Can a business owner file bankruptcy and not include the business.?
If the business is Incorporated as its' own entity, the owner can file BK personally, and only his interest in the business, but not the business itself, is involved. (None of the debts or assets of the business are involved). Perhaps viewing it this way helps: If you only owned a portion of the shares, like any stockholder of say GM or Ford, that investment/asset would be part of your BK, but, certainly it has no effect on those corporations. The shares of stock would go to a creditor. Obviously, in a small business, where there may be no real value to the stock, especially without the owner operator, after closely reviewing and assuring the corporation has no assets that are really the owners or value attributable to the owner, the court may feel there is no benefit to any creditor by claiming the stock and let it continue.
Or the Business can file BK and it doesn't effect his personal assets, or clear his personal liabilities (and he may have signed for some things of the business personally too).
If it isn't a separate legal entity....than it is just like all other things the person owns. And a personal BK includes everything you own and everything you owe. You do not pick and chose what is included or not. (Some things, while included, may be classified as exempt).
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