Bankruptcy discharge
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A ''discharge'' in [[United States bankruptcy law]], when referring to a debtor's discharge, is a statutory [[injunction]] against the commencement or continuation of an action (or the employment of process, or an act) to collect, recover or offset a [[debt]] as a personal liability of the debtor. The discharge is one of the primary benefits afforded by relief under the [[Bankruptcy Code]] and is essential to the "fresh start" of debtors following bankruptcy that is a central principle under federal bankruptcy law. A discharge of debts is granted to debtors but can be denied or revoked by the court based on certain misconduct of debtors, including fraudulent actions or failure of a debtor to disclose all assets during a bankruptcy case. The debtor's [[credit report]] will retain evidence of the bankruptcy discharge for seven to ten years.
The benefit of the discharge injunction is narrower than (but similar to) the benefit afforded by the [[automatic stay]] in bankruptcy.
U.S. law also provides for specialized discharges in bankruptcy (see below).
==Bankruptcy discharge for the debtor==
In the United States, there are generally seven kinds of debtor discharges in bankruptcy, found in the following statutes:
::{{usc|11|727(a)}} (relating to liquidation bankruptcies for individuals);
::{{usc|11|944(b)}} (relating to municipal bankruptcies);
::{{usc|11|1141(d)(1)(A)}} (relating to discharges resulting from confirmation of a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization);
::{{usc|11|1228(a)}} (relating to certain family farmer or fisherman cases);
::{{usc|11|1228(b)}} (relating to certain family farmer or fisherman cases);
::{{usc|11|1328(a)}} (relating to certain cases involving adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income);
::{{usc|11|1328(b)}} (relating to certain cases involving adjustment of debts of an individual with regular income).
The effect of the debtor's discharge is provided for at {{usc|11|524}}. In addition, certain limitations on the debtor's discharge are described at {{usc|11|523}}.
For more information on the debtor's discharge, see [[Bankruptcy in the United States]].
==Other discharges in bankruptcy==
In the United States, with respect to taxes incurred by the bankruptcy estate (as opposed to the debtor) during case administration, a specialized discharge for the trustee, the debtor, any successor to the debtor, and (for cases commenced on or after October 17, 2005) the bankruptcy estate is provided in {{usc|11|505(b)}}.
At the conclusion of a case the trustee (if any) may be discharged as trustee under {{usc|11|350(a)}}.
[[Category:United States bankruptcy law]]
[[Category:Insolvency law]]
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==References==
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