770-408-0477 | What You Must Know When Filing Bankruptcy

There will be a mandatory 341 Meeting of Creditors hearing.

In every bankruptcy case, there is a mandatory hearing called the 341 Meeting of Creditors. This hearing usually takes place about one (1) month after your case is filed. It is run by an attorney from your trustee’s office. Our office will provide you with an attorney who will also be at the hearing to assist you. That hearing gives the trustee and your creditors the opportunity to ask you questions about your case and any collateral securing creditors’ claims. If you are filing a joint case (both husband and wife), then you both must attend. You should arrange to be in the hearing room a minimum of thirty (30) minutes early.

 

You must make your automobile and mortgage payments if you want to keep your automobiles and real property.

If you have a mortgage or mortgages on your residence, and you want to keep your home, you are required to make those payments directly to the creditor, every month, as they come due after your case is filed. Also, if you want to keep your automobiles, you will need to make your auto payments every month, as they come due after your case is filed. If you are behind on your auto and/or mortgage payments, you must let your attorney know before your case is filed.

 

You will need to continue to pay your child support and spousal support after filing.

All on-going child support and spousal support payments must be paid on time, every month, after your case has been filed.

 

The filing of a bankruptcy case does not stop criminal process.

Even though bad checks might be included in your Chapter 7 case, the Chapter 7 will not prevent creditors from pursuing bad check warrants against you. Furthermore, if you are under probation, you must abide by the terms of your probation order, failure to do so could lead to your probation being revoked. Finally, if you are ordered to appear in court for child support contempt, bad checks or any other court or administrative proceeding, you MUST appear in that court or a Bench Warrant may be issued for your arrest. Our representation of you does not extend to criminal matters.

 

You cannot borrow money while your case is open.

While your bankruptcy case is open, you cannot borrow money (even from family or friends), use credit cards, finance any purchases, mortgage assets, or otherwise incur new debt without first getting the trustee’s permission.

 

You cannot sell or quit claim your home while your case is open.

While your bankruptcy case is open, you cannot sell, quitclaim, give away or otherwise dispose of any assets, including real estate, without the Bankruptcy Court’s permission. If you need to sell an asset, you should obtain a proposed sales contract, make it subject to the Bankruptcy Court’s approval, and provide a copy to our office. We then can file a motion with the Court to have the sale approved. Typically, once we have received a copy of the contract, it takes 45 to 60 days to get it approved by the Court.

 

You must list all cosigners and cosigned debts on your bankruptcy petition.

Any debt that you are liable on, whether you have a cosigner or you cosigned for somebody else, must be listed in your schedules. You also must list the names and complete mailing addresses of the people who are liable on the debts with you.

 

You must list all taxes, law suits, child support, student loans, etc. on your petition for bankruptcy.

In a bankruptcy case, ALL of your debts or alleged debts MUST be listed on your petition. How they will be treated in your case may be a different story, but we need to know about all of your creditors (whether you agree with the debt or not) that you owe or may owe. If you have a question or are uncertain, err on the side of caution and list any and every debt you can think of.

 

You must list all claims you may have against third parties on your bankruptcy petition.

In a Chapter 7 case, all of your assets MUST be listed in your schedules. This includes any and all claims arising out of personal injury, workers compensation, breach of contract, employment discrimination, social security, etc., whether or not a lawsuit, complaint or claim has actually been filed. Further, if any such action arises while your case is pending, then you must notify our firm so that we may disclose it to the Bankruptcy Court, as well. Failure to list these claims could result in your losing the right to recover against them. If you have a claim against a third party and wish us to assist you with it, we will be more than happy to discuss it with you. If you have retained other counsel, please let us know so that we may help your attorney to be approved by the Bankruptcy Court.

 

You should include past-due utilities unless they are paid current before you file.

You can include back payments owed for utilities. If you do, however, the utility can require a double deposit within twenty (20) days after the filing of your case. More often than not, it is cost-effective not to include the utility and to simply work it out directly with that creditor before filing. If a utility is a problem, please be sure to discuss it with your attorney.

 

You should disclose all preference payments you may have made on you bankruptcy petition.

One of the goals of the entire bankruptcy system is “equality of distribution,” so that all creditors share equally in the limited assets that are available. The bankruptcy code has a number of provisions designed to equalize distribution among creditors, frustrate attempts by debtors and creditors to skew that distribution, or address a situation where such skewed distribution takes place through happenstance. None of those provisions is more important, or more frustrating to creditors and many debtors, than the preference provisions.

A preference is simply a transfer before bankruptcy that has the effect of paying one creditor more than that creditor would have received if the transfer had not been made. One of the things that is disclosed in a bankruptcy filing is whether any payments or other transfers were made shortly before filing. In addition, trustees will review records like bank statements, real property records, and the like, looking for such transfers. The trustee may make demand for the return of such assets, so that the value of the transfers may be shared with other creditors. The trustee also has the ability to file a civil suit and obtain a judgment for a preference.

