Bankruptcy –

Vacations and Travel

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    Can I Travel During Bankruptcy?

    Yes — you can usually travel during bankruptcy. Bankruptcy does not place you under house arrest or require you to put your life completely on hold.

    However, how, when, and why you travel matters, especially depending on whether you are in Chapter 7 or Chapter 13.

    This page explains what is allowed, what can raise problems, and how to travel safely without jeopardizing your case.

    The Short Answer

    ✔ Local and domestic travel is usually fine
    ✔ Pre-paid travel is often fine
    ⚠️ Luxury or expensive travel can raise questions
    ⚠️ Chapter 13 has stricter rules than Chapter 7

    Chapter 7 Bankruptcy and Travel

    In Chapter 7, cases are relatively short, and travel is usually not an issue.

    Travel Is Usually OK If:

    • The trip is pre-paid

    • You are not using new credit

    • You attend all required court events

    • You remain available for trustee requests

    What Can Cause Issues:

    🚩 Luxury travel right before or after filing
    🚩 Using credit cards after filing
    🚩 Traveling instead of complying with trustee deadlines
    🚩 Hiding spending related to travel

    Most trustees do not object to modest, reasonable travel.

    Chapter 13 Bankruptcy and Travel

    Chapter 13 lasts 3–5 years, so trustees expect normal life — but they also expect financial discipline.

    Travel That Is Often Acceptable:

    ✔ Modest family trips
    ✔ Pre-paid vacations
    ✔ Travel for work
    ✔ Travel for medical or family reasons

    Travel That Is Often Challenged:

    🚩 Expensive vacations
    🚩 Frequent trips
    🚩 First-class flights or luxury resorts
    🚩 Travel that interferes with plan payments

    In Chapter 13, travel must not undermine your ability to make plan payments.

    Do I Need Permission to Travel?

    Usually, no — but there are exceptions.

    You may need to talk to your attorney if:

    • You plan international travel

    • You will miss a court date or meeting

    • You need to incur new debt

    • You are requesting time away from work affecting income

    • You are in an active dispute with the trustee

    Never miss a 341 meeting, confirmation hearing, or court-ordered deadline.

    Can I Travel Internationally During Bankruptcy?

    Yes — but be cautious.

    International travel raises extra scrutiny if:

    • It is expensive

    • It appears inconsistent with claimed hardship

    • It interferes with case obligations

    Always tell your attorney before booking international travel, especially in Chapter 13.

    Can I Use Credit Cards While Traveling?

    ❌ No.

    After filing:

    • Do not use credit cards

    • Do not take cash advances

    • Do not finance travel

    Using credit after filing can:

    • Violate bankruptcy rules

    • Create non-dischargeable debt

    • Lead to trustee objections

    What If the Trip Was Paid Before Filing?

    This is very common.

    ✔ Pre-paid travel is usually fine
    ✔ Especially if paid before bankruptcy planning
    ✔ Especially if reasonable in cost

    Do not cancel or refund without legal advice — sometimes that creates new problems.

    Common Myths About Travel and Bankruptcy

    “I can’t leave town once I file.”
    False.

    “Any vacation looks like fraud.”
    False.

    “Trustees monitor my location.”
    False.

    “I should cancel everything to be safe.”
    Not necessarily — panic decisions often backfire.

    The Practical Rule

    Travel is allowed — luxury and secrecy are not.

    Reasonableness + transparency = safety.

    What You Should Do Before Traveling

    ✔ Tell your attorney about the trip
    ✔ Confirm no court dates are missed
    ✔ Avoid new spending or credit
    ✔ Keep travel modest
    ✔ Stay reachable

    Bottom Line

    ✔ Bankruptcy allows normal life
    ✔ Travel is usually permitted
    ✔ Chapter 13 requires more caution
    ✔ Communication prevents problems

    Talk to Your Attorney If You’re Unsure

    If you’re planning a trip and worried about how it looks, ask first — it’s far easier than fixing issues later.

    Ginsburg Law Group helps clients:

    • Travel safely during bankruptcy

    • Avoid spending violations

    • Manage Chapter 13 expectations

    • File without fear or confusion

    👉 Contact us if you have questions about travel, vacations, or spending during bankruptcy.

    I Have a Vacation Coming Up After I File Bankruptcy —

    I Already Paid for It on a Credit Card. Is That OK?

