Before you file for bankruptcy, it is important to realize that all bankruptcy proceedings will be listed in public bankruptcy records.
Therefore, if you have filed for bankruptcy, it is possible for anybody - including future employers or creditors - to easily look up your bankruptcy record while trying to discover your financial history. This can be very annoying in the future, and might make it harder for you to get credit that you need.
Another result of this is that there is really no point in neglecting to mention that you have had to file for bankruptcy in the past. Since the information is public, you cannot easily hide that information from a future creditor. However, you can also find out whether or not your own information is still listed on the bankruptcy record, and you can also find out exactly what information other people have access to by searching for yourself.
There is a benefit to having bankruptcy records, however, and that comes if you are going to invest in a company, or if you're looking to buy from one. You can find out what a company's bankruptcy history is, which will give you a good idea as to whether or not they are worth investing in. This is especially useful since the bankruptcy proceedings regarding smaller companies rarely make the news - and you probably will not have heard that a particular company has ever gone bankrupt.
Another thing that you can look for if you need more information would be the bankruptcy records that were filed by the bankruptcy court. These records will have detailed information about the bankruptcy proceedings, so you can find out what to expect if you end up doing business with that particular company.
However, it's important to note that just because your name is listed in the bankruptcy records does not mean that it will be impossible for you to get a loan or other line of credit if you need it. In fact, in most cases you will still be able to get credit after a bankruptcy, especially if you allow time to pass and work on rebuilding your credit rating.
