Virginia Bankruptcy Law - "How many times can I file bankruptcy?"

Debtors may file Chapter 7 only once during any 6 year period.. If a Chapter 7 discharge was granted within the 6 years preceding the filing of a petition for relief under Chapter 7, the case must be dismissed. Notice the period of calculation: the end of the last case, to the beginning of the new case.

Virginia Bankruptcy Law - In Practice

If a previous case was filed under chapter 11 or Chapter 13 during the preceding 6 years, the debtor will not be allowed to receive a discharge of debts in the subsequent case unless: 1) all the "allowed unsecured" claims in the earlier case were paid in full; or 2) payments under the plan in the earlier case totaled at least 70 percent of the allowed unsecured claims and the debtor's plan was proposed in good faith and the payments represented the debtor's best effort. In practice, few debtors file multiple cases. The experience of filing bankruptcy is usually a once in a lifetime event. Most debtors benefit and learn from the experience, then take decisive steps to insure against future filings.

Be aware that all options are not available to all debtors. The availability of alternatives depends on several factors. State & federal laws change frequently through the legislative process and through court interpretations. Each debtor presents a unique financial history and assortment of debts. Local rules and customs vary. Nevertheless, all debtors gain the maximum benefit available similarly: careful planning and selection of options before filing.

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