The Automatic Stay is a provision in bankruptcy law that immediately goes into effect once a person files for bankruptcy. It prevents creditors from taking any further collection actions against the debtor, such as lawsuits, garnishments, foreclosures, or repossessions. This protection gives the debtor some breathing room to work out a repayment plan or discharge their debts through bankruptcy without the constant threat of legal action from creditors. In a Gilbert bankruptcy, the Automatic Stay protects the debtor by halting all collection efforts by creditors, providing them with temporary relief and the opportunity to address their financial situation.