Will I get arrested for failure to show in court for a debt?

In most states, failure to appear can result in a contempt finding and subject to arrest to appear and answer for said contempt. Filing for bankruptcy will stay any related proceedings.

If there is an Order of Examination (sometimes called an OEX) failure to appear can cause a bench warrant for arrest. Bankuptcy will not solve the problem of showing up for an OEX.

No, you won't get arrested (unless you were ordered by the judge to be there, in which case you would be jailed for contempt of court). If you don't defend yourself in a civil action, the likely result is a default judgment against you. Yes, bankruptcy can generally discharge judgments, but I wouldn't simply ignore a pending case against you. If you are looking for an attorney and are in my area, please contact me for a free consultation.

There is no debtors' jail in California. Las Vegas, I hear, has one for Casino patrons who skip out on the bill (like Charles Barkley). If you file for bankruptcy relief, the lawsuit by the credit card will be frozen for a while and ultimately dismissed once you give notice of your bankruptcy filing and get your bankruptcy discharge.

Debt collection lawsuits are civil in nature. Therefore, failing to show up for a hearing may result in a money judgment against you. You can file bankruptcy in order to prevent the suit from progressing any further. The automatic stay nullifies any subsequent actions in state court to collect on most obligations arising prior to the filing date of the bankruptcy petition.

The only time you can be arrested for not showing up in court is when the judge has ordered you to appear personally. Usually that happens when the creditor has a judgment against you and has requested that the court issue an order of examination. You are then are ordered to appear in court personally to answer questions about your income and assets. If fail to show up then the judge issues a civil bench warrant for your arrest and the police either comes to your house to get you or whenever they stop you for any other reason and find you are wanted then you will be taken into custody and delivered to the courtroom of the judge that issued the civil bench warrant (unless the judge allows you to post bail if arrested). Otherwise, if you fail to show up the judge simply rules against you and gives the creditor whatever the creditor has requested, including costs, interest, attorneys' fees, punitive damages, etc. It is assumed that if you do not go to court then you are not contesting whatever the creditor has requested. This is called a judgment by default.