Bankruptcies are considered public record, but are not advertised. Anyone can call the court and ask if you have filed bankruptcy, but filings are not published in a newspaper for all to see. The only people notified of your bankruptcy are your creditors or anyone you choose to tell. The duration of time that a bankruptcy will appear on your credit report largely depends on the type of bankruptcy you file. There are two primary types of bankruptcy for individuals: Chapter 7 and Chapter 13.