What Survivors Need to Know

If you have a Protection From Abuse (PFA) order, restraining order, or other protective order, filing bankruptcy does not cancel it, weaken it, or expose you.

Protective orders and bankruptcy operate in separate legal systems, and bankruptcy law is designed not to interfere with survivor safety.

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Does Bankruptcy Affect a Protective Order?

👉 No.

Bankruptcy:
✔ Does not terminate a PFA
✔ Does not override family court orders
✔ Does not require contact with the restrained person
✔ Does not force disclosure of protected information

Your protective order remains fully enforceable.

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Can the Abuser Use Bankruptcy to Contact Me?

👉 No.

If an abuser is:

• Listed as a creditor

• Owes or is owed money

• Involved in joint debt

All communication must go through:
✔ Attorneys
✔ The court
✔ Formal legal channels

Direct contact is still prohibited by the protective order.

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What If the Abuser Is a Creditor?

This is common.

Examples:

• Joint credit cards

• Loans coerced into your name

• Family court-ordered reimbursements

In these cases:

• Notice goes through the court system

• Your address and phone number can be protected

• Your attorney can manage all contact

You do not have to communicate directly.

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What If I Owe the Abuser Money?

Bankruptcy can:
✔ Discharge many types of joint or coerced debt
✔ Eliminate leverage used for control
✔ Stop collection harassment

However:
❌ Child support and spousal support are not discharged

Those obligations remain, but safety protections still apply.

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Important Safety Note

Always tell your bankruptcy attorney privately if:

• You have a protective order

• You fear retaliation

• There is stalking or harassment

• Your address must remain confidential

Courts cannot protect what they don’t know — but they can protect you when informed.

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Bottom Line

✔ Protective orders remain fully effective
✔ Bankruptcy does not weaken survivor protections
✔ Contact restrictions still apply
✔ Financial relief and safety can coexist

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Talk to a Bankruptcy Attorney Who Understands Protective Orders

Ginsburg Law Group helps survivors:

• File bankruptcy without compromising safety

• Coordinate with PFAs and custody orders

• Prevent misuse of bankruptcy by abusers

👉 Contact us for a confidential consultation. Safety comes first.

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Address Confidentiality Programs Explained

Address Confidentiality Programs (ACP): How Survivors Can Keep Their Location Secret

If you are worried about an abuser or stalker finding your address through court records, an Address Confidentiality Program (ACP) may be one of the most powerful tools available to you.

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What Is an Address Confidentiality Program?

An ACP is a state-run program that provides survivors with:

• A substitute legal address

• Secure mail forwarding

• Protection from public disclosure of your real location

These programs are designed specifically for:
✔ Domestic violence survivors
✔ Sexual assault survivors
✔ Stalking victims
✔ Human trafficking survivors

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How ACP Works in Bankruptcy

When properly coordinated:

• Your ACP address can be used in court filings

• Mail from the court and creditors is routed safely

• Your actual physical address remains confidential

• Public records do not reveal your location

Courts are generally receptive when safety is documented.

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Do I Have to Be Enrolled Before Filing Bankruptcy?

Not always — but it helps.

If you are:

• Already enrolled → your attorney can use the ACP address immediately

• In the process of enrolling → filings can often be coordinated carefully

• Not enrolled but at risk → other protections may still apply

Never delay safety planning just to file faster.

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What ACP Does NOT Do

ACP:
❌ Does not hide debts
❌ Does not prevent legal notice
❌ Does not block child-support enforcement
❌ Does not excuse disclosure requirements

It protects location, not legal responsibility.

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What You Should Tell Your Attorney

✔ Whether you are enrolled in ACP
✔ Whether your address is unsafe
✔ Whether children are involved
✔ Whether there is active stalking or harassment

This information is handled discreetly and strategically.

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Bottom Line

✔ ACPs are designed for survivors
✔ Bankruptcy courts can work with ACPs
✔ Location protection is possible
✔ Planning matters

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Talk to a Bankruptcy Attorney About ACP Coordination

Ginsburg Law Group helps survivors:

• Coordinate ACP enrollment and bankruptcy

• Protect confidential addresses

• Avoid accidental disclosure

• File safely

👉 Contact us if address confidentiality is a concern.

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 🚨 Survivor Panic: I Need Help Without Being Found

PANIC: I Need to File Bankruptcy — But I Can’t Let Them Find Me

If you’re here, you may be:

• Leaving an abusive relationship

• Hiding from a stalker

• Afraid court papers will reveal your location

• Worried bankruptcy will expose you

• Frozen between fear and financial collapse

Stop. Take a breath. You have options — and protections.

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First — Do NOT Do These Things

❌ Do NOT use an unsafe address
❌ Do NOT file without telling your lawyer about safety concerns
❌ Do NOT assume bankruptcy will expose you
❌ Do NOT avoid help out of fear

Silence increases risk. Planning reduces it.

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The Truth Survivors Need to Hear

✔ Bankruptcy does not require public disclosure of your location
✔ Courts recognize domestic violence and stalking risks
✔ Address protections exist
✔ Protective orders remain in effect
✔ You do not have to choose between safety and financial relief

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What Bankruptcy Can Do for Survivors

✔ Stop financial harassment
✔ Eliminate coercive debt
✔ Reduce an abuser’s financial leverage
✔ Create stability and independence
✔ Help you rebuild safely

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What Bankruptcy Will NOT Do

❌ Force you to contact your abuser
❌ Cancel protective orders
❌ Reveal your location automatically
❌ Put your children at risk

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You Are Not Weak for Needing Help

Abuse often includes:

• Financial control

• Forced debt

• Credit sabotage

• Threats tied to money

Bankruptcy is not failure — it is a legal tool to escape control.

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What to Do Right Now

✔ Talk to a lawyer before filing anything
✔ Explain safety concerns privately
✔ Ask about address protection
✔ Ask about ACPs
✔ Ask about child support coordination

One safe conversation can change everything.

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You Deserve Safety and Stability

You are allowed to:

• Protect yourself

• Protect your children

• Rebuild financially

• Use the law to create distance from harm

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Talk to a Bankruptcy Attorney Who Puts Safety First

Ginsburg Law Group helps survivors:

• File bankruptcy discreetly

• Protect confidential locations

• Coordinate with protective orders

• Handle child support correctly

• Regain independence

👉 Contact us for a confidential, survivor-safe consultation. You will be treated with respect and care.