The short answer is, you can file for bankruptcy as often as you want. The Bankruptcy Code does not limit the number of times a person may file for bankruptcy during his or her lifetime. Legislators understand that some individuals may experience a financial crisis that leads to bankruptcy multiple times. Therefore, they did not restrict people from filing for bankruptcy again.
However, the Bankruptcy Code does restrict the number of bankruptcy discharges a person may receive during a specific period. Therefore, you can file for bankruptcy again, but whether you qualify for a bankruptcy discharge depends on your previous bankruptcy filing.
How Often Can You Receive a Bankruptcy Discharge?
How often you can receive a bankruptcy discharge is based on the chapter you previously filed and when you filed that bankruptcy. Use the following calculator to help you estimate when you can file bankruptcy and which chapter you may be eligible to file. There are many factors that go into when you can file for bankruptcy. One of the biggest considerations is how recent was your last bankruptcy discharge. If you have had debt discharged within a certain time range, there are regulations that prevent you from filing for bankruptcy again. There are other considerations, which can be tedious to understand. Luckily, we have this free tool available for you to use to see when you may be able to file for bankruptcy again.
What is a Bankruptcy Discharge?
The main purpose of filing a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 case is to eliminate debts you cannot afford. A bankruptcy discharge is a court order that eliminates your legal liability to repay certain debts. Creditors cannot take any actions to collect a debt that is discharged through bankruptcy.
Most debts are eligible for a discharge in bankruptcy. For example, you can eliminate medical debts, credit card bills, personal loans, old rent payments, and most personal judgments by filing for bankruptcy relief. Most tax debts, alimony, student loans, child support, and debts owed to the government are not dischargeable in bankruptcy.
Also, a bankruptcy discharge does not eliminate a secured lien on the property. Therefore, you cannot discharge a mortgage or car loan through bankruptcy. However, you could forfeit the property and fully satisfy the loan if you do not want to continue loan payments.
Therefore, filing bankruptcy without obtaining a bankruptcy discharge can be a waste of time and money. Without the discharge, you continue to owe all your debts even though you filed for bankruptcy relief.
However, there are instances in which filing another bankruptcy, even if there’s no discharge, could be beneficial. For instance, one can stretch out undischarged debts by filing a Chapter 13 immediately after a Chapter 7. Filing bankruptcy again soon can be tricky. It is best to consult an experienced bankruptcy attorney before attempting back-to-back bankruptcy filings.
Understanding the 2-4-6-8 Rule
As discussed above, you can file for multiple bankruptcies at any time. However, you may or may not be eligible for a bankruptcy discharge. Therefore, the actual question to ask is whether there is a waiting period between bankruptcy discharges. The answer is yes.
The waiting period between bankruptcy discharges typically depends on two things: the bankruptcy chapter previously filed and the bankruptcy chapter filed. Assuming that you obtained a bankruptcy discharge in your previous bankruptcy case, the 2-4-6-8 Rule applies.
Under the 2-4-6-8 Rule, you cannot receive another bankruptcy discharge for 2, 4, 6, or 8 years after receiving a previous bankruptcy discharge. How do you know which waiting period applies in your case? You look at your previous bankruptcy filing and the chapter of bankruptcy you want to file now. In short, it depends on the different types of bankruptcy.
Therefore, the waiting period between bankruptcy discharges is determined as follows:
- Two Years — (Chapter 13 to Chapter 13) — The waiting period between two Chapter 13 discharges is two years.
- Four Years — (Chapter 7 to Chapter 13) — The waiting period between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 discharges is four years.
- Six Years — (Chapter 13 to Chapter 7) — The waiting period between Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 discharges is six years.
- Eight Years — (Chapter 7 to Chapter 7) — The waiting period between two Chapter 7 discharges is eight years.
The time limits for bankruptcy discharges are calculated from the filing date of the previous bankruptcy case. In other words, the waiting periods run from filing date to filing date, not discharge date to filing date. In recent years, we see many folks who are looking to file a Chapter 13 after a Chapter 7.
What About Cases That Did Not Receive a Discharge?
If you did not receive a discharge in your previous bankruptcy filing, the waiting period to file another bankruptcy case to receive a discharge might be shorter. For example, if the court dismissed your previous bankruptcy case, you might be able to file another bankruptcy case and be eligible for a bankruptcy discharge in as little as 180 days. However, if the court denied your bankruptcy discharge, you might not be able to discharge the debts listed in your previous bankruptcy case even though you file another bankruptcy case.
If your case was dismissed or your bankruptcy discharge was denied, it is best to consult with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer before filing bankruptcy again. These special circumstances can impact the general time limits between bankruptcy discharges.
Explore Your Debt Relief Options Before Talking to an Attorney
You understand that how often you file depends on which chapter you previously filed and when you file the bankruptcy. Take the following calculator to estimate that information for you specifically.
If you are curious about debt-relief options, Ascend can help. We have several ways for you to compare your debt relief options before talking to an attorney. If you’d like to compare options, take a short assessment to begin comparing your debt-relief options. If you would like to talk to a real person about what debt relief options you have, then give us a call! At Ascend, we love to help people like you figure out the best solution to getting out of debt. We can take your specific financial information and help you understand your options.
