See: Bankruptcy. Why would you do this voluntarily? Well, think about a plea with a judge. You're guilty. You did in fact and you're hoping that by voluntarily pleaing to the crime, the judge will "pay you back" for making their judicial process easier, by giving you a lighter sentence. Same deal with bankruptcies that are entered into, voluntarily. You know you're going bust. It's in the cards. Nothing you can do about it; it's gonna happen eventually whether you like it or not. So you voluntarily begin the process and hope that your creditors and the judge and whoever else is involved will thus cut you a better deal than if one day the sheriff showed up and you just turned your pockets inside out.