Discharge
The release of a person from a legal obligation. In criminal law, it means completing a sentence. In bankruptcy, it means being released from the duty to pay certain debts.
Discharge has different meanings depending on the legal context:
In criminal law, discharge means the completion of a sentence, including any probation, parole, or supervised release period. The date of discharge is important because it starts the clock on waiting periods for expungement eligibility.
In bankruptcy, a discharge is a court order that releases you from the legal obligation to pay certain debts. After receiving a bankruptcy discharge, creditors can no longer try to collect those debts from you.
In employment law, discharge means being fired or terminated from a job.
Why it matters: The date of your discharge from a criminal sentence determines when you can petition for expungement of your record. In bankruptcy, your discharge date is when you officially get a fresh financial start. Keep documentation of your discharge date.
Example: A person completes their probation for a misdemeanor conviction on March 1, 2024. Their “date of discharge” is March 1, 2024. Under Minnesota law, they can petition for expungement two years later, on or after March 1, 2026.
Completing probation, bankruptcy proceedings, expungement eligibility, end of prison sentence