can my ex stop paying court ordered permanent maintenance if he has a bankruptcy stay?

The Stay language language can be found in section 362.  There is exclusion language that may apply to you contained in that section.  An attorney should review your order for payment in light of this section and then advise you.  Collection action may lie. As to any discharge date, it depends.  First, the Debtor must complete and file a Debtor's Ed Certificate or the case will merely be closed and no discharge entered.  If a Chapter 7 was filed, the discharge date should be about 65 days from the date of the 1st meeting.  This is because Creditors have 60 days to object and the discharge is set for entry thereafter.  As the Debt to you should be automatically excepted under section 562(a)(5) as support, you may not need to file any objection here.  The forms sent to you from the Clerk should have all of this information.  If a Chapter 13 was filed - this is commonly referred to as a wage earner's plan - the bankruptcy could extend up to 5 years.  However, a budget needs to be filed disclosing the payment to you going forward AND provide for any arrearage owed to you in the Plan. From your email, there appears to be no payment scheduled (as it is not happening).  You also need to be sure that nothing is needed to be filed in the BK proceeding.  This suggests that you need an attorney - quickly.  The above can be reviewed and a strategy for enforcement made - either in the Bankruptcy Court or the Divorce Court. Should you not have an attorney versed in BK and post-decree enforcement, you can call your county bar association for a referral.