In light of the profound effects of going to court, many look for an alternative to bankruptcy. Luckily, there are many options, it is just a matter of choosing which way is best for you and your circumstances. Of course, every option should be explored before filing bankruptcy. One of the first options you could look into is debt consolidation. This is a loan which will allow you to pay off all of your debts and leave you with a lower loan payment. There are different types of consolidations so check into all of them if that is what you decide to do. Another alternative to bankruptcy is to sell off assets. While 2 cars may be convenient, the money from selling one of the cars may be more of a need right now. Next, you could look into borrowing from family and friends. No one likes to think of that option but if they are willing and able to help, it could keep you out of bankruptcy court. Credit counseling is another alternative to bankruptcy. There are non profit organizations that help you work with your creditors so you can get everything paid monthly. There are times when creditors are willing to make a settlement as well by lowering the total due on your account. The creditors would rather get some of their money than none at all. Credit counselors can discuss these options with you.