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Already Filed Bankruptcy Then Sued By a Creditor? Do This

2 minute read Upsolve is a nonprofit tool that helps you file bankruptcy for free. Think TurboTax for bankruptcy. Get free education, customer support, and community. Featured in Forbes 4x and funded by institutions like Harvard University so we'll never ask you for a credit card. Explore our free tool


In a Nutshell

If you're being sued by a creditor for an unpaid debt but you're in the process of filing bankruptcy, you may be wondering if you need to show up to your court date for the creditor's lawsuit against you. It will depend on when your court date is and where you're at in the process of filing your bankruptcy case.  If you haven't filed your bankruptcy case by the court date for your creditor's lawsuit against you, make sure you attend the hearing. Otherwise, the judge can potentially grant a default judgment against you simply because you didn’t show up. If you have filed your bankruptcy case, it's still a good idea to show up to the hearing to let the judge know. Or you can contact the court clerk prior to the court date to let them know and see what they advise.

Written by Attorney Andrea Wimmer
Updated July 27, 2023


Does Filing Bankruptcy Protect You Against Debt Collection Lawsuits?

Yes.

If you're considering filing a bankruptcy case, you've probably been struggling with your finances for some time. This means that some of your debts may have been charged off by the original creditor and sent to collections. Some creditors or collections agencies may even be suing you to try to collect the past-due debt. If so, you're probably wondering whether or not you need to respond to the creditor's lawsuit.

Your response will depend on when the court date is for the creditor's lawsuit and where you are in the process of filing your bankruptcy case. 

If You've Haven't Yet Filed Your Bankruptcy Case...

It can take some time to get all your documents together and fill out all the required forms to complete your bankruptcy petition. If you're still in the process of filing out your bankruptcy paperwork and you haven't filed your bankruptcy case before you get a debt collection court date, answer the summons and be sure toattend the hearing. If you don't respond to the lawsuit and show up for the hearing, the judge can grant a default judgment against you simply because you didn’t show up. 

Let the court and the creditor know in your response to the lawsuit that you're filing bankruptcy.

If You Filed Your Bankruptcy Case Close to Your Court Date...

If you filed your bankruptcy case just a few days before your court date, it’s best to attend the hearing so you can tell the court and the creditor that sued you that you've filed bankruptcy.

Better yet, call the court clerk’s office a day or so before your court date to tell them about your bankruptcy. They may tell you that you no longer have to show up. This process tends to be different from court to court, so it's best to check in either via phone or in person.

In either case, be sure to have your bankruptcy case number ready in case the clerk or judge asks for it.

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If You're Facing a Debt Collection Lawsuit, Inform the Creditor's Lawyer of Your Bankruptcy

Once you file your bankruptcy case —whether it’s right before the court date or weeks before — you need to let the court and the opposing party know. Since banks and businesses can’t represent themselves in court, your best bet is to call their lawyer. You can find their information on the summons and complaint that informed you of the lawsuit.

For the court, a quick call to the clerk’s office to let them know so they can make a notation in your case docket should do the trick. The creditor that sued you is responsible for making sure that the lawsuit doesn’t continue, but it never hurts to loop the court and the court staff in early.

Bottom line: As soon as you have your bankruptcy case number, call the other side’s lawyer. Let them know that you just filed bankruptcy and what your case number is. This is usually enough to halt all proceedings. Creditors and their lawyers know that they can get in serious trouble if they continue with a lawsuit or other collection actions once an automatic stay is in effect.



Written By:

Attorney Andrea Wimmer

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Andrea practiced exclusively as a bankruptcy attorney in consumer Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases for more than 10 years before joining Upsolve, first as a contributing writer and editor and ultimately joining the team as Managing Editor. While in private practice, Andrea handled... read more about Attorney Andrea Wimmer

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Upsolve is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that started in 2016. Our mission is to help low-income families who cannot afford lawyers file bankruptcy for free, using an online web app. Our team includes lawyers, engineers, and judges. We have world-class funders that include the U.S. government, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, and leading foundations. It's one of the greatest civil rights injustices of our time that low-income families can't access their basic rights when they can't afford to pay for help. Combining direct services and advocacy, we're fighting this injustice.

To learn more, read why we started Upsolve in 2016, our reviews from past users, and our press coverage from places like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.