FEDERAL LAW · PRIMARY SOURCE
Student Loans in Bankruptcy — Undue Hardship
Bankruptcy Code · 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8)
Student loans are nearly impossible to discharge in bankruptcy. You must prove 'undue hardship' — an extremely high standard that most courts apply very narrowly. Only borrowers with permanent disability or exceptional hardship typically qualify.
Primary Statute
Bankruptcy Code
11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8)
Section 523(a)(8) makes most student loans non-dischargeable in bankruptcy unless the debtor can prove undue hardship — a very high legal standard. Courts apply this narrowly; most student loan discharge attempts fail.
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11/523