Nerve-wracking experience to say the least.
I made sure that I showed up early - got there about 15 minutes before my group was supposed to go in (there were like five debtors scheduled in the block - my name was at the bottom - I was the only one that whole day that was pro se).
After a few minutes of gathering myself, I went into the meeting room and started observing the trustee at work. Honestly, the cases that came up before me were about what I had expected, based on the Nolo book and what I've read here. The trustee was pretty by-the-book...he'd be a bit pointed if there were an issue...sometimes, dead-cold serious, sometimes a bit more tongue-in-cheek (he had an ability to make people feel a bit dumb...although not necessarily without reason - simple stuff that probably wouldn't impact the case but needed to be taken care of).
I finally got called up - there was a bit of a murmur in the room when they realized that I didn't have an attorney. Took the oath, provided the DL and SS card, which he noted for the record, and then started going down "the checklist" of questions he had to ask.
Only three deviations from yes/no for me.
I'd forgotten to note that my mobile phone was lent to me from a friend on my Form 7. He didn't seem to take issue with that, but did double check that I'd listed everything with current values - I said I had to the best of my ability.
When asked about any inheritance, I'd noted that I'd received one after my grandmother's death last year. He was a bit tongue-in-cheek about asking if it had already been spent, which it was.
The only thing that left me a bit concerned was the fact he was a bit confused about why I broke out my assets by location - currently have moved in with friends to reduce my expenses - I left the property that I was not going to exempt (furniture for the most part) at my condo, which was about to be foreclosed upon (surrendering it). Also, I really wasn't in a position to move or store it elsewhere. There was a bit of a back-and-forth on whether the property was "vacant" (it is) - the heat and power are still on, however - still paying my condo dues. That was my "feeling dumb" moment.
Otherwise, it seemed to go well and he dismissed me after the rest of the checklist was complete.
I'll be checking PACER today to check on his recommendation - even though I marked my filing as "asset", the notice that came out of the court was "no asset"...hopefully I'm about to enter the 60-day club.
Thanks to everyone who contributes here - it was a huge help as I got prepared for all of this.
I made sure that I showed up early - got there about 15 minutes before my group was supposed to go in (there were like five debtors scheduled in the block - my name was at the bottom - I was the only one that whole day that was pro se).
After a few minutes of gathering myself, I went into the meeting room and started observing the trustee at work. Honestly, the cases that came up before me were about what I had expected, based on the Nolo book and what I've read here. The trustee was pretty by-the-book...he'd be a bit pointed if there were an issue...sometimes, dead-cold serious, sometimes a bit more tongue-in-cheek (he had an ability to make people feel a bit dumb...although not necessarily without reason - simple stuff that probably wouldn't impact the case but needed to be taken care of).
I finally got called up - there was a bit of a murmur in the room when they realized that I didn't have an attorney. Took the oath, provided the DL and SS card, which he noted for the record, and then started going down "the checklist" of questions he had to ask.
Only three deviations from yes/no for me.
I'd forgotten to note that my mobile phone was lent to me from a friend on my Form 7. He didn't seem to take issue with that, but did double check that I'd listed everything with current values - I said I had to the best of my ability.
When asked about any inheritance, I'd noted that I'd received one after my grandmother's death last year. He was a bit tongue-in-cheek about asking if it had already been spent, which it was.
The only thing that left me a bit concerned was the fact he was a bit confused about why I broke out my assets by location - currently have moved in with friends to reduce my expenses - I left the property that I was not going to exempt (furniture for the most part) at my condo, which was about to be foreclosed upon (surrendering it). Also, I really wasn't in a position to move or store it elsewhere. There was a bit of a back-and-forth on whether the property was "vacant" (it is) - the heat and power are still on, however - still paying my condo dues. That was my "feeling dumb" moment.
Otherwise, it seemed to go well and he dismissed me after the rest of the checklist was complete.
I'll be checking PACER today to check on his recommendation - even though I marked my filing as "asset", the notice that came out of the court was "no asset"...hopefully I'm about to enter the 60-day club.
Thanks to everyone who contributes here - it was a huge help as I got prepared for all of this.
Hey don't keep it a secret! Here you go:
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