The Chapter 7 Timeline, From Filing to Discharge

Each step of the Chapter 7 timeline

1. Before filing: credit counseling. You must take a credit counseling course from an approved agency within the 180 days before you file. It can be done by phone or online. Courses typically cost $50 or less. See credit counseling and debtor education courses.
2. Before filing: documents. We gather pay stubs for six months, tax returns, bank statements, bills and loan papers. We run the means test and choose your exemptions.
3. Day 0: filing and the automatic stay. We file your petition with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California. The automatic stay starts at once. Most lawsuits, garnishments, bank levies and collection calls must stop. If you pay the filing fee in installments, all payments are due within 120 days of filing. See filing fees, waivers and payment plans.
4. Days 21 to 40: the 341 meeting. The meeting of creditors is held no fewer than 21 and no more than 40 days after filing. In this district, it is held by Zoom for cases filed on or after May 1, 2024. The trustee asks you questions under oath. It usually takes a few minutes. Creditors rarely attend. See the 341 meeting of creditors.
5. About 30 days after the first 341 date: secured debts. If you have a car loan or other secured debt, you must carry out what you said you would do: reaffirm, redeem or surrender. Any reaffirmation agreement must be made before your discharge.
6. Within 60 days after the first 341 date: debtor education. You take a second course on managing money and file the certificate. Without it, your case can close with no discharge.
7. 60 days after the first 341 date: objection deadline. This is the deadline for creditors and the trustee to object to your discharge. A creditor can ask the court to extend it, but only before it passes.
8. Discharge. If no one objects and your course certificate is filed, the court enters your discharge shortly after the deadline. That is usually about 60 to 90 days after the 341 meeting.
9. Case closing. In most cases, the trustee finds nothing to sell and files a report saying so. The case then closes. If the trustee is selling property, the case stays open longer, but your discharge usually is not delayed.

What can slow your Chapter 7 down

• Missing documents. If the trustee does not get your tax return and pay stubs on time, your 341 meeting may be continued to a later date.
• Missing the debtor education course. No certificate means no discharge. The case may close and need to be reopened.
• Property the trustee wants to sell. A home, car or other asset with unprotected equity can keep your case open for months.
• A request to extend the deadline. The trustee or a creditor can ask for more time to look into your case.
• A lawsuit over a debt. A creditor can sue to block the discharge of a debt. You would need to respond on time.
• Means test issues. If your income looks high, the U.S. Trustee can review whether your case belongs in Chapter 7.

Learn what the trustee looks for on our Chapter 7 trustee page, or start with our Chapter 7 bankruptcy overview.