Debt Relief: Options for Managing and Reducing Debt Burdens

Chapter 7 discharges debt fast, Chapter 13 protects assets with a repayment plan and Chapter 11 helps businesses reorganize. See which type may fit you.

Debt management lowers interest on what you owe through a counseling agency; debt settlement pays less than you owe but hurts credit. Here's how they compare.

Paid in full means you repaid the whole balance; settled means the creditor accepted less. Paid in full is better for your credit. Here's the full difference.

Chapter 7 bankruptcy takes four to six months and Chapter 13 takes three to five years. See what happens at each stage and what can speed up your case.