Status: Discharged! Anything else to do?

[koruption]

The day has finally come, sooner then could have been expected for us!

Yesterday I went to pay my second-to-last installment on our Bankruptcy's filing fee. The clerk told me that as soon as we pay the final installment, we would get the discharge.

So I went back this morning, paid the remaining amount, and less then 2 hours later there it is on Pacer!

So here is my final question to you, the community.

Throughout the bankruptcy, we have been curious as to the status as some physical items that are listed as "secured debt" due to money was still owed on them. Yes, we double checked, it was considered "secured", and we had it claimed properly.

We also had so little items of value (we've never lived lavishly) that we were able to list those items as exempt. For the... oh i forget the name if it now, but the "statement of intent" for secured debt, we listed that we intended to keep them as exempted items.

The lending company never filed an objection, nor did they make one peep during the entire process. Pacer shows no other letters, hearings, etc.

So where does that leave us with these items? We can replace them if needs be now that my wife and I actually get to save our salaries as opposed to 70% of them going to medical bills and payday loans. (Please don't judge, it wasn't a matter of choice...)

As always, thank you

[justbroke]

First, congratulations on a successful discharge! Kudos for getting the fees done in installments too, and not messing that up!

As for "secured" property, you just keep it and wait. You should always "expect" that they may take it back, but they'd actually have to take steps beyond just sending a letter or calling, for that to occur. In most cases, the secured lenders of "personal" property (like computers, furniture, appliances, other small items) will never both you. Unless it's Best Buy who will send a letter, but most just ignore it, and they go away. No one really wants your 3 year old computer or your couch that the cats.. used as a litterbox and clawing trainer!

No one here will judge you! We have all done something that caused us to get here. Some of it involuntarily (like medical), some stupidity (keeping up with the Jones'), and some of it downright ridiculous (shopping sprees and tens of credit cards!).

[koruption]

That's what we figured, thank you!

I will say, without the help I have received on here over the past few months this wouldn't have been such a breeze. I got complimented by a few people from the Clerks office when I made the final payment yesterday - each step of the way we had everything prepared and ready before they asked, all filled out properly. Apparently in our area there are very few pro-se filings to begin with, and even fewer that actually go through.

And we received even better news yesterday afternoon - a check from a "payday loan" place for $532.25 - which is double the amount they stole (yes, I say STOLE) from our bank account three weeks after we filed. I didn't even have to file the paperwork for it and talk it through court. I merely had to call and remind their corporate office of federal statute, and that since their business was already under scrutiny from the states AG I would be more then willing to give a copy of all information pertaining to this matter to him.

(Yes, non-typical, YRWV, and don't try this at home. We were willing to lose the 250, but a few weeks ago when i could have still filed the appropriate paperwork I figured why not try lol.)

On to our next project - filing an LLC for our online website that has become somewhat popular. That's a whole other pro-se adventure hehe.

/cheers to Justbroke and the rest here at bkforum!

[MsNeLaw]

Don't forget your post-filing financial counseling!