It is important to understand that the preference statutes impose what lawyers call “strict liability,” i.e., a given set of circumstances gives rise to liability, regardless of the intent of the parties. The trustee does not have to prove that the debtor was trying to improve the position of the creditor, or that the creditor was trying to beat other creditors to the punch. If a payment or a transfer has the effect of improving one creditor’s position relative to other creditors, and no defenses exist, the trustee is entitled to recover the value of the transfer.

In general, a preferential payment to a third party is one that occurs within the 90 days prior to bankruptcy. Payments made within one year before bankruptcy to “insiders,” who are generally business partners, family members, and the like, can be set aside as preferential. There are some technical issues to consider–for example, a payment made by check is effective as of the date the check cleared, not the date on the check or the date it was mailed. There are also some defenses to preferences, usually available in a business rather than a consumer setting. Preferences can be voluntary payments, like a check sent in payment of an invoice, or involuntary, like attaching a bank account.

Preference recovery is generally a matter between the trustee and a creditor. When the creditor is a third party the debtor may not care very much. When the creditor in question is a relative, however, most debtors are very concerned indeed. One of the most common scenarios that lead to preference litigation is a debtor who tries to get debts to family members paid before filing bankruptcy. It is a natural thing to try to do. After all, no one wants their financial trouble to affect family members. But, that instinct can make plenty of trouble for debtors and those they try to pay. It is particularly frustrating when the debtor has taken money from something like a 401k plan or IRA, which a trustee cannot touch, used the money to pay a family member, and the result is a lawsuit against that family member. But that is just the most obvious kind of preference. They are not always that easy to identify; in fact, there are even “indirect” preferences. Trustees know them all–that’s what they are paid for.

 

There are different kinds of bankruptcy trustees.

Actually, there are several types of bankruptcy trustees:

• The United States Trustee is responsible for oversight of the bankruptcy process as a whole. The United States Trustee’s duties are to maintain and supervise a panel of private trustees (usually, but not always, private attorneys) to serve in Chapter 7 cases, review fee applications filed in Chapter 11 cases, monitor plans and disclosure statements in Chapter 11 cases, monitor activities of creditors’ committees, monitor the progress of Chapter 11 cases, and assist the United States Attorney in criminal prosecutions.

• In a Chapter 7 case, the United States Trustee appoints the trustee from a panel of private trustees. A Chapter 7 trustee is responsible for representing the interests of the debtor’s estate and creditors as a whole.

• In a Chapter 13 case, the United States Trustee appoints a standing trustee to conduct the duties of the United States Trustee in Chapter 13 cases.

 

Recently incurred debts and use of credit cards may not be dischargeable.

Most credit card debt can be wiped out in bankruptcy. The most common way to lose that right is for a lender to prove they were defrauded. Only rarely do individuals intentionally charge up a credit card without having some intention of eventually repaying it and they are even less likely to confess it in Court. So when confronted with this issue, Judges have to look for evidence of fraud in the behavior of the person seeking a bankruptcy discharge.

A common indicator of fraud in a bankruptcy case is substantial credit usage in the months proceeding the filing of a bankruptcy. Creditors frequently try to discover if there were substantial credit usage and charges that occurred after you first consulted with a bankruptcy lawyer.

Bankruptcy law presumes fraud if cash advances over Seven Hundred Fifty ($750) were made during the seventy (70) days, or “luxury” purchases totaling more than Five Hundred ($500) during the ninety (90) days, before a case is filed. However, an adversarial proceeding filed in a bankruptcy case alleging fraud can look toward charges made outside of ninety (90) days. It is important for you to bring to your attorney’s attention any charges on your credit cards that fit the criteria above that were made at any time.

 

You should not tamper with your assets before filing a bankruptcy case.

Do not sell, buy, trade, or affirmatively do anything to any secured or unsecured assets before or immediately after the filing of your case before discussing with your attorney.

 

Do not sign a reaffirmation agreement without serious consideration of the potential consequences.

Do not reaffirm anything you cannot afford. If you are reaffirming multiple items, you must consider the total amount of your reaffirmations. Do not sign any reaffirmations without discussing with your attorney.


