{"id":286971,"date":"2016-04-04T10:41:54","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T15:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/bankruptcy\/what-is-bankruptcy\/the-automatic-stay-stopping-creditors-with-bankruptcy.html"},"modified":"2026-07-01T11:44:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T16:44:12","slug":"the-automatic-stay-stopping-creditors-with-bankruptcy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/bankruptcy\/what-is-bankruptcy\/the-automatic-stay-stopping-creditors-with-bankruptcy.html","title":{"rendered":"What Does the Automatic Stay Do in Bankruptcy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Does the Automatic Stay Do in Bankruptcy?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Susan Buckner, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

An automatic stay<\/span> is a court order<\/span> that immediately stops most creditor collection actions when you file for bankruptcy. This protection begins the moment your bankruptcy petition<\/span> is filed and prohibits creditors from calling you, garnishing<\/span> your wages, foreclosing on your home, pursuing lawsuits, or repossessing<\/span> property. The automatic stay<\/span> provides breathing room to address your debts through bankruptcy.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

An automatic stay provides you with relief from creditors during bankruptcy proceedings. Once you file for bankruptcy, the trustee will transfer your assets to the bankruptcy estate<\/a>, and an automatic stay<\/span> will protect you from creditors and bill collectors.<\/p>\n

An automatic stay<\/span> is just that. It begins on the day you file for bankruptcy and pauses some lawsuits and collection efforts<\/span> against you until your bankruptcy is final. The stay is automatic as soon as a debtor files<\/span>. Under the federal code, 11 U.S.C<\/span>. \u00a7 362<\/u><\/a>, the stay freezes all actions against the debtor by any creditors named in the filing.<\/p>\n

The automatic stay<\/span> lasts until:<\/p>\n