← Legal Glossary
Discharge
Definition
The legal elimination of a debtor's personal liability for certain debts as a result of bankruptcy. Once a discharge is granted, creditors can no longer legally pursue the debtor for those debts. In Chapter 7, a discharge typically occurs relatively quickly, but the estate may remain open longer.
Examples
- •The timing of Keathley's injury relative to his discharge (and his case's open status) is central to determining whether his lawsuit is estate property.