A Chapter 7, or debt elimination, bankruptcy case is active until the court issues your final decree, the judgment that officially closes the case. The average Chapter 7 bankruptcy case remains active for around three to six months. The duration will depend on whether you had assets when you filed; a non-asset bankruptcy goes much faster. If you fail to follow court orders or fulfill debtor requirements, the court may dismiss your case before you obtain a discharge of your debts.
Timeline
About 15 days after you file your Chapter 7 petition, you and your creditors will receive written notice of case deadlines and the date of your meeting with creditors. The meeting is usually held around six weeks after you file. Once 60 days has passed since the date of the creditor meeting, you'll receive a discharge as long as you have met all your debtor obligations. The court usually issues the final decree with your discharge if you had no assets in the bankruptcy. If you had assets, the court may issue the final decree in 180 days, or approximately six months after your filing date.
Read More: How Long Before Debt is Discharged After Bankruptcy?
References
Writer Bio
Anna Assad began writing professionally in 1999 and has published several legal articles for various websites. She has an extensive real estate and criminal legal background. She also tutored in English for nearly eight years, attended Buffalo State College for paralegal studies and accounting, and minored in English literature, receiving a Bachelor of Arts.