A bankruptcy case from filing until discharge, otherwise, from start to finish is approximately, 90 to 120 days. It is a relatively simple process from the consumer’s standpoint. The consumer provides information to his attorney who prepares the documents, acquires the required signatures, and advises the client on what steps need to be taken. For the most part, the client only has to appear before a trustee on one occasion.

The answer is yes, you are going to have to attend a court date. It is actually called a 341 meeting of creditors. It is a meeting required under section 341 of the bankruptcy code. It is where you appear with your attorney, you’re sworn in, and a trustee appointed by the bankruptcy court will ask a series of questions based on the documents that were filed. The trustee’s job is to determine whether or not there are any assets that can be administered and paid to creditors. In 99% of the Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, there are no assets to be administered.

If I file for bankruptcy will my job, will my employer, will my co-workers know? The answer is “no”, typically. The employers will not find out about a bankruptcy unless I need to notify them, and that will be in the case of a garnishment that I need to stop. So in those cases, yes, the employer or the payroll department will find out about the bankruptcy since I am required to send an automatic stay to stop any kind of garnishment that is pending on a client’s paycheck.

If someone owes back child support, filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy case will never eliminate child support debt? Not only is it not dischargeable, but public policy tells us, that people should take care of their children. Child support is one of those debts that the government has deemed non-dischargeable. So, although you might be able to benefit with a Chapter 7 by eliminating a lot of unsecured debt, it will only free you up to pay the debts that are non-dischargeable such as child support. In addition to child support, another non-dischargeable debt is maintenance.