Local Rule 4007. CHAPTER 13 DISCHARGE AND CHAPTER 13 CLOSING CASE

(a) Standard discharge. In a completed case, within forty-five (45) days after both the final distribution to the creditors and the expiration of any applicable time periods set forth in Fed. R. Bankr. P. 3002.1, the trustee must file with the court the Chapter 13 Final Account and Report. The trustee must provide at least twenty-eight (28) days’ notice to all creditors and the Chapter 13 Final Account and Report must set a date for objections.

(1) If no objection is timely filed to the Chapter 13 Final Account and Report, a discharge may be issued if the debtor is otherwise eligible to receive a discharge.

(2) If an objection to the Chapter 13 Final Account and Report is timely filed, within twenty-one (21) days of filing that objection, the objecting party must schedule a hearing and provide at least twenty-one (21) days’ notice to the trustee, debtor(s), and attorney for debtor(s).

(3) If a hearing on the objection to the Chapter 13 Final Account and Report is not timely noticed, the objection, unless otherwise ordered by the court, will be deemed withdrawn and the chapter 13 trustee will proceed to close the case.

(4) Any debtor seeking entry of a discharge under 11 U.S.C. § 1328, must complete and file the local certificate of compliance form within thirty (30) days after receiving the court’s notice of the requirement to file the certificate of compliance. This notice will be sent to the debtor and the debtor’s attorney of record after the objection period to the trustee’s Chapter 13 Final Account and Report has passed. The certificate of compliance form is available on the court’s website. In a joint case, both debtors must complete this form. The attorney for the debtor (or clerk, if the debtor is pro se) must serve a copy of the certificate of compliance form on all creditors. If the form has not been filed after the objection period to the trustee’s Chapter 13 Final Account and Report has passed, the court will send the notice of requirement to file the form. This notice will be sent to the debtor and debtor’s attorney of record. Failure to file the form within thirty (30) days after the court’s notice is issued will result in the case being closed without a discharge.

(A) If no objection is filed within twenty-one (21) days after the service of the certificate of compliance, a discharge may be issued if the debtor is otherwise eligible to receive a discharge.

(B) If an objection is timely filed to the certificate of compliance, the discharge may be withheld until the objection is resolved by the court.

(C) If the debtor fails to timely file certificate of compliance, the case may be closed without entry of a discharge.

(b) Hardship discharge. A hardship discharge is requested through a motion for hardship discharge filed by the debtor under 11 U.S.C. Section 1328(b). Upon the filing of the motion, the debtor will schedule a hearing pursuant to LR 9014. The clerk will enter an order under Fed. R. Bankr. P. 4007(d) fixing the time to file a complaint to determine the dischargeability of any debt under Section 523(a)(6) and give no less than thirty (30) days’ notice to all creditors of the time fixed to file an objection in the manner provided in Fed. R. Bankr. P.2002. If no objection is filed to the motion for hardship discharge, the debtor is eligible for hardship discharge subject to the conditions set forth in subsection (B) below.

(1) If an objection to the motion for hardship discharge is filed, the objection must be resolved before the granting of a hardship discharge.

(2) When the motion for a hardship discharge is filed under 11 U.S.C. § 1328(b), the debtor must complete and file the local certificate of compliance form. This form is available on the court’s website. In a joint case, both debtors must complete this form.

(A) The attorney for the debtor (or clerk, if the debtor is pro se) must serve a copy of the certificate of compliance form on all creditors.

(B) If no objection to the certificate of compliance is filed within fourteen (14) days after the service of the certificate of compliance form, a discharge may be issued if the debtor is otherwise eligible to receive a discharge.

(C) If an objection is timely filed to the certificate of compliance, it may be considered at the hearing on the debtor’s motion for hardship discharge.