Meeting of Creditors

[Carloscda]

My attorney ask me to bring receipts of bills, groceries, gas, phone, cable etc.
Now will they go threw all those receipts?

[optimistic1]

That's interesting, what if you don't even have the receipts?

If there is something out of the norm, then maybe the trustee might look, or maybe your attorney just likes to be prepared, or maybe that is the habit of the trustee.

[justplaintired]

Very interesting they would have you bring that stuff, we didn't. I could see if perhaps your expenses is way out of line with standard? Otherwise I seriously doubt your trustee will ask for this stuff, but if you are very concerned I would definitely ask your attorney why he wants you to bring this with you, it is definitely not the norm.

[lrprn]

Asking for receiipts is one way a lawyer can tell if you are telling the truth about your expenses. This lawyer may have been burned by a former client or by the trustee on another case around expenses, so now he/she asks for these receipts up front.

It's not a requirement to have the receipts, but it is helpful to ensure you can document your expenses if they are questioned.

[Carloscda]

It goes along with a letter I received from the trustee office.

3 At the meeting of creditors, you are required to bring the following documents:

(a)a current picture identification issued by a government unit(e.g.driver's license, passport,non-driver's ID) and orisinal evidence of your social security number(e.g.SS card, W-2 Statement);
(b) evidence of current income, such as most recent pay stub; self-employed debtors must bring completed Business Questionnaire(please talk to your attorney about this set of forms);
(c) statements for each depository and investment account, including checking, savings, and money market accounts,mutual funds and brokerage accounts for the time period that includes the filing of the petition;
(d) documentation of certain expenses -contact your attorney regarding this requirement;
(e) fair market value statement for all real property owned;
(f) proof of all mortgage balances for all property owned;
(g) proof of property insurance for all property owned; and
(h) proof of auto insurance for all vehicles owned and/or leased.

[Billssuck]

We weren't asked for this but I had them so that I really knew what I was spending my money on. In fact, I still keep them so that if I ever need to modify my plan I can show proof of such expenses. For me this may come in handy due to getting a promotion in January (increase in income) and I will need to modify my plan and that includes my expenses.

[frogger]

If my lawyer wants receipts, he had better have room for a couple of filing cabinets. We don't throw any receipts away!