The Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, signed into law by President Bush last April, promises changes to Federal bankruptcy law that have been long sought by the lending industry. The bill promises sweeping changes to Federal law, and will make it much harder for the average consumer in financial trouble to have their debts wiped out by filing for bankruptcy. Recent trends suggest that those considering a bankruptcy filing should do so now, as the line to do so is already getting rather long.

The bill will make it harder for the average consumer to file under Chapter 7 of the Federal code, which allows the courts to wipe away consumer debt and give the debtor a fresh start. Filings after the October 15 deadline will be subject to a means test and those that pass a rather generous income gauge will have to file under the more strenuous Chapter 13, which requires a repayment plan and the assistance of an attorney. Indications are that with the deadline looming, bankruptcy filings are not only higher than they were last year, but they are also higher than anticipated. Nationwide, filings are 20-25% higher than last year, and some bankruptcy attorneys say that their business has nearly doubled.

Complicating matters is another law, passed in 2003, that requires credit card companies to establish a payment schedule that allows consumers to repay their debts in a