How long will my bankruptcy case last? | Phoenix Bankruptcy Attorney
March 5, 2016

The typical chapter 7 bankruptcy case in Arizona lasts approximately five months. But you will see results immediately, because on the very day your bankruptcy petition is filed with the Arizona Bankruptcy Court, something called the “automatic stay” is invoked. This is a freeze on all creditors’ efforts to collect from you. They can’t sue you. They can’t garnish your wages. They can’t seize your bank account. They can’t foreclose your house. They can’t do any of those things as well as a host of other things without first getting permission from the Arizona bankruptcy court, which is typically impossible unless you are defaulting on post-bankruptcy-petition, secured obligations or some other rare exceptions apply. The typical chapter 13 bankruptcy, on the other hand, lasts five years. If you qualify, shorter periods may be possible.