Bar Date

Category: legal

The strict, court-ordered deadline by which all creditors must file their Proof of Claim against the debtor.

The bar date is the "drop-dead deadline." Bankruptcy courts use it to figure out exactly how much total debt the estate owes so they can finalize the math of the reorganization. Missing the bar date by even one day generally means forfeiting your right to payment permanently.

Common Examples

• We rushed the paperwork to external counsel to ensure our claim was docketed before the Friday afternoon bar date.
• Any claims filed after the official bar date are classified as tardy and are typically disallowed by the bankruptcy judge.