What happens after the debtor is discharged?
A debtor will normally be bankrupt for one year. After this period they may be discharged.
Although the debtor is discharged, the administration of the bankruptcy continues until the trustee has done everything they need to and they are discharged from their duties. A debtor must continue to co-operate with the trustee until the trustee's discharge.
If the debtor is making a contribution they must continue to pay it to the trustee even after they have been discharged.
How does the trustee receive their discharge?
The trustee remains in office as long as necessary to conclude the administration of the debtor's estate. It is only when the trustee has dealt with all of the estate and accounted for the work they have done that they can seek their own discharge.
When the trustee has finished the administration, they must complete the sederunt book and, where the trustee was not the Accountant in Bankruptcy, send it to the Accountant.
They may, at the same time, apply to the Accountant for their own discharge. The Accountant in Bankruptcy will examine the sederunt book and, if there have been no objections, grant a certificate of discharge.