When must a debtor appear in court in a chapter 7 case and what happens ?
The first court appearance is for a hearing called ” the meeting of creditors”. This hearing usually takes place about a month after the case is filed. At this hearing the debtor is put under oath and questioned about his or her debts and assets 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 debtor. In most cases this will be the debtor’s only court appearance, but if the bankruptcy court decides not to grant the debtor a discharge or if the debtor wishes to reaffirm a debt and is not represented by an attorney, there will be another hearing about three months later which the debtor will have to attend.
