What to Expect after Chapter 7 Discharge

Once your Chapter 7 bankruptcy has been discharged, you need to look at your next steps. Read on to learn more!

Discharge

Once discharged, the case is usually at a conclusion once the court release the official final report from the appointed trustee. There may still be a delay if the trustee is yet to liquidate outstanding property or conclude any matters of litigation.

Short Term Steps

The first order of business is to ensure you have records of all your documents regarding the bankruptcy including the discharge letter. These documents need to be maintained in a secure place as you may need some of the documentation in the future. Next, obtain a copy of your credit report and make sure everything on there is up to date and accurate. You can then plan a budget using your current level of income. It may be a good idea to use Schedules I and J from your bankruptcy case to assist in this goal. Start an emergency fund with regular contributions to make sure you can cover expenses that come out of the blue. As you progress further you will want to ensure you make arrangement for the payments of debts not covered in the bankruptcy.

Rebuild Your Credit

Although you want to avoid debt, not take more on, if you take a practical approach, this can help n the long term. Commence with a small secured credit card that operates in a manner similar to a pre-paid card and ensure your payments are made in a timely fashion. The bets strategy is to use the card sparingly and ensure it is paid off on time each and every month. Also, if you are renting and have kept up to date on rent payments through your bankruptcy, this can also assist with maintaining your credit as can regular payments for car loans.

Final Thoughts

The new beginning from being discharged from your chapter 7 bankruptcy can give you a great start for practicing new financial habits that are beneficial to you as long as you budget well and do not overspend.

Source:  https://upsolve.org/learn/chapter-7-discharged/