Are trustees involved in Minnesota?

[Rahaton]

Howdy,

We are likely in the position of being able to choose to file a 7 or a 13 and are trying to figure out the "softer" side of the decision. The reason we are looking at a 13 is that we can include $4k of taxes and $45k of a second mortgage.

We have been on a CCCS repayment plan for the last 2 years with payment of $1500 and it has been rough. I lost my job in December and that has pushed us over the brink. One problem is that the CCCS plan payment was too high, we were just squeaking by and running up lots of "invisible debt" in deferred maintenance, healthcare and the like. We will not go back to living that way if we can help it.

So, my question is how meddlesome are the trustees in Minnesota? Will we be able to live normal lives again or will they squeeze us as tight as the CCCS folks did? Once we are paying on a plan and our lives improve (raise or a new job) do they just step in and take it all? My impressions are that this is a local thing, when we talked to the lawyer initially I got the idea that this would not be a big deal; however, having read things on this board I am not so sure.

So what has the Minnesota experience been?

[sharina]

Hi, I am in Minnesota too. Our laywer claims that he has never had a case petitioned for an increase in payment. Our income fluctuates and we made more in 2008 than anticipated. They do ask for tax return copies in Minnesota, at least the trustee from the Minneapolis office does. Our attorney couldn't seem to tell us what they do with them - just had confidence that there would not be a payment change.

We did end up in a 100% payback, but we have the means to do it and It will be paid in roughly 36 mos. We also have 2 family members who filed in Minnesota and so far no changes for them and they both made more money than shown on their petition and are NOT in 100% payback, although one is about 70% payback.

[Rahaton]

Thanks Sharina!

We really should have done this several years ago, we did not because I had a security clearance that we could not jeopardize. When we went the CCCS route they really had to really cut back on our already sparse budget to get a payment big enough for us to make the plan work (it has to be done in 5 years IIRC). Now, both my wife and I are looking at the IRS budget numbers as luxurious!

I just want to be able to finally make some progress in our lives. And the thought of having someone lording over every little thing we do just seems so demoralizing after a while.

Thanks again!