Creditor bankruptcy petitions

Business: Funding Debt

    Making someone bankrupt is one way to recover money owed to you – you will have to pay a fee.

    A mediation service could be quicker and cheaper than making someone bankrupt. Mediation is when an impartial person helps two sides work out an agreement.

    Fees

    The court fees to make someone bankrupt are:

    • £700 petition deposit (for managing the bankruptcy)
    • £220 for court costs

    You can pay the fees using cash, postal orders or a cheque made payable to Her Majesty’’s Courts & Tribunal Service.

    The basics

    You’ll need a solicitor or debt specialist to help you because you’ll have to:

    • petition (apply to) the court to issue a bankruptcy order
    • prove the debtor owes £750 or more (to 1 or more creditors)
    • prove the debtor can’’t repay what they owe

    Download ‘Dealing with debt, how to make someone bankrupt’ (DOC, 200KB)

    There is a different process for creditor bankruptcy petitions in Scotland.

    Making someone bankrupt is one way to recover money owed to you – bankruptcy petition fees and download a guide to creditor bankruptcy petitions