starting a new job

[frustrated7]

Hi everyone,

The good news first: I am starting a new job on Thursday of next week! Hooray! I had lost my job in mid-December and have had a rough time finding anything, even though I finished my MS degree (I have the student loans to prove it). It's not all that great paying and I will have to drive two hours a day to get to it, but I'm thankful that I found something.

So now for my problem: I am going to file Chapter 7 BK and have started to fill out paperwork. I have the second meeting with the attorney on Weds of next week to review the paperwork, and then later will be a third meeting for pay stubs and taxes and all that jazz. Anyways, I have no idea how to fill out my packet now. I don't have a job now and had filled out unemployment, but I'll have a job by the time I officially file, though I might not even have the first pay check by then. Anyone know how this works? I don't want my case to end up dismissed because I don't list my current income, but technically unemployment is my current income. I called the attorney's office and they told me to fill it out as best I could and they would go over it with me when I came in on Weds.

Also, since I will be driving two hours each day, I won't be around to meet with the attorney any after Weds meeting. Does anyone know if I have to sign the papers they prepare in person or if my husband could take them home to me to sign and bring them back the next day? I have no idea how any of this will work and I am also concerned about how I can get time off for the 341 meeting when I'm just starting. It's sad that a happy thing like getting a new job in my field should make me worry, but right now that is exactly what I am doing.

Any advice is most welcome.

[Flamingo]

I too have a long commute (120 mile round trip every day) and I understand your worry - many attorney's have evening/weekend hours and I am sure your attorney can work something out for you to sign paperwork during off hours. You will adjust. You will be at your job several weeks before you have your 341 so you will have to arrange for the day off in advance when you get the date. If you tell them you need the time off in advance for an important "family" matter, you should have no issue. I would not suggest calling in sick so soon after starting a new job.

Your attorney will go over your employment situation with you because you will be working when your BK is filed. Although we filed Chapter 13, we too had a ton of questions with sticky notes sticking on the outside of our paperwork when we went in prior to filing to go over things. All was taken care of. Best of luck to you in your new job.

[frustrated7]

Thanks Flamingo. I called the attorney's office and spoke with someone who told me that the latest appointment time they have is 4:40pm. That won't help me, since I won't get off work til 5pm and then I would have an hour + drive home and then another half hour drive to the attorney's office. I asked if my husband could take the papers home to me to sign in the evening and then take them back to the attorney the next day, but they weren't sure. I guess I'll just have to talk to the attorney about it when I meet with him next week. Surely they can work something out. I can't be the only person this has ever happened to.

I wasn't going to call in sick to my new job for the 341 meeting, but I wasn't sure to tell them either. I like the important family matter, but I had been thinking about telling them I had a court thing I had to attend. My husband and I are filing jointly, so we are both required to attend the 341, right? That has been my understanding.

I know I shouldn't worry so much, but that is my nature, and this situation has stressed me out far more than others ever did. I can't wait until this is all over and done with.