Chapter 7

Business, Legal & Accounting Glossary

Definition: Chapter 7


Chapter 7

Quick Summary of Chapter 7


The most familiar type of bankruptcy, in which many or all of your debts are wiped out completely in exchange for giving up your nonexempt property. Chapter 7 bankruptcy takes from three to six months, costs about $200, and commonly requires only one trip to the courthouse.



Video Guide For Chapter 7




Full Definition of Chapter 7


Chapter 7 is a section of the US Bankruptcy Code under which a company or an individual can declare bankruptcy. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy is also known as a liquidation bankruptcy. Once a Chapter 7 filing is made, the US Bankruptcy Court appoints a trustee. With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustee takes an inventory of all non-exempt assets and liquidates them. The proceeds are then used to repay eligible creditors of the Chapter 7 bankrupt party. Chapter 7 creditors are ranked according to the credit risk they took – the lower the risk, the higher the likelihood of being repaid. In accordance with the absolute priority rule, under a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, shareholders are paid after creditors. With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, a company will need to stop all business activities and turn over its assets. Once the Chapter 7 bankruptcy proceeding is completed, the individual or the company will be relieved of all debt obligations and will be able to start anew. In 2005, Chapter 7 was significantly changed with the enactment of the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act which made it much more difficult to be eligible to file bankruptcy under Chapter 7.


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March 29, 2024 https://payrollheaven.com/define/chapter-7/.
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Chapter 7. PayrollHeaven.com. Payroll & Accounting Heaven Ltd.
https://payrollheaven.com/define/chapter-7/ (accessed: March 29, 2024).
American Psychological Association (APA):
Chapter 7. PayrollHeaven.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024
, from PayrollHeaven.com website: https://payrollheaven.com/define/chapter-7/

Definition Sources


Definitions for Chapter 7 are sourced/syndicated and enhanced from:

  • A Dictionary of Economics (Oxford Quick Reference)
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Accounting
  • Oxford Dictionary Of Business & Management

This glossary post was last updated: 26th November, 2021 | 0 Views.