On Monday April 30 Nadya "Octomom" Suleman filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection as reported by several media outlets including the Los Angeles Times.
Suleman began receiving some notoriety in early 2009 for giving birth to 8 children following in vitro fertilization, growing her existing number of children to 14, though she was not employed and was receiving public assistance.
The other six children Suleman already had were also conceived via in vitro fertilization.
Suleman has been a guest on several television shows and been the subject of many interviews.
An e-mail sent in by Suleman's manager to the Orange County Register read, "I have had to make some very difficult decisions this year, and filing Chapter 7 was one of them. But I have to do what is best for my children, and I need a fresh start."
Suleman allegedly earned $8,000 this year for posing almost nude in a British magazine. Due to public reaction, Suleman told Anderson Cooper during an interview that she was "not ashamed" of the work she had done and that she has "never sacrificed (her) morals and values."
When further queried by another reporter, as to if she would do pornography to support herself and her children, Suleman responded, "If it's a job, and it's a well-paying job, and it's going to allow me to get us out of here and a very safe, huge home that they deserve, I'm going to do it."
Suleman said that she would consider the work as long as there is no touching or kissing. In 2011 she notably turned down offers to do pornography.
Allegedly the only other income Suleman receives is $2,000 a month for food stamps.
Bankruptcy documents show that Suleman has listed her assets at less than $50,000 and debts between $500,000 and $1 million. Suleman's home – that the family has occupied since 2009 – was scheduled for auction, however, the sale has been delayed one week.
Other debtors include her father, the city of La Habra's water department, DirecTV, Whittier Christian School, Verizon Wireless, Southern California Edison, a gardener, the Department of Motor Vehicles and the previous owner of her home on Madonna Lane.
The court will sift through Suleman's documents to determine if she is abusing the protection of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
One week prior to the bankruptcy filing the home was visited by authorities following allegations of child neglect. She explained that the whole thing was a set up, in a Good Morning America interview, and that her hairstylist had shared photographs with media heavy TMZ.
Suleman was interviewed by HLN's "Showbiz Tonight" just after the investigation and explained her future plans: "I don't want these kids to just get by. I want us to have, they deserve, I want an empire. And I'm going to have one."
Whether you're a celebrity filing for bankruptcy, or someone uninterested in any notoriety at all, contact a bankruptcy lawyer to help you with your filing. The sooner you enter into bankruptcy the sooner you can plan to rebuild your own personal empire.