FAQ

Frequently asked questions about trust deeds and sequestration (bankruptcy)

What is the difference between a trust deed and sequestration (bankruptcy)?

A trust deed is a private contract between you, your trustee and your creditors. It has to be advertised and how it works is regulated, but it is less formal and does not involve the Court.

In a sequestration (bankruptcy), your trustee is an officer of the Court. You commit a crime if you borrow money without disclosing your status, you cannot be a company director, and you are disqualified from elected public office.

How much do I need to owe?

There is no minimum for a trust deed. For a sequestration (bankruptcy) you have to owe at least £1,500 and the amount is being increased to £3,000 soon.

Can I choose my own trustee?

Yes, but in a trust deed the creditors can object to the trust deed without giving any reason. And in a sequestration (bankruptcy) there has to be a creditors meeting where another Insolvency Practitioner can be appointed to take over from the one you choose. In a sequestration (bankruptcy) where there are no assets, a civil servant called the Accountant in Bankruptcy usually acts.

Does a protected trust deed or bankruptcy really get rid of all my debt?

If your creditors accept it, yes a Protected Trust Deed covers almost all debts. There are very limited exceptions such as social security overpayments and student loans. And creditors who object to a trust deed at the outset may still be able to take legal action and even make you bankrupt.

I don’t have details of all my creditors. Can I still sign a trust deed, or make myself bankrupt?

Yes, but this may cause delays. The Court may reject your application. It may be best if you contact your creditors for their addresses and references, or even order a copy of your credit report to see if this helps identify to whom you owe money.

There have been objections to my trust deed and it is not protected. What can I do?

The trust deed continues to run, even if it does not become protected. But creditors who objected can ignore it. So generally you or you trustee will immediately petition for sequestration (bankruptcy). You want to get out of financial stress quickly and immediate action avoids the possibility of sequestration (bankruptcy) coming after the end of the three-year trust deed.

Who pays for the trust deed?

The trust deed has to be paid for out of the assets transferred to the trustee and/or the contributions you pay from your earnings. So you need to have valuable assets or be in a steady job before you can sign a trust deed.

Will my partner have to sign a trust deed or be sequestrated (go bankrupt) too?

There is not a simple answer here. Your partner is only responsible for his or her own debts. They do not have to pay your debts. But very often a family’s finances are complicated. There may be joint accounts, or one partner may rely on the other’s income to pay their bills.

Very often, this is a good time for both parties to consider their finances. It is often the case that both partners should go for insolvency at the same time, but each needs separate advice.

The credit reference agencies (Experian, Equifax and Callcredit) know that family finances are interconnected; so one partner may have problems getting credit because the other is in financial difficulty. If this is not the case, speak to them about “disassociating” the credit records.

Finally, we would advise against trying to hide your financial problems from your partner. Find the right time to tell them and seek advice to sort out the joint position.

Is my house at risk?

Yes. All your property is transferred to the trustee, and that includes your house if you own it. Unless there is negative equity (both at the beginning and end of the insolvency) the trustee has to realise it for your creditors. If there is a joint owner, the trustee will try to sell your interest to them or get them to agree to a sale. But eventually he will go to Court to force a sale.

The trust deed is a private contract, so you could leave the house out of a trust deed but (1) CS Corporate Solutions will not do such a trust deed and (2) your creditors would be expected to object to it anyway – leaving you facing sequestration (bankruptcy).

Leases can also be affected. You may be in breach of your lease by entering formal insolvency proceedings. Or if the rent or mortgage you pay is unreasonably high for your circumstances, the trustee can sometimes object to the level of expenditure.

Can I keep my car?

It depends. If the car has a high value you should expect the trustee to sell it. If the car is modest, then you may be allowed to keep it if you need it for work and you are paying a contribution from your earnings.

Will I lose my TV, computer, jewellery etc.?

Your valuables have to be sold if it will raise money for your creditors. There is a list of “items exempt from poinding” – such as beds, chairs, tables, tools of trade that you may reasonably require – which the trustee will not touch. But the trustee has to balance the costs of taking and selling the goods with the costs of doing so and often no-one will come to your house to take them.

Can I be a director, or hold public office?

If you are sequestrated, you cannot be a director or hold public office. In a trust deed you need to check (1) the terms of the trust deed (2) what the specific company’s Memorandum and Articles of Association set out and (3) what the rules of the public body itself actually say.

What happens if I can’t pay the agreed contributions?

Your trust deed may fail if you do not pay the agreed amounts from your earnings and cannot make up any amounts missed within a reasonable period. Of course your circumstances can change – for example you can lose your job – but the creditors are entitled to the amounts you agreed to pay at the start of the trust deed. If the trust deed fails it may result in sequestration (bankruptcy) and this may mean it takes longer for you to be clear of your debt.

In a sequestration (bankruptcy) the Court can settle any dispute over how much you can afford to pay. If you do not pay the amounts the Court orders, you may be committing a crime and your discharge from sequestration (bankruptcy) may well be delayed. << Back

When will I be discharged from my protected trust deed?

Your trust deed says how long it will last. This is normally three years, but can be whatever you, your trustee and your creditors agree. However your discharge is not automatic. The creditors need to discharge your trustee before you are discharged, so a trust deed may remain open for longer than three years. When you get your discharge, that means (with limited exceptions) your creditors can no longer demand payment of debts due to them from before the signing of the trust deed.

When will I be discharged from my sequestration (bankruptcy)?

There are changes being made to the rules. Under the old rules, you are discharged three years after the start of your sequestration (bankruptcy) unless the Court orders the period to be extended. Under the new rules, the period is going to be reduced to one year.

At the time of writing (December 2006), the transitional rules have not been made. It is likely that there will be a date (maybe in December 2008) when everyone who by then has been bankrupt for more than 12 months receives his or her discharge.

Do I get my property back when I am discharged?

No. Your assets are transferred to your trustee at the start. He has to sell them for the benefit of your creditors. After the expenses and debts (including interest) have been paid in full then any surplus is returned to you.

My insolvency is finished but I am still having problems getting credit. What can I do?

The credit reference agencies (Callcredit, Equifax, and Experian) tend to keep details of the insolvency on their books for six years. You can obtain confirmation of your discharge and send this to the credit reference agency. If your creditors have been paid in full, you should tell them so. But if what they have recorded is factually correct, there may be nothing you can do to prevent this.

If you know that you will want to borrow money whilst your insolvency is still on the credit reference agencies books, you may want to open an account to show the lender that you are in a position to make regular repayments.

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FAQ