Chapter 7 FAQs

1. What is a chapter 7 bankruptcy case and how does it work?

A chapter 7 bankruptcy case is a proceeding under federal law in which the debtor seeks relief under chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. Chapter 7 is that part (or chapter) of the Bankruptcy Code that deals with liquidation. The Bankruptcy Code is a federal law that deals with bankruptcy. A person who files a chapter 7 case is called a debtor. In a chapter 7 case, the debtor must turn his or her nonexempt property, if any exists, over to a trustee, who then con­verts the property to cash and pays the debtor's creditors. In return, the debtor receives a chapter 7 discharge, if he or she pays the filing fee, is eligible for the discharge, and obeys the orders and rules of the bankruptcy court.

2. What is a chapter 7 discharge?

It is a court order releasing a debtor from all of his or her dischargeable debts and ordering the creditors not to attempt to collect them from the debtor. A debt that is discharged is a debt that the debtor is released from and does not have to pay.

3. How does a person obtain a chapter 7 discharge?

A chapter 7 discharge is obtained by filing and maintaining a chapter 7 bankruptcy case and being eligible for a chapter 7 discharge. However, not all debts are discharged by a chapter 7 discharge. Certain types of debts are by law not dischargeable under chapter 7 and debts of this type will not be discharged even if the debtor receives a chapter 7 discharge.

4. Who is permitted to file and maintain a chapter 7 case?

Any person who resides in, does business in, or has property in the United States is permitted to file a chapter 7 bankruptcy case except a person who has intentionally dismissed a prior bankruptcy case within the last 180 days. To be permitted to maintain a chapter 7 bankruptcy case a person must qualify for chapter 7 relief under a process called means testing.

5. Who is eligible for a chapter 7 discharge?

Any person who is qualified to file and maintain a chapter 7 case is eligible for a chapter 7 discharge except the following:

(1) A person who has been granted a discharge in a chapter 7 case that was filed within the last 8 years.

(2) A person who has been granted a discharge in a chapter 13 case that was filed within the last 6 years, unless 70 percent or more of the debtor’s unsecured claims were paid off in the chap­ter 13 case.

(3) A person who files and obtains court approval of a written waiver of discharge in the chapter 7 case.

(4) A person who conceals, transfers, or destroys his or her property with the intent to defraud his or her creditors or the trustee in the chapter 7 case.

(5) A person who conceals, destroys, or falsifies records of his or her financial condition or business transac­tions.

(6) A person who makes false statements or claims in the chapter 7 case, or who withholds recorded infor­mation from the trustee.

(7) A person who fails to satisfactorily explain any loss or deficiency of his or her assets.

(8) A person who refuses to answer questions or obey orders of the bankruptcy court, either in his or her bankruptcy case or in the bankruptcy case of a relative, business associate, or corporation with which he or she is associated.

(9) A person who, after filing the case, fails to complete an instructional course on personal financial management.

(10) A person who has been convicted of bankruptcy fraud or who owes a debt arising from a securities law violation.

6. What types of debts are not dischargeable in a chapter 7 case?

All debts of any type or amount, including out-of-state debts, are dischargeable in a chapter 7 case except for the types of debts that are by law nondischargeable in a chapter 7 case. The following is a list of the most common types of debts that are not dischargeable in a chapter 7 case:

(1) Most tax debts and debts that were incurred to pay nondischargeable federal tax debts.

(2) Debts for obtaining money, property, services, or credit by means of false pretenses, fraud, or a false financial statement, if the creditor files a complaint in the bankruptcy case.

(3) Debts not listed on the debtor's chapter 7 forms, unless the creditor knew of the bankruptcy case in time to file a claim.

(4) Debts for fraud, embezzlement, or larceny, if the creditor files a complaint in the bankruptcy case.

(5) Debts for domestic support obligations, which include debts for alimony, maintenance, or support, and certain other divorce-related debts, including property settlement debts.

(6) Debts for intentional or malicious injury to the person or property of another, if the creditor files a com­plaint in the bankruptcy case.

(7) Debts for certain fines or penalties.

(8) Debts for most educational benefits and student loans, unless a court finds that not discharging the debt would impose an undue hardship on the debtor and his or her dependents.

(9) Debts for personal injury or death caused by the debtor's operation of a motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft while intoxicated.

(10) Debts that were or could have been listed in a previous bankruptcy case of the debtor in which the debtor did not receive a discharge.

