What does it mean if my case is dismissed?

Dismissal generally means that the court has stopped all proceedings in the bankruptcy case and did not issue a discharge order. Dismissal can occur if a debtor requests and qualifies for voluntary dismissal. It can also happen without the debtor’s consent if the court orders dismissal on its own, or if a trustee or creditor files a motion to dismiss and the court approves it.

What does it mean if my case is closed?

A bankruptcy case is closed after the bankruptcy estate is fully administered and the court has discharged the trustee. 11 U.S.C. § 350.

A chapter 7 case closes after the trustee has filed the distribution report. If there are no assets for the trustee to distribute, then chapter 7 cases generally close within one year of the petition date. If there are assets for the trustee to distribute, the chapter 7 case will remain open until the trustee has completed distribution to the creditors and files the distribution report.

What can I do if my case was closed without a discharge?

If your case is closed without a discharge, you will need to reopen the case. To reopen the case, you must file a motion to reopen and pay any applicable fee. If you are eligible for a discharge, after the case is reopened, the discharge order will be entered.