Bankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay their creditors. A declared state of bankruptcy can be requested or initiated by the bankrupt individual or organization, or it can be requested by creditors in an effort to recoup a portion of what they are owed. However, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the bankruptcy is initiated by the "bankrupt" individual or organization.

A person's legal declaration that he or she is legally insolvent. There are two types of bankruptcy: Involuntary Bankruptcy, where creditors or lenders file a petition against the debtor (person in debt), and Voluntary Bankruptcy, where the debtor files a petition claiming inability to meet creditors' requirements. A court decides whether or not a debtor can declare bankruptcy.

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