    Short answer: Often, yes — this can be okay, if it’s handled and disclosed correctly.
    Longer answer: Timing, disclosure, and reasonableness matter.

    This page explains when a pre-paid vacation is not a problem, when it can raise issues, and what you should do to protect your case.

    First: The Key Facts That Matter

    Trustees care about when, how, and why the vacation was paid — not whether you “deserve” a break.

    The most important questions are:

    1. Was the vacation paid for before you filed?

    2. Was it paid using an existing credit card (not new credit)?

    3. Was it a reasonable expense (not luxury spending)?

    4. Was everything fully disclosed in your bankruptcy petition?

    If the answer to all four is yes, this is usually manageable.

    Paying for a Vacation Before Filing — Is That Fraud?

    Usually, no.

    Paying for a vacation before filing is not automatically fraud if:

    • The charges were made before you decided to file (or at least not in anticipation of filing)

    • The card was already open

    • You did not run up the card knowing you would never pay it

    • The charges were not excessive or luxury-level

    Fraud requires intent, not just timing.

    What If the Credit Card Is Listed in the Bankruptcy?

    That’s normal.

    If the vacation was charged to a card that is listed in your petition:

    • The debt may be discharged

    • The trustee looks at intent, not hindsight

    • Ordinary consumer purchases are expected

    A pre-paid trip does not automatically make the charge non-dischargeable.

    Can I Still Go on the Vacation After Filing?

    Often, yes — with caveats.

    You generally can take a pre-paid vacation after filing if:
    ✔ It was paid in full before filing
    ✔ No new credit is used
    ✔ No large new spending occurs
    ✔ It doesn’t interfere with plan payments (Chapter 13)

    You are not required to cancel life events just because you filed bankruptcy.

    Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 (Important Differences)

    Chapter 7

    In Chapter 7:

    • A modest, pre-paid vacation is usually not an issue

    • Trustees rarely object unless:

      • The trip was extremely expensive

      • It looks like luxury spending right before filing

      • Assets or income were hidden

    Disclosure is key.

    Chapter 13

    In Chapter 13:

    • Trustees scrutinize discretionary spending

    • A pre-paid vacation is still usually okay

    • Future travel spending may be questioned

    • Plan feasibility matters

    If the vacation interferes with your ability to make plan payments, it becomes an issue.

    What Could Make This a Problem?

    🚩 Charging the vacation right before filing, knowing bankruptcy was imminent
    🚩 Luxury travel (resorts, first-class flights, expensive upgrades)
    🚩 Using new credit after filing
    🚩 Hiding the charge or the trip
    🚩 Taking additional trips while claiming financial hardship

    These raise intent and good-faith concerns.

    What You Should Do Right Now

    ✔ Make sure the credit card and charges are fully disclosed
    ✔ Tell your bankruptcy attorney about the trip
    ✔ Do not use credit during or after filing
    ✔ Keep spending modest while traveling
    ✔ Do not transfer, refund, or reshuffle funds without advice

    Transparency protects you.

    Common Myths

    “I can’t take any vacation if I file.”
    False.

    “Any travel means fraud.”
    False.

    “I should cancel so it looks better.”
    Not necessarily — sometimes canceling causes more problems.

    The Bottom Line

    ✔ A pre-paid vacation charged before filing is often okay
    ✔ Reasonableness and disclosure matter
    ✔ Bankruptcy does not require you to put life on hold
    ✔ Panic decisions create problems — planning prevents them

    Talk to Your Attorney If You’re Unsure

    If you’re worried about how a vacation looks in your case, ask before assuming the worst. Small details can make a big difference.

    Ginsburg Law Group helps clients:

    • Assess pre-filing charges safely

    • Avoid fraud allegations

    • Navigate Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 spending rules

    • File with confidence — not fear

    👉 Contact us if you have questions about travel, spending, or timing before or after filing bankruptcy.

    📞 Call us today for a free, confidential bankruptcy consultation – 855-978-6564 or email us at bankruptcy@ginsburglawgroup.com.

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    BANKRUPTCY TEAM

    AMY GINSBURG – aginsburg@ginsburglawgroup.com

    GRACIE KLEIN – gklein@ginsburglawgroup.com

    NICOLE LOMBARDI – nlombardi@ginsburglawgroup.com