Chapter 11

Chapter 11, entitled Reorganization, is commonly used by commercial enterprises that desire to continue operating a business and repay creditors concurrently through a court-approved plan of reorganization. The chapter 11 debtor usually has the exclusive right to file a plan of reorganization for the first 120 days after it files the case and must provide creditors with a disclosure statement containing information adequate to enable creditors to evaluate the plan. The court ultimately approves (confirms) or disapproves the plan of reorganization. Under the confirmed plan, the debtor can reduce its debts by repaying a portion of its obligations and discharging others. The debtor can also terminate burdensome contracts and leases, recover assets, and rescale its operations in order to return to profitability. Under chapter 11, the debtor normally goes through a period of consolidation and emerges with a reduced debt load and a reorganized business. http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/BankruptcyBasics/Process.aspx

Chapter 11 is also used by consumer debtors who do not qualify for chapter 13 because they exceed the secured or unsecured debt limits set by the bankruptcy code.