Questions on Required Paperwork

[clutch]

Hi All,

Do I need to file my tax return and paystubs with the Bankruptcy clerk or do they just need to be provided to the trustee? The NOLO how to file chapter 7 guide says these must be filed, but does not give specifics.(there was alot of questions I had that the NOLO guide did not cover. I really wish I found this forum before I filed!!)

I have already had my 341 meeting and I believe all other paperwork known to me has been filed except the pre-discharge debtor course. I am currently working on my pre-discharge debtor course now which I should have completed tonight.

I will be heading to the clerk's office tomorrow to file the pre-discharge debtor certificate and just want to make sure I have everything inline so I don't have any surprises.

FYI - I am a pro-se filer and have no lawyer to ask these questions to..

Thank you for your time,

-Justin

[HHM]

That is why it is a problem filing Pro Se

At the very least, go get a PACER account? www.pacer.gov so you can see the status of your case.

Did you ever receive any notices of deficiencies from the BK court clerk?

Generally, all required paperwork must be filed within 14 days of the initial filing, so if anything was missing, you would normally have received a deficiency notice?

But yes, pay stubs, most recent tax return, and the "pre filing, cert" get filed along with the petition.

The only thing you file "after" is the Post filing course cert.

[clutch]

Thanks for taking the time to reply HHM.

I did file the pre-counseling certificate when I filed my initial petition. The clerk went through all my documents and did not mention I was missing anything.

I went through the pro-se debtors guide that was provided by my local bankruptcy court last night. It only states to provide a copy of my tax return to the trustee and any creditor who requests it. There is also no mention of filing my pay stubs and tax return with the clerk in that guide. This is one of the reasons I really wished I had a lawyer..

I received my PACER login yesterday. The only additional information in my case besides my petition is Chapter 7 Trustee's Report of No Distribution filed a few days after my 341 meeting. There is no deficiencies on file and the case status is awaiting discharge. Would I have already received a deficiency notice if there was a problem?

I couldn't make it to the clerk's this morning, so I am planning on going tomorrow. I am going to bring copies of my tax return, pay stubs and the certificate for my pre-discharge debtor course. I am also going to speak with the case worker and confirm all necessary paperwork has been filed. I just hope this doesn't affect my case...


-Justin

[HHM]

Sounds like you are fine.

[ess]

I'm not seeing a problem. When you filed the initial papers you would have gotten a letter back from the trustees office requiring you to bring necessary paperwork with you to the 341 meeting. I just received the letter from my attorney telling me my meeting date and to bring original social security card and a picture ID with me. I was also told there may be more they will let me know. I already know what that is and it will be my tax return from 2011 which hasn't been done yet. Those will be given to the trustee at the meeting.
I've worked for attorneys for over 20yrs although neither of them do BK's. Just and FYI, whatever you are filing at the clerks office get a receipt or have them stamp a copy of whatever you are filing for your records.