If I filed for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy in 2000 and had a small claims judgment against me in 2003, am I protected from paying the judgment by my bankruptcy?
-- Anonymous
A.
The bankruptcy discharge works on debts that existed as of the day you filed the bankruptcy case. Bankruptcy deals with what you own and what you owe on that date.
If the facts that gave rise to the judgment had already occurred when your case was filed, then the debt was discharged and obtaining a judgment violated the discharge injunction.
If however the facts underlying the judgment happened after the case was filed, the judgment is not affected by your prior bankruptcy discharge.
