what documentation should i have when i go to a bankruptcy attorney

by Donavon Jacobs 4 min read

The most important, mandatory documents to bring to your initial bankruptcy consultation are a list of your outstanding debts and a list of your assets, focusing on major assets, such as houses, cars, boats, trailers, timeshares and the like.

Although the specific documents may vary depending on your type of case and the district you file, you will at least need to gather the following before filing your petition: Your tax returns. Pay stubs. Appraisals of your home, jewelry, and other exempt assets.Jun 30, 2021

Full Answer

What documents do I need to start a bankruptcy?

Listed below is a more expansive list of documents that you should bring during the first meetings with a bankruptcy lawyer: All financial documents, including bank account statements, receipts for major purchases, wage statements, and tax returns;

What documents do you need in order to file bankruptcy?

Feb 28, 2018 · What Documents You’ll Need If You File Chapter 7 or Chapter 13. If you and your attorney decide to go forward with your case, you likely will be provided with a detailed checklist of all the other myriad documents needed, such as loan payoffs, copies of titles, copies of tax returns, six months of pay advices, deeds of trust, proof of insurance, and on and on.

What forms are needed to file bankruptcy?

Jul 15, 2011 · After your initial meeting with the lawyer, they will present you with a wealth of papers you will need to fill out. You must fill out all of the information referring to your revenue, whether it is earned or unearned revenue such as retirement or disability as well as any gifts, prizes or prizes that you’ve received in the immediate 6 months before declaring bankruptcy.

What information do I need to file for bankruptcy?

Recent bank and retirement account statements must be provided to the bankruptcy trustee for all accounts. Identification When you go to your hearing with the trustee, you will be asked to show valid photo identification such as a driver's license and proof of your social security number. Other Documents

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What should I take to a bankruptcy consultation?

What Should I Bring When Meeting With a Bankruptcy Lawyer?All financial documents, including bank account statements, receipts for major purchases, wage statements, and tax returns;A list of your creditors that you owe money, and their contact information, account numbers, and how much money you owe each one;More items...•Dec 1, 2020

What documents are needed for Chapter 7?

Documents You'll Need to Complete Chapter 7 Formssix months of paycheck stubs.six months of bank statements.tax returns (the last two years)current investment and retirement statements.current mortgage and car loan statements.home and car valuations (printouts from online sources work)More items...

How do I prepare for a bankruptcy hearing?

To prepare for bankruptcy hearings, you should review your bankruptcy forms and any instructions provided by the court. The First Meeting of Creditors is a five to ten-minute hearing. The Chapter 7 trustee asks questions about your income, expenses, debts, and assets.Sep 3, 2020

What should you not do before filing bankruptcy?

Here are common mistakes you should avoid before filing for bankruptcy.Lying about Your Assets. ... Not Consulting an Attorney. ... Giving Assets (Or Payments) To Family Members. ... Running Up Credit Card Debt. ... Taking on New Debt. ... Raiding The 401(k) ... Transferring Property to Family or Friends. ... Not Doing Your Research.

What happens to your bank account when you file Chapter 7?

In most Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases, nothing happens to the filer's bank account. As long as the money in your account is protected by an exemption, your bankruptcy filing won't affect it.Feb 6, 2021

How much do you have to be in debt to file Chapter 7?

Again, there's no minimum or maximum amount of unsecured debt required to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. In fact, your amount of debt doesn't affect your eligibility at all. You can file as long as you pass the means test. One thing that does matter is when you incurred your unsecured debt.Feb 22, 2022

What is a bankruptcy information sheet?

BANKRUPTCY LAW IS A FEDERAL LAW. THIS SHEET GIVES YOU SOME GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN A BANKRUPTCY CASE. ... A translated copy of the Bankruptcy Information Sheet is available in Adobe PDF format in the several languages.

What questions does a bankruptcy trustee ask?

Common Bankruptcy Trustee QuestionsDid you review your bankruptcy petition and schedules before you filed them with the court?Is all of the information contained in your bankruptcy papers true and correct to the best of your knowledge?Did you disclose all of your assets?

What happens at a 341 meeting?

341 meetings are held in a meeting room or a courtroom. When the case is called, the bankruptcy trustee will place the debtor under oath, and ask to see a photo ID and documentation of the debtor's social security number.

Should I close my bank account before filing bankruptcy?

What you'll want to do is open checking and savings accounts at a bank that doesn't service any of your debt and use the new account for banking purposes before filing bankruptcy. Again, you don't need to close other accounts—leave them open and report all accounts when filling out your bankruptcy paperwork.

How far back does a bankruptcy trustee look?

two yearsYour bankruptcy trustee can ask for up to two years of bank statements. The trustee will look at your statements to verify your monthly payments to make sure they match the expenses you put on your bankruptcy forms.Dec 6, 2021

Do you get out of all debts if you declare bankruptcy?

If you're experiencing severe debt problems, filing for bankruptcy can be a powerful remedy. It stops most lawsuits, wage garnishments, and other collection activities. It also eliminates many types of debt, including credit card balances, medical bills, personal loans, and more.

What Documents Do You Need to File For Bankruptcy?

The documents you’ll need are the same whether you are filing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy or Chapter 13 matter, with slight variations. However, for exa...

Retirement and Bank Accounts

Recent bank and retirement account statements must be provided to the bankruptcy trustee for all accounts.IdentificationWhen you go to your hearing...

What Information Do You Need to Complete The Bankruptcy Forms?

Most of the information you’ll need to fill out your bankruptcy paperwork will be in those documents, including asset value and income information....

Credit Counseling Requirement

In addition to the documents above, the law requires that you complete a credit counseling class and obtain a certificate before you can file for b...

Bankruptcy Consultation Documents: What to Bring to Your First Meeting with Your Lawyer

The most important, mandatory documents to bring to your initial bankruptcy consultation are a list of your outstanding debts and a list of your assets, focusing on major assets, such as houses, cars, boats, trailers, timeshares and the like.

Contact a Bankruptcy Attorney Today for a Free Consultation

If you are thinking of filing for bankruptcy, you are not alone. Lawyers can help you decided whether or not you even need to file a bankruptcy, but if you do, they’ll let you know which chapter would be most appropriate.

What information do you need to file for bankruptcy?

What Information Do You Need to Complete the Bankruptcy Forms? Most of the information you'll need to fill out your bankruptcy paperwork will be in those documents, including asset value and income information. For example, you'll use the income documentation to calculate your average monthly income.

How to get a credit report for bankruptcy?

Start by finding loan statements or bills so that you can list each of your creditors in the bankruptcy. Alternatively, you can obtain a credit report that shows all your debts; however, be aware that you're required to list the creditor's billing address, and that address rarely shows up on your credit report.

Do you have to pay child support if you file for bankruptcy?

If you have other circumstances affecting your bankruptcy, such as being required to pay alimony, child support, or another unusual expense, you'll need to show proof of these costs. For instance, it's common to provide a copy of a child support order. If you've divorced recently, you might need to produce an order or marital settlement agreement documenting a property distribution.

Documents You'll Need to Complete Chapter 7 Forms

The average Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition is approximately 50 pages in length, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that you'll need a lot of information to complete the required forms. Being organized will help you complete the bankruptcy forms efficiently.

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Documents Needed After Filing

The court will want verification that the information provided in your petition is accurate and that you attended the required post-filing educational course. Here's a list of what you'll need:

Additional Documents for the Chapter 7 Trustee

You also must provide the trustee with any documentation reasonably necessary to investigate your filing. For instance, your trustee might want the following items:

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