The attempt of the ex-wife of jailed attorney Marc S. Dreier to collect $7 million in support from his bankruptcy estate suffered a setback this week.

Refusing to lift an automatic stay in the case, Southern District Chief Bankruptcy Judge Stuart M. Bernstein held that Elisa Dreier was not entitled to have a state judge decide whether Mr. Dreier’s non-compliance with a separation agreement accelerated all of the support obligations payable under the pact.