7. How does the filing of a chapter 7 case by a person affect collection and other legal proceedings that have been filed against that person in other courts?

The filing of a chapter 7 case by a person automatically suspends virtually all collection and other legal proceedings pending against that person. A few days after a chapter 7 case is filed, the court will mail a notice to all creditors ordering them to refrain from any further action against the person. This court-ordered suspension of creditor activity against the person filing is called the automatic stay. If necessary, notice of the automatic stay may be served on a creditor earlier by the person or the person’s attorney. Any creditor who intentionally violates the automatic stay may be held in contempt of court and may be liable in damages to the person filing. Criminal proceedings and actions to collect domestic support obligations from exempt property or property acquired by the person after the chapter 7 case was filed are not affected by the automatic stay. The automatic stay also does not protect cosigners and guarantors of the person filing, and a creditor may continue to collect debts from those persons after the case is filed. Persons who have had a prior bankruptcy case dismissed within the past year may be denied the protection of the automatic stay.

8. How does filing a chapter 7 case affect a person's credit rating?

It will usually worsen it if that is possible. However, some financial institutions openly solicit business from persons who have recently filed under chapter 7, apparently because it will be at least 8 years before they can file another chapter 7 case. If there are compelling reasons for filing a chapter 7 case that is not within the person’s control (such as an illness or an injury), some credit rating agencies may take that into account in rating the person’s credit after filing.

9. Are the names of persons who file chapter 7 cases published?

When a chapter 7 case is filed, it becomes a public record and the names of the persons filing may be published by some credit-reporting agencies. However, newspapers do not usually report or publish the names of consumers who file chapter 7 cases.

10. May employers or governmental agencies discriminate against persons who file chapter 7 cases?

No. It is illegal for either private or governmental employers to discriminate against a person as to employ­ment because that person has filed a chapter 7 case. It is also illegal for local, state, or federal governmental agencies to discriminate against a person as to the granting of licenses (including a driver's license), permits, student loans, and similar grants because that person has filed a chapter 7 case.

11. Will a person lose all of his or her property if he or she files a chapter 7 case?

Usually not. Certain property is exempt and may not be taken by creditors unless it is encumbered by a valid mortgage or lien. A person is usually allowed to retain his or her unencumbered exempt property in a chapter 7 case. A person may also be allowed to retain certain encumbered exempt property (see Question 34, below). Encumbered property is property against which a creditor has a valid lien, mortgage or other security interest.

12. What is exempt property?

Exempt property is property that is protected by law from the claims of creditors. However, if exempt property has been pledged to secure a debt or is otherwise encumbered by a valid lien or mortgage, the lien or mortgage holder may claim the exempt property by foreclosing upon or otherwise enforcing the creditor’s lien or mortgage. In bankruptcy cases, property may be exempt under either state or federal law. Exempt property typically includes all or a portion of a person’s unpaid wages, home equity, household furniture, and personal effects. Your attorney can inform you as to the property that is exempt in your case.

13. When must a person appear in court in a chapter 7 case and what happens there?

The first court appearance is for a hearing called the "meeting of creditors," which is usually held about a month after the case is filed. The person filing the case must bring photo identification, his or her social security card, his or her most recent pay stub and all of his or her bank and investment account statements to this hearing. At this hearing, the person is put under oath and questioned about his or her debts, assets, income and expenses by the hearing officer or trustee. In most chapter 7 consumer cases no creditors appear in court, but any creditor that does appear is usually allowed to question the person. For most persons, this will be the only court appearance, but if the bankruptcy court decides not to grant the person a discharge or if the person wishes to reaffirm a debt, there may be another hearing about three months later which the person will have to attend.

14. What happens after the meeting of creditors?

After the meeting of creditors, the trustee may contact the person filing regarding his or her property and the court may issue certain orders to the person. These orders are sent by mail and may require the person to turn certain property over to the trustee, or provide the trustee with certain information. If the person fails to comply with these orders, the case may be dismissed, in which case his or her debts will not be discharged. The person must also attend and complete an instructional course on personal financial management and file a statement with the court showing completion of the course.

15. What is a trustee in a chapter 7 case, and what does he or she do?

A trustee is a person appointed by the United States trustee to examine the person who filed the case, collect the person’s nonexempt prop­erty, and pay the expenses of the estate and the claims of creditors. In addition, the trustee has certain administra­tive duties in a chapter 7 case and is responsible for seeing to it that the person filing performs the required duties in the case. A trustee is appointed in a chapter 7 case, even if the person filing has no nonexempt property.

