OK, here's the story of my 341!!! Sorry if it's kind of long.
First off, we parked about five blocks away from the building. It wasn't in the federal courthouse, but in another building. When we got there, we were told that we couldn't go in with cell phones, I expected them to hold them at the metal detector station, but no, we had to walk the five blocks (in 96 degree heat) back to our car and leave them there. Not an auspicious beginning. But it got better.
So we get to the 341 room (which was actually Room 341) and it was full of people. Everyone was dressed from jeans with holes in them to khakis/polo shirts. It was extremely informal compared to what I expected. The trustee was finishing up the 9 am people. Then he passed out questionaires to all of the ten am people (about 10 couples or individuals). It asked the same questions that he did. What is your name and address, does anyone owe you money of any type, did you review the papers your lawyer filed, is it your signature on the papers, do you have a domestic support arrangment in place, do you own any land or have you ever tried to buy land, have you inherited any land, have you read the bankruptcy information sheet attached to this questionaire.
One of the guys before us had written FIVE checks for 1000.00 and another one for 1300.00 the week before he filed BK. The trustee was questioning him about it and the guy got all defensive and loud, saying I gave you my bank statement what else do you want? (I was horrified) The trustee said I understand that, but what I need I can't get from a bank statement or a cancelled check. I need to know if you cashed these for cash, did you buy something, did you pay someone. When he was done, the guy stormed out of the room cursing under his breath. His lawyer went in the hall with him and I could hear the guy saying that he spent the money at the casino. His lawyer was saying, It's OK, all you have to do is explain that, it won't be a problem. (?) I would think that spending 6300.00 the week before you file BK to gamble should be a problem, but whatever.
Anyway, it got to be our turn and our lawyer wasn't there. I was freaking out. We were the next to last of the 10 am people, so when he called us up he said, oh, I see Rick's not here, just have a seat and I'm sure he'll be here in a minute. So about 30 seconds later our lawyer comes in and waves us into the hall. He had an office next door to the 341 room and we went in there. He then explains that for the last two weeks the US TRUSTEE has been INVESTIGATING my husbands business (he's a sole prop). He said that since it was so profitable three years ago, they were investigating our financials. He said about two days ago they completed their investigation and withdrew their objections and were satisfied. He said, I didn't want to tell you and get you all worried and upset when we were able to handle it with all of the information you had already provided us.
Well, needless to say if I knew we were being investigated by the US Trustee I probably would have been hospitalized.
So we went back into the room and it was just us, our lawyer and the trustee since everyone else was finished. He asked us all of the basic questions, asked a few questions about our bank statement, asked some questions about our business and if we had inventory. We are a broker and explained that. He also asked if we had alot of business equipment and we said no, just some pcs and printers. He looked at the info from the US Trustee, and said the only thing I need now is a print out showing the balance in your business account the day you filed. I had this in my BK file, of course in the car five blocks away. Alot of people didn't have papers that he needed, and he had been telling him that he would not conclude their creditor's meeting until this info was provided. So I told him it was in the car and my lawyer said if you go get it we can conclude this here. So we went and got the print out. I did have two checks for over 1000.00 the day before we filed, when I paid all of our bills, but I had copied all of the bill paying receipts. I brought that too and the trustee said thank you for bringing this because I would have had to ask you to show me what those checks were for. Then he said that I have all of the information I need and this meeting is concluded.
I guess my advice is to bring anything related to a large financial transaction the month before you file, because he questioned that again and again. He just told the people's lawyers to get it to him within ten days, but I wanted to be DONE!
And guess what, our meeting was at 10 am, and he has already posted on Pacer, asking to be discharged from the case!!!!!!!!!
So I guess we're in the 60 day club now!!!!
Thanks for all of your happy thoughts from yesterday!!!
First off, we parked about five blocks away from the building. It wasn't in the federal courthouse, but in another building. When we got there, we were told that we couldn't go in with cell phones, I expected them to hold them at the metal detector station, but no, we had to walk the five blocks (in 96 degree heat) back to our car and leave them there. Not an auspicious beginning. But it got better.
So we get to the 341 room (which was actually Room 341) and it was full of people. Everyone was dressed from jeans with holes in them to khakis/polo shirts. It was extremely informal compared to what I expected. The trustee was finishing up the 9 am people. Then he passed out questionaires to all of the ten am people (about 10 couples or individuals). It asked the same questions that he did. What is your name and address, does anyone owe you money of any type, did you review the papers your lawyer filed, is it your signature on the papers, do you have a domestic support arrangment in place, do you own any land or have you ever tried to buy land, have you inherited any land, have you read the bankruptcy information sheet attached to this questionaire.
One of the guys before us had written FIVE checks for 1000.00 and another one for 1300.00 the week before he filed BK. The trustee was questioning him about it and the guy got all defensive and loud, saying I gave you my bank statement what else do you want? (I was horrified) The trustee said I understand that, but what I need I can't get from a bank statement or a cancelled check. I need to know if you cashed these for cash, did you buy something, did you pay someone. When he was done, the guy stormed out of the room cursing under his breath. His lawyer went in the hall with him and I could hear the guy saying that he spent the money at the casino. His lawyer was saying, It's OK, all you have to do is explain that, it won't be a problem. (?) I would think that spending 6300.00 the week before you file BK to gamble should be a problem, but whatever.
Anyway, it got to be our turn and our lawyer wasn't there. I was freaking out. We were the next to last of the 10 am people, so when he called us up he said, oh, I see Rick's not here, just have a seat and I'm sure he'll be here in a minute. So about 30 seconds later our lawyer comes in and waves us into the hall. He had an office next door to the 341 room and we went in there. He then explains that for the last two weeks the US TRUSTEE has been INVESTIGATING my husbands business (he's a sole prop). He said that since it was so profitable three years ago, they were investigating our financials. He said about two days ago they completed their investigation and withdrew their objections and were satisfied. He said, I didn't want to tell you and get you all worried and upset when we were able to handle it with all of the information you had already provided us.
Well, needless to say if I knew we were being investigated by the US Trustee I probably would have been hospitalized.
So we went back into the room and it was just us, our lawyer and the trustee since everyone else was finished. He asked us all of the basic questions, asked a few questions about our bank statement, asked some questions about our business and if we had inventory. We are a broker and explained that. He also asked if we had alot of business equipment and we said no, just some pcs and printers. He looked at the info from the US Trustee, and said the only thing I need now is a print out showing the balance in your business account the day you filed. I had this in my BK file, of course in the car five blocks away. Alot of people didn't have papers that he needed, and he had been telling him that he would not conclude their creditor's meeting until this info was provided. So I told him it was in the car and my lawyer said if you go get it we can conclude this here. So we went and got the print out. I did have two checks for over 1000.00 the day before we filed, when I paid all of our bills, but I had copied all of the bill paying receipts. I brought that too and the trustee said thank you for bringing this because I would have had to ask you to show me what those checks were for. Then he said that I have all of the information I need and this meeting is concluded.
I guess my advice is to bring anything related to a large financial transaction the month before you file, because he questioned that again and again. He just told the people's lawyers to get it to him within ten days, but I wanted to be DONE!
And guess what, our meeting was at 10 am, and he has already posted on Pacer, asking to be discharged from the case!!!!!!!!!
So I guess we're in the 60 day club now!!!!
Thanks for all of your happy thoughts from yesterday!!!
Yeah, you made it through your 341...see, there was nothing to worry about! 
Glad your attorney decided NOT to tell you about the UST thing...I think you would have went over the deep end 
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