Differences between a Trust Deed and Sequestration (Bankruptcy)

If you’re a Scottish resident and have high levels of unsecured debt that just seem to be spiralling out of control, it’s time to take action and start on the road towards financial recovery. Two solutions that could help you do this are a trust deed and sequestration (also known as bankruptcy); both are statutory debt relief procedures that are only available to Scottish residents.

Choosing between the two might conjure up some questions; although each arrangement has its similarities, there are also a number of key differences. Here, we’ll analyse the two processes and help you understand the key pros and cons.

What is the stigma?

The first clear difference is really down to common perception. Simply put, people are often anxious about ‘going bankrupt’. For this reason, sequestration is one of the hardest choices to make. The general consensus among those who are seeking debt help is that sequestration has negative connotations and carries a social stigma. We’d urge you to look past this and approach any arrangement with an open mind. All that matters is finding the best possible solution for your needs and if that’s sequestration, then it might be the best choice you ever make – allowing you to go one step backwards in order to eventually go two steps forward with financial freedom

What is the process for trust deeds and sequestration?

With both trust deeds and sequestration the long-term objective is to be debt-free and to leave your financial worries behind. To do this, each solution will see you repay your creditors through monthly repayments and realisation of equity in assets you own, subject to minimum values. In a trust deed, an insolvency practitioner known as a Trustee will register your trust deed in the Register of Insolvencies once signed by you. The Trustee then presents the proposals (including the monthly payment you are able to make) to your creditors, who then have a period of 5 weeks to accept or object to the trust deed becoming ‘protected’. If creditors representing more than half in number, or one third in value, objects to the trust deed then it will fail to achieve protected status.

If there are no objections to your trust deed it gains protected status, which means that no creditor can then petition for your sequestration (make you bankrupt) and you are protected from any further action from your creditors who are included in your trust deed. Creditors are no longer able to arrest your earnings, or contact you to make payments towards the debts. You will repay your creditors via the monthly contributions you make to your Trustee. An important point is that if you take on any new debts after you sign the trust deed, this will not be included within the trust deed and these creditors could take legal action against you if you fail to keep up with your agreed payments on these debts.

If your trust deed does not become protected then you are still able to continue with the trust deed (albeit an unprotected one) but be aware it is not binding on creditors and they may consequently decide to make you bankrupt. Alternatively you could apply for your own bankruptcy. Creditors cannot object to a sequestration application like they can a trust deed. Once the award of sequestration (bankruptcy) is made then creditors are bound by this and can no longer ask you for payment.

To apply for your own sequestration you must owe debts of at least £1,500 and you have to pay an application fee of up to £200. There are no upfront costs in signing a trust deed; however, the minimum debt level to access a trust deed is £5,000. Once your sequestration has been awarded there is an entry made on the Register of Insolvencies advising you have been sequestrated, the same applies once you have granted a trust deed.

Is it possible to stop the harassing calls and letters?

When taken out with Scotland Debt Solutions, both processes will ensure all phone calls and threatening letters will stop. Instead these will be directed to your Trustee who will handle all further communication on your behalf. For many, these letters and calls are extremely distressing and being able to stop these often comes with great relief.

What happens to assets in both processes?

In both sequestration and trust deeds, it is the Trustee’s duty to realise the value of your assets for the benefit of your creditors. You are however allowed to retain essential things that you need to live and work, for your house, and also your family. You normally will be allowed to retain a car or other motor vehicle so long as the value is under £3,000, and you can prove you have an essential need for it for work and/or family purposes or if you live in a rural area and have no access to public transport.

How is your home affected?

Your most important asset is normally your home. Unless you have excluded your home with the consent of your creditors in a trust deed then your share in any equity in your home will need to be realised for the benefit of your creditors in both a sequestration and trust deed. Your Trustee will require the house to be valued and will obtain settlement figures from any secured lenders to establish what level of equity is in the property. The Trustee will then explore the options available to help avoid selling the property.

It may be that a third party can buy out the Trustee’s interest in the property, or the Trustee may allow you to extend the payment period of your trust deed or sequestration instead. You must remember to maintain your mortgage and secured loan payments during this time or your property may be repossessed.

What are the restrictions involved?

In a sequestration (bankruptcy) there are certain restrictions you will be subject to. Amongst these are that you are not permitted to have credit of more than £2,000 without declaring to the credit provider that you are an undischarged bankrupt; you may not hold any official office positions as a member of local authority or local Government; you must resign as a director any limited companies you have been appointed to. There are various other restrictions which may impact your current jobs or future employment options, therefore you are advised to check if sequestration is likely to affect your position now or in the future.

There are typically fewer restrictions for those in a trust deed; although it is still worthwhile checking with your employer whether entering into one will affect your job or employment position.