Help - Received Bonus

[PoGirl]

Quick facts:
-I'm a Confirmed chapter 13
-State of Texas

I have a letter from the TTEE saying I need to let them know if a bonus over $2,000 is received.

I contacted my ATTY to let him know, and he told me to not report it.

What do I do? I do not want to jeopardize my case!

Any advice, wisdome, experience is appreciated!

Thanks!

[wonkettegirl]

I'd listen to the trustee, not the attorney. It's not the attorney's butt that would wind up in jail; it's yours. Why would your attorney advise you to disobey a trustee's order? Did you ask him that?

[Flamingo]

Comply with all requests during your Chapter 13.

[PoGirl]

You both echoed my thoughts exactly.

I called the trustee, they told me that it was up to the attorney if he wanted to file a modification.

What????

I feel like I have a letter saying "give me your money" but when I speak with someone they don't seem to want it.

Really, I just want to do the right thing.

[PoGirl]

I'd listen to the trustee, not the attorney. It's not the attorney's butt that would wind up in jail; it's yours. Why would your attorney advise you to disobey a trustee's order? Did you ask him that?

I was told that the trustees usually don't go back and review the cases and they would never know.

Problem is, I am filing a monthly operating expense report every month, when is signed under the penalty of perjury.

[lockedout]

Are attorney told us to keep ours as well. Now that wife lost her job and we are going to try and convert to a 7, I wonder if the trustee will say anything.

[PoGirl]

See, lockedout, that's exactly the kind of thing I worry about. The last thing I want is some relatively small amount messing up the really big amounts, you know what I mean?

[wonkettegirl]

Id still say to send it in because the Order says to notify the trustee. If the trustee doesn't want to modify, the trustee won't modify (and it sounds like the trustee won't). But if further down teh road the trustee takes a close look, sees the bonus, and finds out that you didn't notify, you could be in real trouble.

[lrprn]

I called the trustee, they told me that it was up to the attorney if he wanted to file a modification....Really, I just want to do the right thing.

You notified your trustee about the bonus as requested, so you've already done the right thing. Just keep a notarized record of the call, who you spoke with, the conversation as well as you can remember it, and the date/time in your personal records and send a copy to your lawyer as well.