Chapter 7 bankruptcies take about three months from the date of the filing to the date you receive your discharge. Chapter 13 bankruptcies typically take three to five years from start to finish. In more cases, Chapter 13 bankruptcies aren’t time-sensitive and you should therefore only file bankruptcy if you are convinced that it is the right choice for you.  However, in some situations, it may be necessary to move quickly — as in the case of filing for bankruptcy in order to stop a house foreclosure auction.