This may depend upon how far out you’re going to file for bankruptcy. When you cease payments, creditors begin to hound and they may sue you, obtain judgment and garnish you. However, assuming you will file for bankruptcy soon, then the answer is no. While we should all pay debt if we can, it makes no sense to do so once you’ve decided to file for bankruptcy. That decision implies that you no longer have the means to repay the debt and that continued struggle to pay imposes undue hardship. If you have always paid on your credit cards (albeit not in full, of course), then it’s not easy to suddenly stop. It may require a dramatic departure from your old mindset. But, there are no bonus points granted for maintaining minimum payments up to the very moment of filing. No corporate entity will call to thank you for extra last-minute sacrifices that deprived your family.

It defeats the purpose (and is a waste of your hard-earned dollars) to keep paying off interest and penalties on the same debt that you plan to discharge through bankruptcy. Current debts can be wiped out. But, please do not incur new debt. Do not buy on credit what you cannot pay for. Tear up those cards today.