In general, a simple, no asset Chapter 7 bankruptcy case will usually go on for about 4 months, but the case could be open a lot longer.
When filed, the Court sends out a Notice of Filing to all parties in the case, notifying everyone of the filing and of the deadlines involved. The notice contains a Deadline to File a Complaint to Determine Dischargeability of Certain Debts.
The day after this date is the earliest that a Court will issue a Discharge to the debtor. Courts may vary in when it is sent out, but in the Western District of NC, it is usually within days of this deadline. Getting a discharge is what a bankruptcy debtor is after, but a case can remain open for months or years after the discharge.
The case doesn’t end completely until the Final Decree is entered, and that won’t be done until a Trustee is sure that he/she has dealt with all the assets of the bankruptcy estate. If the case is a no asset case and the Trustee has reported that they have no interest in the case, the Discharge and Final Decree may be issued at the same time, resulting in a Discharge and a closed case at the same time.
See also:
I Got a Discharge, Why Isn’t My Case Over? by Wendell Sherk, MO Bankruptcy Lawyer on Bankruptcy Law Network, June 26, 2007
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