What does it cost to reopen?

Reopening filing fees are set by Judicial Conference policy under 28 USC § 1930. Chapter 7 reopening fees are currently $260, Chapter 13 reopening fees are $235. The court may waive the fee under 28 USC § 1930(f) for cause, such as reopening to file a financial-management certificate or to add an omitted creditor in a no-asset case. Always ask for the fee waiver if the reopening benefits only the debtor.

When should I reopen to add a missing creditor?

In a no-asset Chapter 7 case, most courts hold that an unscheduled creditor's debt is still discharged under the no-prejudice rule, so reopening solely to add a creditor often is unnecessary. In an asset case, an unscheduled creditor may have a basis to argue non-discharge under § 523(a)(3). Reopening to schedule the creditor and trigger a notice period can be essential to lock in the discharge.

Can I reopen to deal with a creditor that violated the discharge?

Yes. Reopening is the standard procedural step to pursue a contempt motion for violation of the discharge injunction under § 524(a)(2) and Taggart v. Lorenzen, 587 U.S. 554 (2019). Many courts waive the reopening fee for this purpose, especially when the violation is clear. Reopening reactivates the case for the limited purpose of the contempt proceeding.

Can I reopen to file the financial-management course certificate?

Yes. If the discharge was denied or the case was closed without discharge because the debtor failed to file the post-filing financial-management certificate under 11 USC § 727(a)(11) or § 1328(g), reopening lets the debtor file the certificate and obtain discharge. Many courts also waive the reopening fee in this scenario because the deficiency is purely procedural.

Is there a time limit for reopening?

No statutory time limit. 11 USC § 350(b) is silent on timing, and courts apply equitable considerations. Long delays may make the relief sought harder to justify, but cases have been reopened many years after closing for narrow purposes such as discharging an omitted debt or addressing post-discharge creditor misconduct.

How to Reopen a Bankruptcy Case - Motion to Reopen Guide

Yes. 11 USC § 350(b) authorizes the court to reopen a closed case to administer assets, accord relief to the debtor, or for other cause. The motion is filed in the original case number. The court has discretion to grant or deny. Common reopening grounds are pursuing a discharge-injunction violation, adding an omitted creditor, or completing a missed financial-management course.

Reopening a Closed Bankruptcy Case

A closed bankruptcy case can be reopened for several reasons:

Missed creditor: You forgot to list a creditor who should have been included. Reopening lets you add them and potentially have the debt discharged.
Discharge dispute: A creditor claims your debt was not discharged or is collecting on a discharged debt. Reopening allows the court to clarify or enforce the discharge.
Lien avoidance: You need to file a motion to avoid a lien that was not addressed during the case.
Additional assets discovered: The trustee discovers assets that were not administered during the case.

How to reopen: File a motion to reopen (usually on a local form) and pay the filing fee ($260 for most chapters). The court will grant the motion if there is a valid reason.

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