Automatic Stay

This court order is for those annoying bill collectors (creditors) to stop destroying your credit and to stop harassing you, once bankruptcy is filed. If your creditors fail to file a motion to continue collection efforts, then you can sue. If they file a motion, then you (the debtor) can oppose the motion at a hearing in front of a judge.

An automatic stay can prevent you from getting kicked out of your home (foreclosure or eviction), and your lights from getting cut off.

However, this injunction cannot protect you from the IRS (of course). There's some other areas that lie beyond its power as well. Things like child support, criminal proceedings and loans from a pension. If you file bankruptcy, once notified, creditors will automatically stay off your credit.