Once a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case is over, the debtor receives a Discharge. A debt that has been discharged is a debt that the bankrupt debtor no longer has a legal obligation to pay.

The discharge prevents creditors from taking any steps to try to collect their unsecured discharged debt. They cannot call, write, sue, or take any steps that could be considered an attempt to collect a discharged debt.

Some debts cannot be discharged. Typical examples are child support, alimony, and other domestic support obligations, some taxes, student loans, criminal restitution, and debts for death or personal injury caused by operating vehicles while intoxicated with alcohol or drugs, or fraudulently obtained debts where the creditor has taken further action in the bankruptcy case to have the debt held non-dis chargeable.

If the debtor wants to keep property that has a lien on it, the debtor must keep payments current, and may be required to reaffirm the debt.

Bankruptcy Glossary