Strict means test - According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, more than 70 percent of Americans who file for bankruptcy do so now under Chapter 7 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 allows individuals to cancel outstanding unsecured debt, such as credit card and medical bills. But under the new law, most households earning more than their state’s median income will have to file under Chapter 13, which requires a plan to pay off at least some of the outstanding debt. The court will apply a strict means test to determine who is eligible to file under Chapter 7. For the first time, individuals filing for bankruptcy will have to document income with pay stubs and tax returns. Creditors will be able to review these items and can challenge any discrepancies in court.

Revised debt payment plans - Individuals filing a debt payment plan under Chapter 13 of the Bankruptcy Code will see changes including: The time period required to make payments on pre-existing debt will grow from three years to five. This means households will have to pay back a greater percentage of what they owe.

Debtors will have to repay the full amount of loans on cars purchased within the 30 months immediately prior to filing for bankruptcy. In the past, the court could lower those payments and the interest rate.

No one will be allowed to file a Chapter 13 petition more than once every two years. Previously, there was no limit on how often an individual could file.

Mandatory debt counseling - The new law requires debtors to receive credit counseling at their own expense within six months before filing. The goal is to encourage consumers to pay back debts rather than simply walk away. Consumers with little resources to repay loans will be encouraged to file for bankruptcy, but others will be challenged to create repayment plans to extinguish outstanding debts. The new law also requires consumers to take a financial-management course after filing for bankruptcy.

Higher minimum credit card payments - Federal banking regulators are pushing credit card issuers to raise their minimum monthly payment by the beginning of 2006. Credit card companies will have to collect a "reasonable" amount of principal each month, which is typically thought to be at least one percent of the outstanding balance. Currently, about 11 percent of all cardholders pay only the minimum amount required by the card issuer each month. Although it means higher monthly payments, consumers will pay off their debt much quicker, thus paying less interest. A new provision in the law will also require credit card companies to let cardholders know how long it will take to pay off their debt if they pay only the minimum required amount each month.

Rising legal costs - Chapter 7 legal fees were typically between $500 and $1,000 junder the old law and a Chapter 13 filing would have cost between $1,800 to $2,200 under the old law. But under the new law, attorney’s fees are likely to rise because lawyers will be required to sift through tax returns and pay receipts to verify income. If they miss material amounts of income or assets, the attorneys can be subject to penalties.