16. What are the responsibilities to the trustee of the person filing the case?

The law requires the person filing to cooperate with the trustee in the administration of a chapter 7 case, including the collection by the trustee of the person’s nonexempt property. If the person does not cooperate with the trustee, the chapter 7 case may be dismissed and the person’s debts will not be discharged. At least 7 days before the meeting of creditors the person filing must give the trustee and any requesting creditors copies of his or her most recent Federal income tax returns.

17. What happens to property that is turned over to the trustee?

It is usually converted to cash, which is used to pay the fees and expenses of the trustee, to pay the claims of priority creditors, and, if there is any left, to pay the claims of unsecured creditors.

18. What if a person has no nonexempt property for the trustee to collect?

If, from the bankruptcy forms filed, it appears that the person filing has no nonexempt property, a notice will be sent to the creditors advising them that there appear to be no assets from which to pay creditors, that it is unneces­sary for them to file claims, and that if assets are later discovered they will then be given an opportunity to file claims. This type of case is referred to as a no-asset case. Most chapter 7 cases that are filed by consumers are no-asset cases.

19. How are secured creditors dealt with in a chapter 7 case?

Secured creditors are creditors with valid mortgages or liens against property of the person filing . Property that is encumbered by a valid mortgage or lien is called secured property. A secured creditor is usually per­mitted to repossess or foreclose on its secured property unless the value of the secured property greatly exceeds the amount owed to the creditor. The claim of a secured creditor is called a secured claim and secured claims are collected from or enforced against encumbered property. Secured claims are not paid by the trustee. A secured creditor must prove the validity of its mortgage or lien and must usually obtain a court order before repossessing or foreclosing on encumbered property. Encumbered property should not be turned over to a secured creditor until a court order to do so has been obtained, unless the property is encumbered only to finance its purchase. The debtor may be permitted to retain certain types of encumbered personal property (see Ques­tion 34, below).

20. How are unsecured creditors dealt with in a chapter 7 case?

An unsecured creditor is a creditor without a valid lien or mortgage against property of the person filing. If the person filing has nonexempt assets, unsecured creditors may file claims with the court within 90 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors. The trustee will examine these claims and file objections to those deemed improper. When the trustee has collected all of the person’s nonexempt property and converted it to cash, and when the court has ruled on the trustee's objections to improper claims, the trustee will distribute the funds in the form of dividends to the unsecured creditors according to the priorities set forth in the Bankruptcy Code. Domestic support obligations, admin­istrative expenses, claims for wages, salaries, and contributions to employee benefit plans, claims for the refund of certain deposits and tax claims, are given priority, in that order, in the payment of dividends by the trustee. If there are funds remaining after the payment of these priority claims, they are distributed pro rata to the remaining unsecured creditors. In chapter 7 cases filed by consumers, unsecured creditors usually get nothing.

21. What encumbered property may a person retain in a chapter 7 case?

A person may retain (or redeem) certain encumbered personal and household property, such as household furni­ture, appliances and goods, wearing apparel, and tools of trade, without payment to the secured creditor, if the property is exempt and if the mortgage or lien against the property was not incurred to finance the purchase of the property. A person may also retain without payment to the secured creditor any encumbered property that is both exempt and subject only to a judgment lien that is not divorce-related. Finally, a person may retain certain encumbered exempt personal, family, or household property by paying to the secured creditor an amount equal to the replacement value of the property, regardless of how much is owed to the creditor.

22. May a utility company refuse to provide service to a person if the company's utility bill is discharged under chapter 7?

If, within 20 days after a chapter 7 case is filed, the person filing furnishes a utility company with a deposit or other security to ensure the payment of future utility services, it is illegal for a utility company to refuse to provide utility service to the person after the case is filed, or to otherwise discriminate against the person, if its bill for past utility services is dis­charged in the person’s chapter 7 case.

23. How is a person notified when his or her discharge has been granted?

The person is usually notified by mail. Most courts send a form called "Discharge of Debtor" to the person filing and to all creditors. This form is a copy of the court order discharging the person from his or her dischargeable debts, and it serves as notice that the discharge has been granted and that creditors are forbidden from attempting to collect discharged debts. It is usually mailed about four months after a chapter 7 case is filed.

