The duration of a company’s bankruptcy cannot be calculated by adding every procedure together. Some stages may never be introduced, while litigation and asset sales affect the end date. This guide covers an ordinary Russian legal entity; special categories require separate analysis.
Legal sources reviewed: 3 October 2026 · Pavel Petrov
7 months
Article 51 sets a general time limit for consideration of the case from receipt of the petition by the court. It does not promise liquidation within seven months.
Up to 6 months
The initial liquidation procedure term. The court may extend it on an application by a participant in the case.
Check the case
A practical timetable requires court orders, notices and information about unfinished actions.
Time limits for corporate bankruptcy stages
The law regulates individual processes, rather than a universal period between the first petition and deletion from the company register. Observation, financial rehabilitation, external administration and liquidation are not necessarily a compulsory sequence. The next route depends on the grounds established in the case.
| Stage | General statutory limit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Consideration of the case | No more than 7 months from receipt of the petition by the court — Article 51 | A procedural consideration limit, not a limit for the entire liquidation |
| Observation | The timetable is connected to consideration of the case and the court order | Introduction date, final hearing and the next procedure selected |
| Financial rehabilitation | No more than 2 years — Article 80 | The repayment schedule approved by the court |
| External administration | No more than 18 months, with an extension of up to 6 months unless the law provides otherwise — Article 93 | The term in the court order and grounds for extension |
| Liquidation procedure | Initially up to 6 months; extension on an application is possible for no more than 6 months — Article 124 | The latest court order, reason for extension and next review date |
Do not mechanically add these limits together. The case may end through a settlement or termination on statutory grounds. Special and simplified procedures require a separate timetable.
Documents for checking the duration
- The commercial court case record and petition receipt date.
- Orders accepting the petition and introducing procedures, decisions and extension orders.
- Procedure notices, auction information and creditors’ meeting results.
- Information about pending disputes and implementation of the plan or repayment schedule.
- For completed liquidation, the court order and an up-to-date company register extract.
A creditor should maintain a separate deadline calendar. Filing a claim, lodging objections and appealing decisions are not tied to a single overall end date. A missed register filing deadline is not remedied merely because liquidation is still continuing.
How to build a working timetable
- Identify the current stage. Use the latest court order rather than an old news item about the debtor.
- Record the next review date. Note the hearing, the procedure term and grounds for the last extension.
- Check unfinished actions. Are assets still being sold? Are transactions disputed? Is recovery of a receivable pending? Identify the actual obstacle.
- Keep creditor deadlines separate. Put claim filing and procedural actions on their own lines.
- Verify the outcome. The order completing liquidation and the registration entry are different events.
Why a case may outlast its initial term
The asset portfolio, availability of records, auction results, separate disputes and appeals can affect the duration. Expiry of the initial term does not automatically terminate the case or make the debt uncollectable for every purpose. An extension must be assessed against the law and facts, rather than a single number of months.
Frequently asked questions
Does a company’s bankruptcy always end within seven months?
No. Article 51 concerns consideration of the case. The liquidation procedure and registration completion follow their own rules.
Must every procedure follow the previous one?
No. Rehabilitation and external administration require statutory grounds. The case can proceed to liquidation or end by another method permitted by law.
Does the debt disappear after the initial six months?
No. Expiry of the initial liquidation term does not by itself extinguish the obligation or prove that the debtor has been liquidated.
When is the company considered liquidated?
Following completion of liquidation, check the court order and the liquidation entry in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities. A notice announcing bankruptcy is insufficient.
Related guides
- Corporate bankruptcy: general procedure
- Closure of the creditors’ register
- Termination of corporate bankruptcy proceedings
Review your documents before taking action
Pavel Petrov can review the case stage, evidence and proposed procedural steps. Bring the case number and relevant documents so the advice addresses your situation.
Initial consultationLegal sources
The guide concerns Russian corporate bankruptcy. Future statutory amendments are not applied before their effective date.