One Year after Bankruptcy Law, Chapter 7 Filings Down

Nearly one year after the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 was passed into law, a study by information and research services provider LexisNexis found that Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings were 71 percent lower than over the same period for 2004.

LexisNexis said its year-to-date Chapter 7 figures in 2006 show 237,578 filings, compared with 2004 Chapter 7 filings of 830,014 compiled by LexisNexis CourtLink for the period between Jan. 1 to Sept. 15.

However, the study found that a number of factors will continue to influence the rate of personal bankruptcies
including:

• Adjustable rate mortgages kicking in and foreclosures on homes;

• Rising interest rates;

• Unemployment, lack of health insurance and increased premiums; and;

• Increased energy prices

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