Chapter 7 is the most commonly used provision of bankruptcy.  It involves the filing of a petition with the United States Bankruptcy Court.  Within 30 days or so a Sec. 341 “first meeting of creditors” is held at which time the debtor answers questions of the trustee and creditors.  Certain documentation is required to be provided.  The trustee takes charge of the debtor’s assets that are not exempt and liquidates them for the benefit of creditors.  In about 60 days the clerk of court enters a discharge and the case is concluded successfully.  In most cases debts are discharged and a fresh start is obtained for the debtor.  We do these kinds of cases for a flat fee that is established in advance.  There is a great deal more to chapter 7 bankruptcy, but this is the basic framework in every state.