BANKRUPTCY: A legal declaration that the liabilities of a proprietor (individual), partnership, or corporation are greater than assets. In other words, a consumer or business that is unable to pay the bills can go to court and be formally declared bankrupt. The impetus for entering a court can come voluntarily from the deadbeat who has acquired more liabilities than assets, or involuntarily from the creditors who have been unable to collect from the deadbeat. See also | proprietorship | partnership | corporation | liability | asset | consumer | business | net worth | balance sheet |
