Welcome to ABI's Consumer Bankruptcy Center
The American Bankruptcy Institute is the largest multi-disciplinary, non-partisan organization dedicated to research and education on matters related to insolvency. ABI was founded in 1982 to provide Congress and the public with unbiased analysis of bankruptcy issues. The ABI membership includes more than 11,500 attorneys, auctioneers, bankers, judges, lenders, professors, turnaround specialists, accountants and other bankruptcy professionals providing a forum for the exchange of ideas and information. In fulfillment of its mission to provide information to its members, journalists, Congress and the public, ABI is engaged in numerous educational and research activities, as well as the production of a number of publications both for the insolvency practitioner and the public.
Personal or “consumer†bankruptcy cases are on the rise and are expected to exceed one million cases in 2008. In addition, consumer cases have long comprised the vast majority of annual bankruptcy filings. Since 1996, consumer cases have constituted at least 95% of the annual bankruptcy filings. Thus, education and research in the area of consumer bankruptcy is a priority for the ABI.
ABI provides a vast array of ever-increasing resources to the consumer bankruptcy professional through its publications, conferences and web resources. Further, ABI provides this online consumer education center for consumers to help them determine whether bankruptcy is an appropriate choice for them and find a consumer bankruptcy attorney. ABI has gathered all its consumer bankruptcy resources into one location on this dedicated website called the “Consumer Bankruptcy Center.†You may go directly to the website at consumer.abiworld.org, or you may connect to the website through ABI’s home page at abiworld.org. The Consumer Bankruptcy Center has two main sections, displayed at the right – one for the consumer and one for the consumer bankruptcy professional. If you are a consumer and are seeking information about the bankruptcy process or looking for a bankruptcy attorney, please visit the “For Consumers†section for a welcoming message from ABI’s Executive Director and links to valuable information. If you are a consumer bankruptcy professional, please visit the “For Consumer Professionals†section for a wealth of resources which will assist you in your practice. Some of this information is available to ABI members only. Please log in at the top of the screen for full access.