Rebuilding credit after Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy (2026)

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

Ten years from the filing date for Chapter 7 and seven years for Chapter 13, according to Experian. An accurate bankruptcy can't be taken off early.

Experian counts both from the date you filed, not the date of discharge ^[1]. Chapter 13 drops off three years sooner because you repay part of what you owe through a plan ^[1]. Credit Karma gives the same 10 and seven years ^[3]. The full list of how long other items stay is in how long negative items stay.

Experian says you can't have a bankruptcy taken off your report if the information is accurate. The main exception is an involuntary petition a creditor filed improperly, where the court can bar reporting ^[2]. A wrong filing date can be disputed ^[2].

How do discharged accounts show up on your credit report?

They should read included in bankruptcy or discharged, with a $0 balance. Their late payments follow their own seven-year clock from the first delinquency.

Credit Karma says accounts in the case typically show as "included in bankruptcy" or "discharged" with a $0 balance ^[3]. The late payments, charge-offs or collections on those accounts come off seven years from the original delinquency, the first missed payment that was never brought current ^[2]. That clock is separate from the bankruptcy's. An account that was already behind before you filed can drop off before the bankruptcy itself does ^[3].

A discharge releases you from personal liability for most debts and stops those creditors from collecting ^[4]. Some debts survive it. US Courts lists alimony, child support, certain taxes and certain student loans for Chapter 7 ^[4], and long term debts like a home mortgage for Chapter 13 ^[5]. Those accounts can keep reporting as open and owed.

What should you check on your credit reports after discharge?

That every account in the case shows as discharged with a $0 balance, that nothing outside the case is marked that way, and that the filing date is right.

You can get a free report from each of the three bureaus once a week through AnnualCreditReport.com, the FTC says ^[8]. How to pull them is in free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com.

• Every account listed in your bankruptcy shows "included in bankruptcy" or "discharged" with a $0 balance ^[3].
• Only those accounts carry that note. An account you kept and paid shouldn't ^[3].
• The bankruptcy's filing date is correct, since both reporting periods count from it ^[1][2].
• There are no negative items you don't recognise ^[2].

Dispute anything wrong with the bureau that shows it. Credit Karma says corrections can take a couple of months to appear ^[3]. The steps and deadlines are in how to dispute a credit report error.

Do you have to take a course after filing for bankruptcy?

Yes. With limited exceptions you must finish a debtor education course after you file, from a provider on the U.S. Trustee Program's list, to get a discharge.

There are two courses. Credit counseling comes first, within 180 days before you file ^[4]. Debtor education is a separate course taken after filing, and with limited exceptions you need it to receive a discharge ^[6]. The provider has to be on the U.S. Trustee Program's list ^[6]. US Courts lists not finishing a financial management course as a reason a Chapter 7 discharge can be denied ^[4], and a Chapter 13 discharge requires it too ^[5].

The Trustee Program says the course lasts at least two hours and can be taken in person, by phone or online. A certificate is issued only after you finish it ^[7]. If your household income is under 150% of the poverty level, you're presumed entitled to a fee waiver or reduction ^[7]. Check your court's deadline for filing the certificate.

How do you start rebuilding credit after bankruptcy?

With new payments made on time. A secured card or credit builder loan reports fresh payment history to the bureaus while the bankruptcy ages.

With a secured card, you put down a deposit equal to your credit limit, so the line starts small. The CFPB says fees and rates can be high, but using one can help you establish a credit record. As you pay on time your limit may go up and you may get the deposit back ^[9]. Ask the issuer which bureaus it reports to. We compared 12 credit builder loans and cards on cost and bureau reporting in credit builders compared.

On time means the payment reaches the company by the due date, so the CFPB suggests sending it a few days early ^[9]. Keep balances low against your limit too. The math is in credit utilization.

How long after bankruptcy can you get a mortgage?

FHA and VA look at two years after a Chapter 7 discharge, Fannie Mae four. Chapter 13 can be 12 months into the plan for FHA and VA, with court sign-off.

These are the minimums set by the agency behind each loan, read from their own handbooks. They count from the discharge or dismissal date, not the filing date the credit report uses.

• FHA, Chapter 7: at least two years since discharge when the lender gets the FHA case number. Twelve to 24 months can be accepted if the bankruptcy came from circumstances beyond your control and you've handled money responsibly since ^[10].
• FHA, Chapter 13: at least 12 months of the plan's payout period, all payments on time in the last 12 months, and written permission from the bankruptcy court ^[10].
• VA, Chapter 7: a discharge more than two years before closing can be disregarded. One to two years needs new credit paid well since and a cause beyond your control. Under 12 months is generally not workable ^[11].
• VA, Chapter 13: after all plan payments, the lender may treat your credit as re-established. After 12 months of payments, with the trustee or judge signing off on the new credit, it may give favorable consideration ^[11].
• Fannie Mae, Chapter 7: four years from discharge or dismissal, or two with documented extenuating circumstances ^[12].
• Fannie Mae, Chapter 13: two years from discharge, with no exceptions, or four from dismissal ^[12].
• Freddie Mac, manually underwritten loans: 48 months from a Chapter 7 discharge or dismissal; 24 months after a Chapter 13 discharge or 48 from dismissal. With extenuating circumstances, 24 months for any bankruptcy ^[13].

More than one bankruptcy in seven years means a five-year wait for Fannie Mae, or three with extenuating circumstances ^[12], and 60 months for Freddie Mac ^[13]. Fannie Mae also won't count credit as re-established on nontraditional credit or a thin file ^[12]. Ask your lender what it requires on top of these.

What does a rebuild timeline after bankruptcy look like?

Counseling before you file, the course after, a check of all three reports once discharged, then new on-time payments while the waiting periods run.

1. Take credit counseling before you file It has to be within the 180 days before the petition ^[4].
2. Finish debtor education after you file Use a provider on the U.S. Trustee Program's list and file the certificate, or you may not get a discharge ^[6].
3. Wait for the discharge In Chapter 7 the court usually issues it 60 to 90 days after the first date set for the meeting of creditors ^[4]. In Chapter 13 it comes after the last plan payment, three or five years in ^[5].
4. Pull all three reports Check that each account in the case shows as discharged with a $0 balance, and dispute anything wrong ^[3].
5. Open one way to build payment history A secured card or credit builder loan that reports to the bureaus, paid on time every month ^[9].
6. Track the mortgage waits from your discharge date FHA can look at a Chapter 13 after 12 months of plan payments; Fannie Mae's standard after a Chapter 7 is four years from discharge ^[10][12].
7. Check the bankruptcy is gone at seven or 10 years Count from the filing date, and contact the bureaus if it's still showing ^[1][3].

What mistakes slow down rebuilding after bankruptcy?

The big ones are skipping the debtor education course and never checking your reports once the discharge comes through.

• Skipping the debtor education course. With limited exceptions, there's no discharge without it ^[6].
• Assuming the reports updated themselves. Accounts can be marked wrong, and only a dispute gets them fixed ^[3].
• Paying a company that says it can take an accurate bankruptcy off your report. Experian says that can't be done ^[2].
• Counting mortgage waits from the filing date. The agencies count from discharge or dismissal ^[10][12].