How long does Chapter 7 stay on record?
Federal law says a credit report cannot list a bankruptcy case that is more than 10 years old. The 10 years count from the date of the order for relief in the case. The law has some exceptions, so a few reports can still show an older case. Check reports for mistakes after any Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 case.
On this page
Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13 also matters for your credit report. Here is what federal law says about how long a Chapter 7 can show.
What the law says
15 U.S.C. 1681c lists what a credit report cannot contain. One item is "Cases under title 11 or under the Bankruptcy Act that, from the date of entry of the order for relief or the date of adjudication, as the case may be, antedate the report by more than 10 years." Title 11 is the Bankruptcy Code.
When the 10 years start
The law counts from "the date of entry of the order for relief or the date of adjudication."
The law has exceptions
The same section lists exempted cases where this limit does not apply, such as some large credit deals. So a few reports can still show an older case.
Next steps
Check your credit reports for mistakes. What's the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13? has the side-by-side view, and Chapter 7 or 13: the filing order has the steps.
This page is general information, not legal advice.
Sources
Where our facts come from
Who wrote this page
- Written by
- Chapter Fresh editorial staff. Who runs this site
- Licensed professional
- None. No bankruptcy attorney has checked this page.
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