Your HELOC question
Can I get a HELOC after bankruptcy?
The case status, property and lender rules all need individual review.
A past bankruptcy does not supply enough information to promise or rule out a future HELOC. Identify the chapter, whether the case is open or concluded, and the debts and liens that remain. We have not verified a universal waiting period or a currently available Shawn program for this circumstance. For an open case, speak with your bankruptcy attorney before seeking new borrowing.
Check my situationWhat matters in this situation
- Filing, discharge or dismissal dates and whether the case remains active.
- Existing liens and obligations against the property.
- Any program-specific waiting period and the income supporting new payments.
What to gather
- Case documents identifying status and key dates.
- Current mortgage statements and the lender’s requested supporting information.
A worked example
A homeowner discharged last year and a homeowner currently in a repayment case should not receive the same automated result simply because both selected “bankruptcy.”
Illustrative only. The numbers do not represent a loan offer.What could change the answer
- Discharge and dismissal are not interchangeable.
- An existing HELOC may be frozen or reduced in bankruptcy under applicable rules; unused credit is not guaranteed access.
Other routes to consider
- Ask counsel about permitted next steps in an active case.
- If new borrowing is premature, ask the current servicer about available assistance.
Sources & scope
Source-based education checked 2026-10-19. Not a lender approval or a claim that Shawn has reviewed this article. Confirm actual program and state availability with a licensed professional.