The Bankruptcy Act protects certain assets and as such these will not be lost in bankruptcy. The types of protected assets include:
- essential household furniture and personal effects
- tools of trade (up to the value of $3,250)
- a car as (up to the value of $6,500)
- superannuation policies (up to the reasonable benefit limit)
Apart from the above, anything of value that you own at the date of bankruptcy and any assets acquired by you before your discharge from bankruptcy including lottery wins and any inheritance will be included in the bankrupt estate. This will also include your interest in the family home, land, money in bank accounts, vehicles exceeding the prescribed value, stocks and shares, antiques and other personal property of saleable value.
As a bankrupt, you loose the ability to sell or deal with most of your assets or items of value. Only the Trustee in Bankruptcy or a secured creditor is able to do deal with your assets of value. The trustee’s role is to dispose of your property for the benefit of creditors.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What happens if I have transferred my house or another asset of value to my spouse prior to bankruptcy?
- Are there offences under bankruptcy?
- Can a creditor still contact me insisting on payment once I have become bankrupt?
- Can I be publicly examined if I am made bankrupt?
- Can I continue to use my credit cards after bankruptcy?
- Can I have a bank/cheque account?
- Can I travel overseas whilst I am bankrupt?
- Can my bankruptcy be cancelled or annulled?
- Do I have to make payments from my income to the Trustee?
- Do I need to become bankrupt?
- Do I need to lodge tax returns?
- How do I become bankrupt?
- How does bankruptcy affect my employment?
- How long would I be bankrupt?
- Is my bankruptcy advertised?
- What about debts incurred after bankruptcy?
- What are my rights and responsibilities once bankrupt?
- What happens if someone has guaranteed some of my debts?
- What happens to a debt I forgot about at the time of becoming bankrupt?
- What happens to any assets that have not been sold by the trustee at the date of my discharge?
- What happens to my ABN or can I apply for an ABN now that I am bankrupt?
- What happens to my credit rating?
- What happens to my debts after bankruptcy?
- What if I have a car?
- What if I leave my employment during bankruptcy?
- What is bankruptcy?
- When are creditors notified of my bankruptcy?
- Who would handle my bankruptcy?
- Will I have to appear in court?
- Will I have to pay income contributions whilst I am bankrupt?
- Will I lose my assets?
- Will I lose my house?
- Will my financial records be examined if I am made bankrupt?

