Roommate question

[wolf1337]

I am considering chapter 7. I have been living with a roomate i found on craigslist.com for about 7 months now. I am not paying rent. My roomate is retired and partially disabled, so the deal I got with him was to help him with household shores, meals, etc. for free rent. When filing for banktruptcy, will I have to tell my roomate, will he find out eventually??? Obviously, its a bit embarrasing. If so, will his income or providing any sort of documentation be required from him???

Mthly pmts in Unsecured Debt= about $2,000 a mth
Recently started job making $33k/year

Thanks alot for any information...

[dr618]

Hi Wolf, Welcome to the board. I have a similar situation to you. I live with my roomate, don't pay rent, but I try and buy things like food and stuff for the house. I was told that the roomates income that gets counted is only what they contribute. So, on my petition, my rent is $1,000 a month, they figured $500 a month is coming from my roomate towards my income. That's how legal aid did it for me. I never told my roomate, they didn't want to know what she earns, they just wanted to know only the amount contributed. How are you filing? Do you have an attorney?

Hope that helps and good luck to you.

[wolf1337]

Thanks DR for your thoughts... I do not have an attorney yet and i will be filing by myself. Its a relief to hear what you said. In your case, are you having to sumbit reciepts of household expenses or checks to prove that you are paying some rent to your roomate?

[dr618]

I didn't have to provide any receipts, but I don't know how it will be in your district. Where are you located? I am here in New York.

[dogbone33]

You might want to get a PO Box then if you don't want your roommate to know!

[dr618]

Well, yes you will be getting notices from the bankruptcy court, but that's your mail so it shouldn't concern your roommate, right?

[zscfan]

I am on the eve of filing Chapter 7 BK and have recently moved in with my boyfriend. I pay him a flat fee of $900 a month for rent, utilities, etc. I haven't retained a lawyer yet, but I think that I would list rent as $900 and list nothing for utilities, cable, etc.

I still buy my own food for the house, so I imagine that I will still list food expenses.