I filed CH7 due to enormous unsecured debts in excess of $160k that mostly arrived from two failed small businesses and extremely low income. I fell about 5 or 6 months behind my cc payments and I was concerned I would get sued. I tried to pay but I just did not have the money. However, during the exact period where I was about to file, I was miraculously offered a job that pays a pretty decent salary above the median. I actually considered at one point declining the job offer because I thought it would negatively affect my ch7 filing. My lawyer still filed because I still qualified based on the last 6 months of pay.
However, I was super worried that they would force me into a ch 13 because the new job kind of made it look like I had more than enough money to pay and live happy. It was a false representation of how hellish my life was in the past 3 years...and even with the new job it would take FOREVER for me to get back on my feet.
Before the 341 meeting, the trustee asked for all pay stubs/advices in the filing period. In addition, she asked for the last 5 years worth of tax returns which my lawyer found odd. I was bummed. Anyway, my 341 meeting was scheduled for this past Monday in New Jersey. I got there early and listened to the other cases. I was just worried that the Trustee would start grilling me and basically tell me hell no. Evidentaly, I was the last person on her appointment calendar. I sat with my lawyer and she just asked me the basic/scripted questions. The only odd ball question she asked was what was my highest salary in the past four years in which I answered truthfully. Four years ago I had a pretty decent salary. I seriously expected her to raise concerns or questions about my new job and the significant increase in income...but she did not mention it at all. She actually seemed pretty nice with me. In the end, she said the standard line and told me goodluck and off I went. I don't know what to make of it. I checked pacer and it just shows a status of "awaiting discharge" with something referencing 35 days..it said status set "meeting of creditors ch7 no asset"... I forget the exact notation. My lawyer commented that the meeting went well and it was a good sign that she did not bring up the new job/income. I'm hoping this is good news but I'm still worried. I don't know.
However, I was super worried that they would force me into a ch 13 because the new job kind of made it look like I had more than enough money to pay and live happy. It was a false representation of how hellish my life was in the past 3 years...and even with the new job it would take FOREVER for me to get back on my feet.
Before the 341 meeting, the trustee asked for all pay stubs/advices in the filing period. In addition, she asked for the last 5 years worth of tax returns which my lawyer found odd. I was bummed. Anyway, my 341 meeting was scheduled for this past Monday in New Jersey. I got there early and listened to the other cases. I was just worried that the Trustee would start grilling me and basically tell me hell no. Evidentaly, I was the last person on her appointment calendar. I sat with my lawyer and she just asked me the basic/scripted questions. The only odd ball question she asked was what was my highest salary in the past four years in which I answered truthfully. Four years ago I had a pretty decent salary. I seriously expected her to raise concerns or questions about my new job and the significant increase in income...but she did not mention it at all. She actually seemed pretty nice with me. In the end, she said the standard line and told me goodluck and off I went. I don't know what to make of it. I checked pacer and it just shows a status of "awaiting discharge" with something referencing 35 days..it said status set "meeting of creditors ch7 no asset"... I forget the exact notation. My lawyer commented that the meeting went well and it was a good sign that she did not bring up the new job/income. I'm hoping this is good news but I'm still worried. I don't know.
Bankruptcy Wizard
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