Before it begins

[initdeep]

Just joined but I have been reading around here for about a week.
Long to the short, I was married Xmas eve and laid off the day after xmas, thus preventing a ch 7 due to household income.
Now the question for what is searched for on credit card purchases about some post I read as being "secured debt". I don't have Dept store cards, just the normal Visa, M/C, discover and amex which have been transfered so many times with new offers that even I can't remember what was purchased.
I do remember the improvements such as flooring and a fridge and cieling fans etc.
Will the trustees go thru my house and take things to pay back creditors?
I don't live extravagant, 1500 sq ft house built in '78 and worth only 114k which is furnished modestly.
Mt CC debt is not new debt but something I have been trying to get rid of for about 8 years, out of controll but maintained, now the lay off is forcing this.
How are assets found? I have a boat I paid cash for years ago, will this be found even though it is in another state? Will they know I have more than 1 tv?
My biggest concern is the boat because I had a company truck supplied to me for 10 years and if the boat is not known about I could sell it to get some form of transportation. Sorry to write a novel on my first post and thanks in advance!
G

[rrockinggramma]

you must have income to file a chapter 13. If you do not, then wait a few more months and file a chapter 7. I would not try to hide the boat. It is an asset and usually when up front about those things, your attorney can exempt it etc. If you hide it and it is discovered, you run the risk of being barred from filing a bk and also could go to prison for fraud. So I would be honest from the get go. Rather lose a boat then go to jail! Have you already talked to an attorney?

And unless the items were recently charged and were luxury items on your cc, then I doubt you will have any issues concerning those charges when you file.

[initdeep]

I don't have income but since I was just married before the lay off my newly wed wife is considered my income ( household), Lucky her! Had I not been married 48 hrs before I was laid off I could have gone 7 according to my free consultation.

[soleprop]

fyi the trustee in my 341 obviously checked DMV and any state registration records for assets. i'd think that means a boat too, if you've got it legal to be on water anywhere.

[initdeep]

What is a 341? Also what is the claims coming in mean that I have read about.
I am sure these have been answered before but today is the 1st which means everything is now due all over again and I'm not sure if I want to spend another 2k if I need to bo 13.

[soleprop]

341 refers to the meeting that you attend after you've filed your bk. it's called a 341 because that's the section of code (law) that discusses how the meeting should be held/handled.

the claims you've been reading about are likely creditor claims against your estate/assets. they will file a claim with the trustee in response to having been notified of your bk, basically indicating they want a part of any asset distribution which may occur.