A common concern for many people filing for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy is whether their retirement account will be protected. Bankruptcy law is very generous about protecting debtors’ retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401ks, and pensions. The vast majority of these retirement plans are “exempt,” or fully protected, under law.

When you file bankruptcy, there are certain assets the bankruptcy laws let you protect. The laws are designed so that you aren’t left destitute for filing bankruptcy. One of the assets we can protect are retirement accounts. The laws want to make sure you don’t have to lose money that you will need to rely on years down the road.

When individuals are faced with crushing debt, and unable to meet their monthly obligations, one of the logical questions they struggle with is whether they should use their retirement funds to pay the debt. There are few things about my job that break my heart more than hearing clients that are at, or close to, retirement age have used their retirement funds to pay their debt.