It is illegal to deny a person a job based on a bankruptcy.

Bankruptcy is often reflected on the individual's credit report. There may be times when an employer needs to know the details of the bankruptcy, or cannot obtain a signed authorization for a credit report.

Bankruptcy records are searched in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the designated Federal Court district. The search will tell whether an individual declared bankruptcy within five years; the filings are held for public record. The record also lists the debtor's creditors, amount of debt and assets at the time of filing.