Resources
Debt help guides & articles
Start with the six service hubs below, then browse published guides. We only ship articles with sourced, general information — never placeholder text or personal advice.
Published guides
- The Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) Explained
What the Accountant in Bankruptcy is, its role in Scottish personal insolvency, the Debt Arrangement Scheme and bankruptcy supervision, sourced from aib.gov.uk.
- Breathing Space (Debt Respite Scheme) Explained
What Breathing Space is, how long it lasts, what it stops, and how to apply — the UK government's Debt Respite Scheme for England and Wales, explained in plain English.
- Free UK Debt-Advice Charities: Where to Get Help
A comparison of the UK's main free debt-advice charities — StepChange, National Debtline, MoneyHelper, PayPlan, CAP, Business Debtline, Turn2us and Citizens Advice — and who each one suits.
- How to Apply for a Debt Relief Order (DRO): Step by Step
How the DRO application process works in England and Wales — from finding an approved debt adviser to the official receiver's decision. No fee, no court hearing.
- How to Check If Someone Is Bankrupt
How to use gov.uk's free Individual Insolvency Register to check if someone in England or Wales is or has been bankrupt, plus DROs and IVAs.
- The Individual Insolvency Register Explained
What the Individual Insolvency Register covers, how long records stay listed, and how to search it using gov.uk's official tool.
- The Insolvency Act 1986 in Plain English
A plain-language, non-legal overview of the Insolvency Act 1986 — how it's structured and where bankruptcy, IVAs and Debt Relief Orders fit in.
- The Official Receiver: What They Do
Who the Official Receiver is, their role as trustee in bankruptcy, their part in Debt Relief Orders, and how they differ from the Adjudicator and an insolvency practitioner.
Individual Voluntary Arrangement
Freeze interest and write off what you cannot pay
Bankruptcy
A legal fresh start, usually within 12 months
Debt Relief Order
For smaller debts with few assets
Debt Management Plan
Informal repayment with creditors
Debt Advice
Free and regulated help to understand your options
Personal Insolvency
Licensed practitioners for formal insolvency solutions