24. What if a person wishes to repay a dischargeable debt?

A person may repay as many dischargeable debts as desired after filing a chapter 7 case. By repaying one debt, a person does not become legally obligated to repay any other debts. The only dischargeable debt that a person is legally obligated to repay is one for which the person and the creditor have signed what is called a "reaffirmation agreement." If the person was not represented by an attorney in negotiating the reaffirmation agreement with the creditor, the reaffirmation agreement must be approved by the court to be valid. If the person was represented by an attorney in negotiating the reaffirmation agreement, the attorney must file the agreement and other required documents with the court in order for the agreement to be valid. If a dischargeable debt is not covered by a reaffirmation agreement, the person filing is not legally obligated to repay the debt, even if the person has made a payment on the debt since filing the chapter 7 case, has agreed in writing to repay the debt, or has waived the discharge of the debt in a waiver that was not approved by the bankruptcy court.

25. How long does a chapter 7 case last?

A successful chapter 7 case begins with the filing of the bankruptcy forms and ends with the closing of the case by the court. If there are no nonexempt assets for the trustee to collect, the case will most likely be closed shortly after the person filing receives his or her discharge, which is usually about four months after the case is filed. If there are nonexempt assets for the trustee to collect, the length of the case will depend on how long it takes the trustee to collect the assets and perform his or her other duties in the case. Most chapter 7 consumer cases with assets last about six months, but some last considerably longer.

26. What should a person do if a creditor later attempts to collect a debt that was discharged in his or her chapter 7 case?

When a chapter 7 discharge is granted, the court enters an order prohibiting creditors from later attempting to collect any discharged debt from the person filing. Any creditor who violates this court order may be held in contempt of court and may be liable to the person for damages. If a creditor later attempts to collect a dis­charged debt from the person, the person should give the creditor a copy of his or her chapter 7 discharge and inform the creditor in writing that the debt was discharged in the chapter 7 case. If the creditor persists, the person should contact an attorney. If a creditor files a lawsuit on a discharged debt, it is important to inform the court in which the lawsuit is filed that the debt was discharged in bankruptcy. The lawsuit should not be ignored because even though a judgment entered on a discharged debt can later be voided, voiding the judgment may require the services of an attorney, which could be costly.

27. How does a chapter 7 discharge affect the liability of cosigners and other parties who may be liable to a creditor on a discharged debt?

A chapter 7 discharge releases only the person or persons who filed the chapter 7 case. The liability of any other party on a debt is not affected by a chapter 7 discharge. Therefore, a person who has cosigned or guaranteed a debt for the person filing is still liable for the debt even if the person filing receives a chapter 7 discharge with respect to the debt. The only exception to this rule is in community property states where the spouse of the person filing is released from certain community debts by the chapter 7 discharge.

28. What is the role of the attorney for the person filing a chapter 7 case?

The attorney for the person filing performs the following functions in a typical chapter 7 consumer case:

(1) Analyze the amount and nature of the debts owed by the person filing and determine the best remedy for the person’s financial problems.

(2) Advise the person filing of the relief available under chapter 7 and the other chapters of the Bankruptcy Code, and of the advisability of proceeding under each chapter.

(3) Assist the person in obtaining the required prebankruptcy budget and credit counseling briefing.

(4) Assemble the information and data necessary to prepare chapter 7 forms for filing.

(5) Prepare the petitions, schedules, statements and other chapter 7 forms for filing with the bankruptcy court.

(6) Assist the person filing in arranging his or her assets so as to enable the person to retain as many of the assets as possible after the chapter 7 case.

(7) Filing the chapter 7 petitions, schedules, statements and other forms with the bankruptcy court, and, if necessary, notifying certain creditors of the commencement of the case.

(8) If necessary, assisting the person filing in reaffirming certain debts, redeeming personal property, setting aside mortgages or liens against exempt property, and otherwise carrying out the matters set forth in the statement of intention.

(9) Attending the meeting of creditors with the person and appearing with the person at any other hearings that may be held in the case.

(10) Assist the debtor in attending and completing the required instructional course on personal financial management.

(11) If necessary, preparing and filing amended schedules, statements, and other documents with the bankruptcy court in order to protect the rights of the person.

(12) If necessary, assisting the person in overcoming obstacles that may arise to the granting of a chapter 7 dis­charge.

The fee paid, or agreed to be paid, to an attorney representing the person filing in a chapter 7 case must be disclosed to and approved by the bankruptcy court. The court will allow the attorney to charge and collect only a reasonable fee. Attorneys collect all of their fees before the case is filed.