One of the most common concerns. Here is an honest, detailed look at what is public and what is not.
All Protected Trust Deeds are recorded on the Register of Insolvencies, maintained by the Accountant in Bankruptcy (AiB) and publicly searchable online. Your name, address, and the date of your Trust Deed are all listed.
In addition, a notice is placed in the Edinburgh Gazette when your Trust Deed is granted protected status and again when you receive your discharge.
The vast majority of employers do not routinely search the Register of Insolvencies. It is not connected to standard employment checks, DBS checks, or references. Unless someone is specifically looking for your name on the AiB register, they are very unlikely to find it.
Important: You are not legally required to tell your current employer about your Trust Deed unless your employment contract or professional body requires disclosure of insolvency proceedings.
Certain careers do carry restrictions when you enter a formal insolvency arrangement. You should carefully review your employment contract and any professional body rules if you work in:
When applying for new jobs, you are generally not required to volunteer information about a Trust Deed. However, if an application form specifically asks whether you have been subject to insolvency proceedings, you must answer honestly - failing to do so could constitute fraud.
Background checks for roles in finance, legal, or government sectors sometimes include credit or insolvency checks. In these cases, your Trust Deed would be visible.