Bankruptcy provides a means for debtors to eliminate or reduce some or all of their debt, while saving certain property deemed essential to support themselves and their dependents -- enough to let them start over "fresh."  That's why we call it a "fresh start."

The "property deemed essential" for a fresh start is called "<a title="Exempt vs. Non-exempt Property" href="http://johnbodlelaw.com/bankruptcy-basics/what-is-bankruptcy-2/exempt-property/">exempt property</a>."  Bankruptcy is federal law, but each state has its own list of exempt property.  If you are a Kansas resident, you must use the Kansas exemptions; but if you recently moved, the bankruptcy code has a set of rules for determining proper residency for bankruptcy purposes.