IN MATTER OF ROSS (Bankr.N.D.Ind. 3-31-2008)


IN THE MATTER OF: BRIAN J. ROSS MARY B. ROSS Debtors.

CASE NO. 07-13537.United States Bankruptcy Court, N.D. Indiana, Fort Wayne Division.
March 31, 2008

DECISION AND ORDER DENYING MOTION TO STAY THE CLOSURE OF THIS CASE
ROBERT GRANT, Bankruptcy Judge

The debtors received a discharge March 24, 2008. On March 28, 2008, debtors filed a Motion to stay the closure of this case to permit the filing of a reaffirmation agreement.

Reaffirmation agreements which come after the debtor has received a discharge are unenforceable and of no legal significance. In re Herrera, 380 B.R. 446, (Bankr. W.D. Texas 2007); In re Stewart, 355 B.R. 636 (Bankr. N.D. Ohio 2006); In re Whitmer, 142 B.R. 811, 814 (Bankr. S.D. Ohio 1992); In reBrinkman, 123 B.R. 611, 612 (Bankr. N.D. Ind. 1991). In this case, the time to enter into a valid agreement to pay a pre-petition debt has passed, see, 11 U.S.C. § 524(c)(1), and the court lacks the authority to approve a belated one. Whitmer, 142 B.R. at 814. Consequently, it would seem that no purpose could be served by holding this case open. The motion to do so is, therefore, DENIED.

SO ORDERED.