Life is full of unexpected events. When it comes to debt and financial difficulties, it’s best to deal with those life events head on. You may have accumulated debts over the years or be struggling with sudden expenses, but whatever the reasons leading up to severe debt, you don’t have to face it alone. Getting rid of debt and finding a fresh start is always a possibility through filing for bankruptcy. With the expert support and advice of Behm Law Group, Ltd. attorneys, you can file a successful petition for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN.
When the ball gets rolling in a bankruptcy case, things are quickly resolved. If you file for Chapter 7, your debts will be discharged and non-exempt assets liquidated. If you file for Chapter 13, your adjusted repayment plan will begin, and you can start making regular payments to a chapter 13 trustee fairly quickly. However, before you can reach that point in your bankruptcy case, you must perform a few crucial primary steps.
Filing for Bankruptcy- Starting Gates
- Gather your financial information: To put together a bankruptcy petition for either Chapter 13 or Chapter 7, you have to gather a comprehensive inventory of financial documents. This includes filling out the necessary bankruptcy forms, listing all debts, providing income information, listing your assets and properties, and describing your monthly expenses for household needs. Behm attorneys will provide you with direction on how to put together this information to begin the bankruptcy process.
- Attend credit counseling: Even if you’ve completed the first step and gathered all the necessary information, you’ll still be required to complete an online credit counseling course in order to file a bankruptcy petition. You must work with a United States Trustee-approved credit counseling agency and complete the credit counseling course within 180 days of the filing of your bankruptcy petition. Behm Law Group, Ltd. can provide direction to quality, affordable online credit counseling in your area.
- Attend your 341 hearing: The last step to getting your case completed and obtaining debt relief is to attend your meeting of creditors (341 hearing). This meeting occurs after you have finished your filing for bankruptcy. This is not a court hearing per se where you appear before a bankruptcy judge. Rather, it is an administrative hearing where you appear before a bankruptcy trustee. The bankruptcy trustee is a court-appointed attorney assigned to monitor, supervise and review your bankruptcy case. You must personally attend the 341 hearing and your creditors have a right to attend if they like. It is up to the bankruptcy trustee to review your bankruptcy paperwork and ask you questions at the 341 hearing – questions you must answer under oath and subject to penalty of perjury – to ensure that your paperwork is accurate. Part of the purpose of the 341 hearing is to ensure you’re apprised of the consequences and seriousness of filing for bankruptcy and to discuss debt reaffirmation with your attorney. During this meeting, the trustee will also make sure you’re not abusing the process of bankruptcy.
After these steps are completed, the next part of filing for bankruptcy —which varies depending on the chapter you file for— is getting a discharge order from the bankruptcy court which discharges the vast majority of your debts.
To learn more about filing for bankruptcy in Redwood Falls, MN, contact Behm Law Group, Ltd. at (507) 387-7200 today.
