Glossary · People and paperwork
Discharge Order
In short
A discharge order is a court order that releases a debtor from personal liability for certain debts after a bankruptcy proceeding. It means creditors cannot pursue those discharged debts.
What it means in a deal
If you've had a prior bankruptcy, the SBA wants to see the discharge order to confirm that the relevant debts were legally resolved. The date of discharge is also crucial, as recent bankruptcies can still pose eligibility issues, even if debts are discharged. Provide this documentation proactively.
Official sources
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-15. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Related terms
Defined by CapBench SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-15 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
Know what you'll need before you apply
Tell us about the deal and who's buying — we'll flag the guaranty, eligibility, and paperwork issues that slow SBA approval before they cost you time.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day
Backed by data on 1,000+ SBA lenders and 300,000+ funded deals. Your details go only to lending partners you ask to be matched with — never sold to advertisers.