What Chapter 7 does
Chapter 7 is the straight discharge. Qualifying unsecured debts — credit cards, medical bills, personal loans, most older judgments, the balance left after a repossession — are eliminated. You are not paying them back on a plan. They are gone.
The moment your case is filed, the automatic stay takes effect. Collection calls stop. Wage garnishments stop. Lawsuits pause. For most people, that relief arrives the same day.
What it does not erase
- Child support and alimony
- Most recent tax debt
- Most student loans
- Court fines and criminal restitution
- Debts arising from fraud, if a creditor challenges them
Secured debts work differently. If you want to keep a house or a car that still has a loan on it, you keep paying for it. Chapter 7 clears what you owe, not what you are financing.
Will I lose everything?
Almost certainly not. Oklahoma's exemption laws are among the most protective in the country, and most Chapter 7 cases filed here are no-asset cases, meaning nothing is sold at all. Oklahoma protects the equity in your homestead, with separate protections for your vehicle, household goods and furnishings, the tools of your trade, and retirement accounts.
The honest answer is that it depends on what you own and what it is worth. That is exactly what the first meeting is for — you will leave knowing what is protected before you file anything.
How the process works
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Free consultation
Bring whatever you have. We look at your income, your debts, and what you own, and tell you whether Chapter 7 is the right tool.
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The means test
Federal law compares your household income to the Oklahoma median. Most people who come to us qualify; if you do not, we will explain what your options are.
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Credit counseling
A short course from an approved agency, required before filing. Most people finish it online in an evening.
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Filing
We prepare and file your petition. The automatic stay takes effect immediately and the calls stop.
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Meeting of creditors
A short meeting with the trustee, usually about a month after filing. Matthew goes with you. Creditors rarely appear.
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Discharge
Typically about sixty days after that meeting. Your qualifying debts are gone.
“I recommend anyone needing to file bankruptcy to call Mr. Riggin. He is very easy to work with, and he has done a great job on my case.”
Common questions
Will I lose my house or my car?
In most cases, no. If you are current on the payments and your equity fits within Oklahoma's exemptions, you keep them and keep paying as before. We run those numbers with you at the consultation, before you commit to anything.
How long does it take?
Most cases run about four months from filing to discharge. Relief from collection calls and garnishments starts the day we file, not at the end.
How long does it stay on my credit?
A Chapter 7 can remain on your credit report for up to ten years. In practice many people see their scores begin to recover within a year or two, because the debt load driving the damage is gone.
Will my employer or my neighbors find out?
Filings are public records, but no notice is sent to your employer and no announcement is made. In practice, almost no one learns of it unless you choose to tell them.
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13?
Chapter 7 discharges debt. Chapter 13 reorganizes it into a payment plan, which can make sense if you are behind on a mortgage you want to keep, or if you do not pass the means test. We will tell you which one fits — including if the answer is neither.
Can I file if I have filed before?
Often yes, depending on how long it has been and which chapter you filed. Bring the dates to the consultation.