converting from chapter 13 to chapter 7

[moving2011]

I am gonna start out being verry honest here. i am a compulsive gambler and have been one for the last 6 years. In those 6 yrs i have lost about everything i own including my dignity. i filed ch13 in 2011. I am now 4 months behind on both 1st and
2nd mortgages. my car is cross collateral with credit union. I am behind on all of my utility bills. life is just a mess. I am now considering converting to ch 7 and letting everything go and try to start over. im scared because my bank account looks like crap and i owe the irs. i was wondering what will my 341 meeting be like?

[tobee43]

it's really hard to tell how and what happens in your district at the 341. in our district here in florida we were allowed to sit in and observe, however, all of the courts do not let that happen.

if you want to see on in action the best way to do it, is go to one or two and see what to expect. it really will help you get prepared. however, first if i were you, i would see about getting a few "free" consults with bk atty's and running your story by them. chances are they know the trustees in your area well since that is were they spend there court time. we made certain when we hired our atty the firm had knowledge of all the trustees and their habits per sa. all though impossible to completely know what will happen at your 341 it can give you a general idea.

best of luck and i hope you seek some professional help with your situation if you feel that would be helpful. i wish you the best!

[Drazil65]

Hi, I want to commend you on admitting your problem, it takes a lot to realize the truth and then be honest about it! I agree with getting some free consults in regarding your options for a chp 7 conversion.

I think you also realize that if you do not immediately get help with the gambling issue it really does not matter what chapter you sign up for as it will not address the issues behind your situation and what got you here. If you have not already, please, please contact your nearest GA group and go to your first meeting. That should be first and foremost on your list for recovery. The best of luck to you on your journey!

[sandra123]

If you have a bankruptcy attorney representing you in that chapter 13 I would sit down and be honest with them. Filing Chapter 7 bankruptcy might be your best option to free you of all the stress of bills that you cannot pay. The problem is the amount of money you make will decide whether or not you will qualify to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If you make $150,000 a year and blow it on gambling, while not paying your Chapter 13 payments, you probably won't qualify for Chapter 7. A bankruptcy attorney in your district might have some ideas for your specific situation. I would take the time to sit down and talk to a few of them. Gambling can be as bad as drugs in destroying your life. If you're still employed, don't let it ruin your job also. Pray and ask God to help you!

[keepsmiling]

You aren't the first and won't be the last to be in exactly this situation. You have my sympathies. We all have quirks, some just lead to more drastic results than others.

Get some help, take one day at a time. First stop- GA today. Next stop, talk to lawyer. I think some meds help with compulsive behaviors, might be worth asking about.
Good luck, keep us posted.

[moving2011]

Thanks everyone for your replies. I am currently in chapter 13 and am current on all my payments. I could have filed ch 7 at that time but i didnt have the money and family is NOT helping. I did something that i havent done in the years that i have been in this house and got behind with everything. My life is in a funk right now but i know eventually i will pull through. I am attending GA, and i am trying to get help with my addiction. I will be talking to my lawyer at the end of the month. Ive been overdrawing my account for stupid things, now i can overdraw for something thats gonna help. Thanks again.