Bankruptcy laws are federal not state – as other posters mention.
However, exemption laws vary from state to state. California's are reasonably liberal.
Pay-back depends on whether you need to be in chapter 13 or chapter 7 and that depends on your income and expenses.
In general, people with income less than the national median end up filing chapter 7 cases unless they have substantial assets they want to protect. People with income in excess of the national median end up paying their disposable income over a 5 year period under a plan unless they have very high secured debt and approved expenses.
You need to complete form B22A availalble online at http://www.cacb.uscourts.gov – the LA Bankruptcy Court's website to see how this works. The numbers are tricky and you can find them at the United States Trustee's website – link there from http://www.usdoj.gov (link to United States Trustee program)
For general information about bankruptcy, the moranlaw site quoted is good. Mine is http://www.bankruptcy.lakelaw.com
also try http://www.abiworld.org and check consumer links.
