A debt relief order (DRO) is a way of managing debts if you cannot afford to repay them. It is a simplified, quicker, and cheaper alternative to bankruptcy as an insolvency measure in the United Kingdom. DROs are suitable for debtors who have relatively low liabilities, little surplus income, and few assets. They are intended to provide debt relief for people in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland if the debtor is unable to pay their debts and their total unsecured liabilities (debt) do not exceed £30,000. A DRO freezes your debt repayments and interest for a set period, which is generally 12 months. If your financial situation hasnt changed by the end of this period, then your debts will automatically be written off. During the DRO period, creditors can’t ask you for payments, and if they do, you dont have to pay them. To be eligible for a DRO, you must show that you’re in financial hardship and meet certain criteria, such as owing less than £30,000 in England and Wales (£20,000 in Northern Ireland). A DRO is a form of insolvency, like bankruptcy, and will be subject to a public listing through the Insolvency Service website. It is important to get expert debt advice to make sure that a DRO is suitable for you.