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Bankruptcy Register search
You can use the Bankruptcy Register Search (BRS) to check if someone is, or has been, in a personal insolvency proceeding such as bankruptcy.
Owed money
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Unmanageable debt and insolvency support
If someone owes you money, you may be able to pursue payment through the personal insolvency system, depending on the amount of money owed.
Find out more about the steps involved to apply for a bankruptcy notice or make someone bankrupt.
If the person who owes you money is already in an insolvency proceeding, such as bankruptcy or debt agreement, your rights and options to pursue them for payment may change.
To find out if someone is bankrupt perform a search using our online service - Bankruptcy Register Search (BRS). The BRS searches the National Personal Insolvency Index (NPII) - a permanent public record of personal insolvencies in Australia.
Steps to make someone bankrupt
If a person (or debtor) owes you or your business $10,000 or more, you may be able to apply to make them bankrupt.
However, we suggest before making someone bankrupt that you first try to negotiate an informal payment agreement.
Find out more about the process to apply for a bankruptcy notice or make them bankrupt.
Creditor rights and options
If you are a creditor in a bankruptcy or debt agreement, your rights to pursue them for payment may change.
Creditor guidance
The following pages outline common debt categories and how they are classified under the Bankruptcy Act 1966, together with information about your rights as a creditor.
Meeting of creditors
Meetings of creditors are called for various reasons, the most common being:
- consider an offer of composition or scheme of arrangement in full settlement of debts (special resolution required)
- for the trustee to inform creditors about the conduct of the administration
- to change trustees.
