Whew! I'm home from my 341 meeting which was at 2:30 today in Los Angeles. I was having heart palpitations over this. I feel like I'm on cloud nine now that it's over! Stopped for frozen yogurt on the way home (highly recommended!)
Here's my experience of the days events:
I parked in a lot across the street ($12) and went over to the bankruptcy court building. The building is to the right of a food court. I spotted a Godiva chocolate store and made a beeline. Went into the building and there are some white frosted doors to the left labeled U.S. trustee (or something). Walked through those doors and there was a large waiting room. I was an hour and a half early. I listened as attorneys called out names. My attorney wasn't actually there, she had someone else there to represent me. He was representing a lot of others as well, which was fine.
I watched as people went into the "court room" (more like a conference room). My lawyer had told me to go into the room #101 and get a green pamphlet from the back wall. The whole scene looked very casual-I wasn't sure if I could enter the official "court room" yet, but I did and it was fine. Sat in the back-my meeting was not for an hour and a half. It was a large room with about 200 chairs. Like I said, more like a hotel conference room vs. what I imagined (a scary court room).
The trustee stood up and introduced himself and his purpose-to find assets that could be distributed to creditors. There was stacks and stacks of cases. He called the first couple. The owned two properties, one worth $500k and one worth $300k and four cars. They also had owned and sold businesses and had a bunch of bank accounts. He asked them a lot of questions about their assets. Still, it only lasted about 15 minutes.
Then over the next hour, I listened to 10 cases. Eight of the ten took 3 minutes, with standard yes/no questions (I've posted the yes/no's below). The two cases that took longer w/ more questions were the ones where people owned property. But even then, the trustee just asked how much the property was worth now and when and how much did they originally purchase it for.
Then it was 2:30, I hung around in the lobby to hear my name when called by the lawyer. He just flipped through the papers and ask me a few questions. I went back into the conference/courtroom and noticed there's a schedule of cases listed on the wall above the green pamphlets. I saw I was 4th in line. Heart palpitations started. I did some deep breathing.
I was nervous because my boyfriend had paid off a joint credit card I had with my father. I was worried this would come up as a preferential payment and the trustee would ask me about it, even though I didn't pay it. Per suggestions on this board I did wait 90 days to file after that payment was made.
My name was called and I calmly went up and sat at the table with the trustee. We were at eye level. Again, not like I had imagined. I was calm and kept thinking about my freedom from this burden and how much my life was going to change. I took the oath and calmly answered the questions, all the standard yes/no. THANK GOD. Trustee was friendly and smiled here and there throughout all the cases. He seemed a little bored asking the SAME questions over and over. He said okay, thanks. I stood up. My lawyer handed me back my tax return and patted me on the shoulder and said, you're fine, everything is done, not to worry (something to that effect). The whole thing took about 45 seconds. And I walked out with tears in my eyes.
I felt SO relieved. Took 6th street to the 710 freeway back to Long Beach to avoid traffic (no traffic at 3pm on the 710!)
I'd recommend anyone who is really nervous go and sit in on a hearing or two. I was glad I got to listen to a few before I was called up.
The standard 341 questions for my Los Angeles hearing were: (I know they've been posted before)
1. State your name and address.
2. Are the signatures on the documents yours?
3. Did you read the documents before you signed them?
4. Are they accurate?
5. Did you list everyone you owe money to?
6. Are there any changes you need to make on your paperwork?
7. Is the __(name of car(s))____ the only vehicle you own?
8. Have you ever filed bankruptcy before?
9. Have you sold or transferred any assets in the last four years?
10. Do you have any domestic support obligations?
11. Are the 2007 tax returns your attorney provided me true and accurate as you filed with the government?
12. Have you read the green pamphlet?
13. Are there any creditors present who wish to examine?
I guess I'm not officially in the 60-day club! This is the best thing I've ever done for myself.
Here's my experience of the days events:
I parked in a lot across the street ($12) and went over to the bankruptcy court building. The building is to the right of a food court. I spotted a Godiva chocolate store and made a beeline. Went into the building and there are some white frosted doors to the left labeled U.S. trustee (or something). Walked through those doors and there was a large waiting room. I was an hour and a half early. I listened as attorneys called out names. My attorney wasn't actually there, she had someone else there to represent me. He was representing a lot of others as well, which was fine.
I watched as people went into the "court room" (more like a conference room). My lawyer had told me to go into the room #101 and get a green pamphlet from the back wall. The whole scene looked very casual-I wasn't sure if I could enter the official "court room" yet, but I did and it was fine. Sat in the back-my meeting was not for an hour and a half. It was a large room with about 200 chairs. Like I said, more like a hotel conference room vs. what I imagined (a scary court room).
The trustee stood up and introduced himself and his purpose-to find assets that could be distributed to creditors. There was stacks and stacks of cases. He called the first couple. The owned two properties, one worth $500k and one worth $300k and four cars. They also had owned and sold businesses and had a bunch of bank accounts. He asked them a lot of questions about their assets. Still, it only lasted about 15 minutes.
Then over the next hour, I listened to 10 cases. Eight of the ten took 3 minutes, with standard yes/no questions (I've posted the yes/no's below). The two cases that took longer w/ more questions were the ones where people owned property. But even then, the trustee just asked how much the property was worth now and when and how much did they originally purchase it for.
Then it was 2:30, I hung around in the lobby to hear my name when called by the lawyer. He just flipped through the papers and ask me a few questions. I went back into the conference/courtroom and noticed there's a schedule of cases listed on the wall above the green pamphlets. I saw I was 4th in line. Heart palpitations started. I did some deep breathing.
I was nervous because my boyfriend had paid off a joint credit card I had with my father. I was worried this would come up as a preferential payment and the trustee would ask me about it, even though I didn't pay it. Per suggestions on this board I did wait 90 days to file after that payment was made.
My name was called and I calmly went up and sat at the table with the trustee. We were at eye level. Again, not like I had imagined. I was calm and kept thinking about my freedom from this burden and how much my life was going to change. I took the oath and calmly answered the questions, all the standard yes/no. THANK GOD. Trustee was friendly and smiled here and there throughout all the cases. He seemed a little bored asking the SAME questions over and over. He said okay, thanks. I stood up. My lawyer handed me back my tax return and patted me on the shoulder and said, you're fine, everything is done, not to worry (something to that effect). The whole thing took about 45 seconds. And I walked out with tears in my eyes.
I felt SO relieved. Took 6th street to the 710 freeway back to Long Beach to avoid traffic (no traffic at 3pm on the 710!)
I'd recommend anyone who is really nervous go and sit in on a hearing or two. I was glad I got to listen to a few before I was called up.
The standard 341 questions for my Los Angeles hearing were: (I know they've been posted before)
1. State your name and address.
2. Are the signatures on the documents yours?
3. Did you read the documents before you signed them?
4. Are they accurate?
5. Did you list everyone you owe money to?
6. Are there any changes you need to make on your paperwork?
7. Is the __(name of car(s))____ the only vehicle you own?
8. Have you ever filed bankruptcy before?
9. Have you sold or transferred any assets in the last four years?
10. Do you have any domestic support obligations?
11. Are the 2007 tax returns your attorney provided me true and accurate as you filed with the government?
12. Have you read the green pamphlet?
13. Are there any creditors present who wish to examine?
I guess I'm not officially in the 60-day club! This is the best thing I've ever done for myself.
* Discharged 8/25/09!
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