After filing for bankruptcy, individuals will have to wait for their official court hearing. Most states do require that individuals filing bankruptcy attend this meeting. After attendance, a period of 30 to 60 days is likely prior to a judge discharging the bankruptcy. The bankruptcy is official discharged when an individual received documentation of it from the courts through the U.S. mail service. At this point, all debts included in the bankruptcy are no longer the responsibility of the debtor, though he can repay them if he so chooses to do so. Bankruptcy will remain on the debtor's credit report for up to ten years from the discharge date. If it remains on their credit report longer than this, individuals should contact the credit-reporting agency to have it removed.