What's the difference?

[skyan]

What is the difference between discharged and closed?

I'm sure this has been asked and answered before, but I must've missed it. Sorry.

Thanks!

[Pinktiger]

Chapter 7 is what I know, so this is what I'm talking about. Let me see if I understand this:

A discharge is when the debts are considered discharged by the bankruptcy court and the creditors can not come after you on them ever again. Then the trustee has to officially state that you have no assets, or in the alternative, that you have assets he or she is going after, and state those. This is either an abandonment or a statement of going after assets. When the trustee is done, the case goes to the next level, where it is closed. When the case is closed, it is considered done; although it can be reopened by the court if necessary.

Did I get that right?

[keepmine]

That's pretty much the ballgame. It's not really done until closed but the vast majority of the time, closing is just a housekeeping matter. Gets done when the trustee gets around to it.

[skyan]

Okay, so.... do I get a letter saying that the case is closed? Because I never got one. And it was a no asset case. I always assumed once it was discharged, it was closed.... no?

[keepmine]

I never got a letter saying mine was closed.
I followed the case on pacer and about 2 weeks later, pacer reported the closure.

http://pacer.psc.uscourts.gov/

[poorme]

Keepmine is right. The bk court retains stewardship over the bk estate for some time, and has the right to reopen the case if unusual circumstances dictate...for example you hit the lottery and claimed the big prize! Unless it's an asset case or something funky happens right after discharge, the case is administratively 'closed'. Keep low, stay slow, and everything will be fine!