Confused about post discharge/pre-closing issues!

[DaveB]

Hello, I'm a pro se filer and am confused about my rights/responsiblities/duties prior to closing. I just got off the phone with the court clerk and she said that it could take up to 1 year before a Final Decree is issued. My ability to speak with her was limited so I don't know if she meant 1 year after my discharge date or 1 year after the Trustee's Final Report. I believe she meant after the Final Report, but I'm not sure. Here is my timeline:

02/17/2009 - Date filed
06/30/2009 - Debtor discharged
04/08/2010 - Final Report of Chapter 7 Trustee
06/07/2010 - Approved Notice of Final Report

Anyway, all the assets that I might want to sell/dispose of are listed as DA (554c) & Fully Administered (FA) in the Trustee's Final Report. Can I still get into trouble if I decide to sell or dispose of an asset?

I still owe the IRS for back taxes. Can they attempt to collect prior to the issuance of the Final Decree (i.e. is the automatic stay still in effect)?

Thanks!

[justbroke]

The automatic stay ends, for most debts, upon your discharge. The only thing that would still be under the stay, would be things which the Trustee abandoned.

Yes, it can take a year to close a case that has assets to administer. It reads as though you're an asset case. The IRS could continue their collection, but most creditors, including governmental units, will cease collection activity until the case actually closes.