Chapter 7 bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 10 years from the filing date. Chapter 13 stays for 7 years from the filing date. These are the maximum periods under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the bureaus are required to remove the entry after this time.
Why Chapter 13 drops off sooner: Congress decided that people who attempted to repay their debts through a Chapter 13 plan (which takes 3 to 5 years) should be rewarded with a shorter reporting period compared to Chapter 7, which discharges debts without repayment. In practice, though, someone who files Chapter 13 finishes their plan 3 to 5 years after filing, then has the bankruptcy on their report for another 2 to 4 years. A Chapter 7 filer gets a clean slate in 3 to 4 months but carries the mark for a full decade.
What shows on your report: The bankruptcy filing itself appears in the public records section. Individual accounts included in the bankruptcy will show "included in bankruptcy" or "discharged in bankruptcy." These individual account notations also follow the 7-year rule for negative information (from the date of first delinquency), so some may drop off before the bankruptcy itself does.
The impact fades before it disappears. A bankruptcy from 8 years ago has minimal impact on your credit score. Most of the damage happens in the first 2 to 3 years. After that, positive credit activity (on-time payments, low utilization, diverse account types) gradually outweighs the bankruptcy's negative effect. Many people who filed Chapter 7 have credit scores above 700 within 3 to 4 years of their discharge.
Other records that last longer: The bankruptcy court record is permanent (federal court records don't expire). It's publicly searchable through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This generally only matters for certain government jobs, security clearances, or professional licenses. Most employers, landlords, and lenders only check credit reports, not court records.
When it should be removed: Mark your calendar for the 7-year (Chapter 13) or 10-year (Chapter 7) anniversary of your filing date. If the bankruptcy is still on your credit report after that date, dispute it with all three bureaus. Include a copy of your discharge papers showing the filing date. It should be removed within 30 days of your dispute.
Some credit repair companies promise to remove bankruptcy early. This is almost always a waste of money. The bureaus are required to report accurate information for the allowable period. Legitimate early removal only happens if there's an actual error (wrong filing date, someone else's bankruptcy on your report, etc.).