Started over after bankruptcyCredit cards$18,000
She Filed for Bankruptcy at 25 Over $18K in Credit Card Debt
At 25, pregnant and on a low income, Caitlyn filed Chapter 7 with an attorney over $18,000 of credit card debt. She walks calmly through the process and how it set her up to manage money as a single mom.
Video by Caitlyn BrookePublished April 30, 2025Breakdown updated September 15, 2026
“I filed for bankruptcy & have been thriving since!” by Caitlyn Brooke. We didn't make this video; it loads from YouTube when you press play.
Where Caitlyn started
At 25, Caitlyn was pregnant, carrying $18K in credit card debt and burnt out trying to get by while preparing to be a single mom. She had no savings and no assets, and describes being stuck in a cycle of trying to keep up while everything was crumbling.
What Caitlyn did
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She kept trying to keep up with the card payments as her situation got harder.
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She faced becoming a single mom with no savings or assets to fall back on.
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She worked with a bankruptcy attorney and filed Chapter 7 over the card debt.
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She calls filing one of the most freeing decisions she has made, and says it gave her a clean slate before becoming a mom.
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She now shares her story for people who feel stuck, scared or ashamed about their debt.
What you can learn from it
Needing a reset isn't failure
Caitlyn says she isn't ashamed of where she started. Her video is made for people who feel stuck or ashamed about their debt.
Credit counseling comes before filing
Individuals generally must receive credit counseling from an approved agency within 180 days before filing, with very limited exceptions. The U.S. Trustee Program keeps lists of approved providers; ask about fees first.
A second course comes after filing
Debtor education is a separate course taken after filing, and with limited exceptions it must be completed to receive a bankruptcy discharge.
Bankruptcy stays on credit reports for years
Bankruptcies can stay on a credit report for up to ten years, compared with seven years for most other negative information.
Make the decision with an attorney
Caitlyn is clear that her video isn't financial advice. Whether bankruptcy fits a situation, and which chapter, is a decision to work through with a bankruptcy attorney.
Before you copy this path
Caitlyn had no savings or assets when she filed, and her outcome reflects her own circumstances. Eligibility, which debts can be discharged and what property is at stake vary from case to case, so a bankruptcy attorney is the right person to assess another situation.
Watch out: It stays on your credit report for years and doesn't erase every kind of debt.
Learn how bankruptcy worksCommon questions
Do you have to take a credit counseling course before filing bankruptcy?
Yes, with very limited exceptions. Individuals must receive credit counseling from an approved agency within 180 days before filing, and the court may deny a discharge if the debtor doesn't complete an approved financial management course after filing.
Source: uscourts.govHow long does a bankruptcy stay on your credit report?
The CFPB says bankruptcies can stay on a credit report for up to ten years. Most other negative information can generally be reported for seven years.
Source: consumerfinance.govAre any debts left over after a Chapter 7 bankruptcy?
Yes, some debts are not discharged. The U.S. Courts list includes alimony and child support, certain taxes, and certain student loans. A bankruptcy attorney can review specific debts.
Source: uscourts.govSources
By DebtCheckUSAEditorial Team. This is our summary of a video we didn't make, and nobody paid us to include it. It's one person's experience, not financial, tax or legal advice. Advertiser disclosure
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