How Long Does It Take Before Your Debts Are Discharged?
Understanding How Soon You Can Wipe Out Your Debts in Bankruptcy
Two of the main benefits of filing bankruptcy are an automatic stay that prevents your creditors from pursuing debt collection actions against you and a discharge that permanently wipes out debts you cannot afford to pay back. While the first benefit comes immediately, the second takes a little longer.
At the Atlanta metro area law firm of Jamie L. Gingold, PC, GingoldBankruptcyLaw.com (Formerly practicing with Gingold & Gingold LLC), we are committed to helping clients get their debts discharged as soon as possible. We can advise you on how long it will take before your debts are discharged based on which bankruptcy chapter you file under.
- If you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy , you will get your discharge as soon as the legal process is complete. When you file, the court will schedule a hearing within about one month, and as long as that hearing goes well (which is where the help of an experienced bankruptcy lawyer comes in), you will get your discharge in the mail about two months later.
- If you file Chapter 13 bankruptcy , your debts will be placed on a three- to five-year repayment plan (depending on your income and other factors), and some of your debts may be reduced as a part of this plan. As long as you make all of your plan payments on time, you will get your discharge once you have completed the repayment plan.
Between the day you file bankruptcy and the day you get your discharge, nobody can try to collect on your debts without the permission of the bankruptcy court. That being said, the sooner you get your discharge, the sooner you can start rebuilding your credit.
Discharging Debt in Bankruptcy · Contact Us for a Free Initial Consultation
Our firm is made up of two experienced Georgia bankruptcy lawyers: Ira D. Gingold, who has been a bankruptcy attorney since 1971 and Court-appointed Bankruptcy Trustee from 1971-2013, and Jamie L. Gingold, who has been practicing bankruptcy, business and real estate law since 2001.
To discuss what we can do to help you wipe out your debts, contact us today at (678) 915-2634 or by e-mail to schedule a free initial consultation.