Debt relief orders (DROs) are a simplified, quicker and cheaper alternative to bankruptcy as an insolvency measure in the United Kingdom.
Depending on eligibility, they can be a viable alternative to other insolvency measures, such as Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVAs), and when bankruptcy would be disproportionate.
[1] As part of the 2024 United Kingdom budget, the application fee was abolished in England and Wales effective 6 April 2024; DROs may now be obtained in that jurisdiction without charge.
Consequences of the amendments to the Insolvency Act 1986 include:[3][4] Consequences of the amendments to the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986 include:[3][5] Consequences of the amendments to the Employment Rights Act 1996 include:[3][6] The Minimal Asset Protection (MAP) insolvency measure, introduced in Scotland under the Bankruptcy and Debt Advice (Scotland) Bill on 11 June 2013, shares similarities with DROs but has different associated benefits, risks, and fees.
Data released in November 2014 shows the number of debt relief orders in London between 2009 and 2013 was much lower than the average for the rest of England.