I Filed Today!

[BankruptinNJ]

I'm so excited!

I don't have the money for an attorney, so I had to file pro se. My boyfriend and I have been working on the paperwork for months (it's my bk but I could never have filled out those forms myself). There were over 50 pages to submit!

When we looked online for instructions on how to prepare the paperwork, the clearly outdated instructions said that we had to use a diskette for more than 50 creditors (and fewer than 5000). It also mentioned typewriters and WordPerfect 5.1! When we got to the bankruptcy office in Newark, the sign said that anyone having more than 20 creditors had to file it on a CD, effective immediately. Fortunately, I did not have that many! I think they need to update the website.

The courtroom building in Newark, New Jersey is rather beautiful inside. The security guards look more like executives than security guards. There are several courtroom buildings in the area and there are many parked cars bearing the "Homeland Security" mark on them. (Newark was apparently a terrorist target as the Prudential Insurance headquarters building was earmarked for a terrorist attack, and I'm sure that court buildings are obvious targets).

The court clerk was SO nice and friendly. She was very cheerful and helpful. We weren't sure in what order to submit the paperwork but she said it didn't matter, that she would make sure that everyone was done correctly. She told me to call her tomorrow for the case number and gave me her personal extension to call. She laughed when I told her about the outdated instructions for preparing the matrix.

We had all the paperwork ready and the money order for $299.00 prepared. I had done the credit counseling (which I did for FREE!), and the certificate was included. The clerk told us that I would receive a letter if anything was missing from the paperwork and that I would have 15 days to correct any omissions or errors.

It was all finished in about 20 minutes. We were so happy that there was only one person ahead of us. You should have seen the building where immigration matters are dealt with. The line went out the door, around the building and down the block! Apparently, that's a daily occurrence in that building.



Filed: August 11, 2010

[wnguyen]

Congrats. It's the first step to financial freedom (if you can call it that way). I'm not sure about the government officials over here are that nice like yours. Every time I need to step into the federal building, I have a feeling they treat us like we're about to do some harmful things to them. I've rarely seen the smiles on their faces.

[chazdiezal]

where did you do the free credit counseling?

[BankruptinNJ]

where did you do the free credit counseling?

I did it at Consumer Bankruptcy Counseling. It is part of the Tides Center, which seems to do many good works!

It is good in every state except North Carolina and Alabama.

Now I'm trying to find free post-filing debtor education. So far, no good, but I was so thrilled to have a free pre-filing credit counseling.

It took about an hour. They do ask for the last four digits of your SS#. Make sure to have all your financial information (creditors, etc.) ready. It does take several days for them to e-mail you the certificate, though, but I'm not complaining.

[ccsjoe]

Chaz, my attorney actually gave us the free credit counseling link. It is "www.consumerbankruptcycounseling.info"

[BankruptinNJ]

Congrats. It's the first step to financial freedom (if you can call it that way). I'm not sure about the government officials over here are that nice like yours. Every time I need to step into the federal building, I have a feeling they treat us like we're about to do some harmful things to them. I've rarely seen the smiles on their faces.

I've had trouble with certain bureaucrats in New Jersey before, and also Newark is not a city with the greatest reputation, but I must say that everyone today was very friendly and helpful. I'd actually been in the building before for jury duty, but I forgot how nice it is inside.