Bankruptcy Process

Once you have made the decision to file for bankruptcy and we have discussed which chapter best suits your needs, my office will request some basic information from you. You can get a start on this process by downloading the Client Intake Form and filling out prior to our visit.

Once we have all of the necessary paperwork, we will review your file and proceed with the actual filing of your bankruptcy. It is important to know that all attorney fees and filing fees must be paid PRIOR to the filing of your bankruptcy. However, I understand that not everyone can afford to pay right away, so I offer flexible monthly payment options. To find out more about these plans, please contact me.

 

Timeline

Credit Counseling	Before filing (I will tell you when to do this)
Filing	After all paperwork is reviewed, signed and fees paid
Creditor's Meeting	30 days after filing
Discharge	60 days after Creditor's Meeting
Case Closed	Approximately 7 days after discharge

The creditor's meeting is held in Bay City, MI. You are required to attend this meeting. At the creditor's meeting, the Trustee will ask you a series of questions regarding the truthfulness of the forms that we submitted for your bankruptcy. I will attend this meeting with you. If you are reaffirming any debt, this may happen at this meeting.

Creditors are invited to the meeting, though most creditors do not come. Creditors who do attend are usually those with secured interests in the debtor's assets or creditors who think they have been defrauded.

Creditors are permitted to ask the debtor questions under oath. However, neither the Trustee nor the creditors can take any action at the meeting to dismiss your case --- it is a fact-finding meeting. Most 341 meetings are short, sweet and uneventful. 

The debtor does not have to justify filing bankruptcy.