The Bankruptcy law of the United States is a federal law within the U. S. federal government's jurisdiction. The U. S. bankruptcy court is a judicial branch of the U. S. federal district court. There is a bankruptcy court for each judicial district in the United States. Each state has one or more judicial districts. California has three judicial districts. The U. S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central California Judicial District, covering Los Angeles County, Orange County, Riverside County, Ventura County and Santa Barbara County, is the largest bankruptcy court in the U. S. 

There are five basic types of bankruptcy cases available to be dealt with by the bankruptcy court under the U. S. Bankruptcy Code. Each type of bankruptcy cases is traditionally given the name of the chapter in the Bankruptcy Code that describes it:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: For liquidation of the bankrupt debtor's estate, if any, among the creditors and discharge the bankrupt debtor the personal liability for certain dischargeable debts. 

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: For adjustment of debts of an individual debtor with regular income. It offers an opportunity for an individual debtor who has a regular income source to keep his/her valuable assets (such as a house), while re-structures a debt repayment plan with the creditors in exchange for partial discharge of certain debts. 

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: For reorganization of the bankrupt commercial organizations that desire to continue their business while re-pay a part or the whole debts to the creditors under a court-approved reorganization plan. 

Chapter 12 Bankruptcy: For adjustment of debts of a family farmer with regular annual income. It is similar to Chapter 13 bankruptcy in that debtor proposes a plan to repay a part or the whole debts over a period of time - normally not more than 3 years, while the debtor farmer is allowed to continue to operate his/her farm business. 

Chapter 9 Bankruptcy: For adjustment of debts of a municipality organization. It is similar to Chapter 11 bankruptcy but only a "municipality" such as towns, cities, counties, school districts, etc. are entitled to use this chapter. 

If you have questions regarding the debts you owed to the creditors, or the debts a debtor owed to you, and you need an attorney for help, please contact attorney John J. Ma at [email protected] for consultation before it is too late!