Did the means test ..

[Atlas]

Ok I did the means test...

Im not sure I answered some of the questions correctly. I want to file without my wife who does live with me, but she only makes about $20k/year.

I include her income minus what does not go to house and kids. (I assume that means HER car and HER student loans etc) so I deducted $900.

When it comes to the tax question..when I account for taxes do I include whats taken from her check since her income is in the equations..

even without that I passed the means test...so it looks like I do qualify for a chapter 7...

[JRScott]

Yes you'd need to deduct her taxes too, as that obviously isn't going to the household.

[floridian]

my florida lawyer said that to get a 7 i must pass two requirements... pass the means test and i do... not have excess DMI and i do... so im screwed..

[DebtStinks]

Give this means test a try if you are having trouble with the one at legalconsumer.com:

http://www.johnfire.com/meanstest/wizard.php

DebtStinks

[floridian]

i dont get it!!
i used http://www.johnfire.com/meanstest/wizard.php and i passed by a mile... it even says that i dont have excess dmi..

but, it doesnt ask for SS benefits... thats what kills my chance for a 7... did i miss something?

[berrymom35]

I don't like that means test...it does not include home owners insurance, real estate taxes and some other monthly payments that the legal consumer test includes. The john...whatever test does ask on the income section for any other income and I assume that is where you include the SSD.

[DebtStinks]

i dont get it!!
i used http://www.johnfire.com/meanstest/wizard.php and i passed by a mile... it even says that i dont have excess dmi..

but, it doesnt ask for SS benefits... thats what kills my chance for a 7... did i miss something?

It's my understanding that SS benefits are not included on the means test as income. But it is used on your Schedule I & J to determine your DMI.

DebtStinks

** Also your DMI for the means test will be totally different from the result of your schedules. **

[DebtStinks]

I don't like that means test...it does not include home owners insurance, real estate taxes and some other monthly payments that the legal consumer test includes. The john...whatever test does ask on the income section for any other income and I assume that is where you include the SSD.

The legal consumer test is about the most unintuitive form I've ever come across. Don't think I've even gone back to look at it. But, I guess I should.

Most people have their home owners insurance and property taxes rolled up into their mortgage payments. So to keep it simple I left them off... but it would be easy to add a note or an option to add them in.

What other monthly payments do you think are missing? I built my test straight off means test forms for Eastern District of CA.

The hard work is done on my test so it is easy to add and tweak things as needed to make sure all bases are coved. Just need feedback from people to make the changes.

DebtStinks

** Just checked legal consumer and I don't see a line for property tax. Line 25 for Taxes clearly states not to include property taxes. So not sure if the test is different based on your area. **