However, there are certain types of property that are not included in your bankruptcy estate including:

• Wages that are withheld for employee benefit and health insurance plans.
• Employer contributions that are made for employee benefit and health insurance plans.
• Property that you buy or receive after you file for bankruptcy.
• Tax-deferred education funds.
• Pensions and retirement plans.
• Property in your possession that belongs to someone else.
• Property pledged as collateral for a loan if a licensed lender retains possession of the collateral.
• Funds placed in a qualified tuition program or Coverdell Education Savings Account as long as you deposit the funds into the account at least one year before filing for bankruptcy and the beneficiary of the account is your child, stepchild, grandchild, or step-grandchild.

• Call you.
• Write you letters.
• Garnish your wages.
• Empty your bank account.
• Take your car.
• Take your house.
• Cut off your utility service.
• Cut off your welfare benefits.

While not all collection actions are stopped by the automatic stay, the following are:

• Anyone trying to collect credit card debts.
• Anyone trying to collect medical debts.
• Anyone trying to collect attorney’s fees.
• Anyone trying to collect debts arising from a breach of contract.
• Anyone trying to collect legal judgments against you (other than for child support or alimony).
• Government entities trying to collect overpayments of public benefits such as Medicaid, SSI, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families cannot reduce or stop your benefits.
• If you were convicted of a crime such as writing a bad check and were sentenced to do community service and pay a fine, you will still have to do the community service, but you will not have to pay the fine.
• The automatic stay stops the Internal Revenue Service from issuing a lien against you or trying to take your property or income.
• Foreclosures are automatically stayed unless you filed for bankruptcy within the previous two years and the bankruptcy court lifted the automatic stay  in the earlier case, thereby allowing the lender to proceed with the foreclosure.
• Utility companies (such as gas, heating oil, telephone, water, electricity) cannot cut off your utilities once the automatic stay is in effect.  However, they can stop your service twenty days after you file for bankruptcy if you do not provide them with a deposit to assure future payment.