What is a discharge in bankruptcy?
A discharge is the court’s order stating that you do not have to pay your debts to the creditors that were listed in your bankruptcy documents, so long as the court did not entered a non-dischargeability order. Other debts that are not discharged under the current laws include student loans, child support, alimony/maintenance, government fines or penalties, most taxes and a few others. The effect of a discharge is that debtors are released from personal liability for all dischargeable debts, and all creditors, whose debts are discharged, are prohibited from performing any act to collect such debts from the debtors. This is known as a permanent, federal injunction. Only people received discharges, companies do not. Creditors and the trustee have a 60 day period after the creditor’s meeting to file a complaint indicating that they believe there is good reason why their debt should not be discharged (forgiven) or a good reason why this chapter 7 case should not be continued (Bankruptcy Co
Under the federal bankruptcy statute, a discharge releases you (AKA debtor) from personal liability for certain specified types of debts. In other words, you are no longer required to pay any debts that are discharged. The discharge operates as a permanent order directing your creditors to refrain from taking any form of collection action on discharged debts, including legal action and communications with you such as telephone calls, letters and personal contacts. Although a debtor is relieved of personal liability for all debts that are discharged, a valid lien (i.e., a charge upon specific property to secure payment of a debt) that has not been avoided (i.e., made unenforceable) in the bankruptcy case will remain after the bankruptcy case. Therefore, a secured creditor may enforce the lien to recover the property secured by the lien. In other words, if you car is still under financing, the lender can repossess the vehicle.
Under the federal bankruptcy statute, a discharge is a release of the debtor from personal liability for certain specified types of debts. In other words, the debtor is no longer required by law to pay any debts that are discharged. The discharge operates as a permanent order directed to the creditors of the debtor that they refrain from taking any form of collection action on discharged debts, including legal action and communications with the debtor, such as telephone calls, letters, and personal contacts.
A bankruptcy discharge releases the debtor from personal liability for certain specified types of debts. In other words, the debtor is no longer legally required to pay any debts that are discharged. The discharge is a permanent order prohibiting the creditors of the debtor from taking any form of collection action on discharged debts, including legal action and communications with the debtor, such as telephone calls, letters and personal contacts.
A “discharge” in bankruptcy means that you are legally free and clear of any obligation to repay certain debts; they are gone. The creditor no longer has any right to collect that debt. The debtor no longer has any obligation to repay it. The timing of the discharge varies, depending on the chapter under which you file. In a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, for example, you normally receive a discharge just a few months after the petition is filed. In a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, the discharge typically occurs when you have successfully finished the payments you agree to make under your plan. (Reviewed 11.14.
