often concerned about the potential damage to their reputations. They may be wondering who will be able to see that they have declared bankruptcy in the past. Many people who declare
bankruptcy fully expect to become financially successful in the future, and they worry about whether their past bankruptcy could hinder them moving forward. So, how confidential is a bankruptcy, and who can see the records of this legal process?

Questions such as these are probably best left answered by a legal professional. Team up with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer, and you can confidently declare bankruptcy without having to worry about minor issues. When you are working with a qualified attorney, you can easily address many common concerns that residents of Massachusetts might have about bankruptcy. After a lawyer explains bankruptcy in more detail, you can decide whether you would like to move ahead.

Legal Professionals
Generally speaking, the only people who are going to find out that you have declared bankruptcy are the legal professionals who are directly involved with your case. These include your attorney, judges, and various other employees of the court.

Financial Professionals
You are legally required to disclose your bankruptcy information to certain people within the financial industry. These include bank employees, credit card employees, and other people of that nature. The most likely scenario is that you will be asked to disclose this information when applying for a loan or any kind of credit.

Employers
You may also be required to disclose bankruptcy information to certain employers. Note that this is only required if the employer directly asks you about your bankruptcy. You do not need t0 post “I have declared bankruptcy in the past” in bold letters on your resume. In addition, an employer could ask you about your past bankruptcies if you need to get a security clearance of some kind. This is most common within the military.

How About Average People?

Technically, your bankruptcy filing is on public record, and it remains on your credit report for 10 years after filing. That being said, an average person is not going to go through the trouble of searching the public records to figure out whether you have declared bankruptcy in the past. They would need to request this specific information, which means they have to know exactly what they are looking for beforehand. They also might have to pay a fee.

Enlist the Help of a Qualified, Experienced Attorney Today
If you would like to speak about your legal options for bankruptcy, reach out to the Law Offices of Johnson, Sclafani & Moriarty. We can explain how bankruptcy works in more detail, and we can address any concerns you might have about the overall process. We understand that many residents of Massachusetts are concerned about their reputation when declaring bankruptcy, and we will do everything we can to make this a dignified, professional process. Reach out and book your consultation today. 413-732-8356