What to expect during your bankruptcy filing
INITIAL CONSULTATION
During initial consultation Mr. Clark will discuss your specific situation, explain the details of bankruptcy, review fees and costs, prepare initial paperwork and provide you with a list of documents you will need.
CERTIFICATE OF CREDIT COUNSELING
Bankruptcy Court requires that all debtors acquire a credit counseling certificate. Counseling providers are available on our site and will be provided during your initial consultation.
PROCESSING COURT DOCUMENTS
Once you return your questionnaire to our office, our staff will prepare court documents for your review and signature.
INVENTORY INSPECTION
Mr. Clark sometimes may schedule an appointment with you to come to your home and go over the personal property inventory list you have provided in your questionnaire.
FILING YOUR CASE
At this point we are ready to complete documentation, bring your account up to date, and file your case with the Bankruptcy Court electronically.
NOTICE OF CREDITOR MEETING (341 HEARING)
Within a couple of weeks you will receive, by mail, correspondence from the bankruptcy court. There will be a document informing you of your court appointed trustee. items required by the court, and your court date information.
CREDITOR MEETING (341 HEARING) for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
On the date and time of your scheduled creditor meeting, you will attend a creditor meeting with your lawyer and the appointed trustee. Mr. Clark will inform you of your options in your initial consultation.
Your trustee will also ask you a few questions. This meeting will probably last 5 to 10 minutes and will be based on the information provided in the documents we initially filed with the court. Most Chapter 7 Bankruptcy debtors NEVER see the inside of any real court room. Under normal procedures in Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, the creditor meeting is the only court scheduled date you will attend.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy debtors will also have to attend a Confirmation Hearing before the Judge to
decide if the Chapter 13 Plan is acceptable. A Chapter 13 plan payment can continue for up to five
years.
DISCHARGE
Normally, in 60 days of your creditor meeting a discharge of your unsecured debt
is issued by the court. Shortly thereafter, you will receive a FINAL DECREE releasing your trustee
and closing your case.
Please feel free to contact our office if you have further questions.