Thirty-Seven (37) Things NOT To Do In Preparation of Filing you Bankruptcy Case

  1. Don’t leave off any bank, checking, savings, brokerage, leases, and credit union accounts on your bankruptcy petition.
  2. Don’t file if your total income is greater than your total expenses.
  3. Don’t file if you can pay all of your bills and financial obligations as they come due.
  4. Don’t use your credit cards.
  5. Don’t take our credit card cash advances.
  6. Don’t use credit card convenience checks.
  7. Don’t do balance transfers between credit card accounts.
  8. Don’t pay money to family. If you must do so for support reasons, discuss with your attorney.
  9. Don’t pay money to friends. If you must do so for support reasons, discuss with your attorney.
  10. Don’t tell your creditors that you intend to pay them or enter into settlement negotiations with the creditors.
  11. Don’t leave assets off of your bankruptcy petition.
  12. Don’t file if you are about to receive a tax refund or inheritance. Discuss the timing of your case with your attorney.
  13. Don’t fail to tell your attorney about your small business, sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, LLP, LC, corporation, or hobby, or your cosmetics sales.
  14. Don’t purchase a home shortly before filing bankruptcy without consulting your attorney.
  15. Don’t give or gift property to anyone and do not accept gifts of property.
  16. Don’t pay more than $600 on any past due bill without discussing with your attorney.
  17. Don’t transfer property to anyone without discussing with your attorney.
  18. Don’t cash out retirement plans or 401k’s without discussing with your attorney.
  19. Don’t take out a second mortgage.
  20. Don’t gamble.
  21. Don’t go on a spending spree.
  22. Don’t hide assets or debts.
  23. Don’t take out “payday loans”.
  24. Don’t put your money in your children’s bank accounts
  25. Don’t omit listing or try to “save” a credit card for use after your bankruptcy.
  26. Don’t fail to list debt to family or other “insiders.”
  27. Don’t write bad checks.
  28. Don’t borrow money.
  29. Don’t forget to tell your attorney about liens you may have on your home or unpaid judgments so they can be avoided.
  30. Don’t make major financial decisions without talking to your attorney.
  31. Don’t get married just before filing without discussing with your attorney.
  32. Don’t misrepresent facts to your attorney.
  33. Don’t run up your credit cards in advance of filing bankruptcy.
  34. Don’t fail to appear at state court hearings, trial or proceedings; coordinate with your attorney.
  35. Don’t hide from your attorney. Keep your attorney up-to date with your address, phone number and email address.
  36. Don’t forget to list all personal guarantees and business debts that you may be responsible for.
  37. Don’t throw away any of your pay records, receipts or statements. The Trustee or Court may want to review these to verify the accuracy of your bankruptcy petition.

 

Special Considerations for Business Owners, Self-Employed and Business Cases

Deciding to file a bankruptcy is a big step that might help alleviate the financial situation for a business owner, self-employed individual or a business. It is important to consider several factors when deciding on filing a personal or business bankruptcy. A type and size of business in question determines what type of bankruptcy case a business or business owner may file. In addition, the option of filing two cases, a personal and business case, may be the best option. These are the questions we help people with in our initial consultations.

Proof of Income for Business Owners and Self Employed Individuals

When filing for bankruptcy, it is important to provide the necessary documentation showing proof of income. While this may be an easy task for somebody filing a personal bankruptcy, being a self-employed individual makes the process more involved. There are many self-employed individuals in Georgia who are facing financial difficulty and who are under a false assumption that they do not qualify under the new Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy laws. Being a self-employed individual can make your bankruptcy case more complex. When Congress amended the Bankruptcy Code in 2005, it added a “means test” as a way to objectively measure which individuals are abusing the privilege of filing for relief in Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

The means test applies to individuals with primarily consumer debts. The test is administered with a review of the debtor’s average income over the preceding six months in order to determine the approximate average monthly income. However, if your business (non-consumer debt) is greater than your personal debts, a means test may not be required in your personal case. This can be a great help to individuals that otherwise not qualify for a Chapter 7 case using the means test. Non-consumer debt can also include many types of lawsuits, judgments, real property ownership, investments, negligence claims and tax related debts.

For most debtors, income information comes from paycheck stubs. However, if you are a self-employed debtor, tracking your earnings can be quite complex and time consuming. As a general rule, the bankruptcy trustee is interested in the net income of the business, which consists of gross income of the debtor’s business minus the necessary business expenses. To obtain this information, the trustee will want to see your Profit and Loss Statement (P&L) showing gross income and gross expenses for the six (6) months prior to the case filing in order to fully analyze the business income. Therefore, as a self-employed debtor, it is important to be disciplined about tracking your expenses in order to take control and benefit from a fresh start offered from a discharge in bankruptcy.

We strongly recommend that if you are a business owner planning to file for bankruptcy, that you retain a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) early in a case to help determine an accurate income calculation for you and your business. A CPA can help you determine what are legitimate business expenses and can assist you in calculating accurate Profit and Loss Statements which will be necessary in a bankruptcy case.

 

Personal Liability

If you decide that bankruptcy is an option, you need to determine your personal liability for any business debts. This depends on two things: how the business is structured and whether you personally guaranteed or secured any debts.

Corporations, limited liability companies, and some partnerships protect personal assets from being used to pay off business debts. However, if you are a corporate shareholder, LLC owner, or partner in a partnership and you have signed personal guarantees or pledged collateral for business loans, putting your business through bankruptcy will not protect your personal property. If you have placed your personal property at risk, you must file for bankruptcy separately for your business and yourself.

When you file for bankruptcy, creditors are prevented from collecting on debts until the process is completed. How much creditors can collect depends on the structure of the business. These issues can be very complex and are best discussed in our office in a confidential initial consultation.

If your biggest debt is a bank loan, there is a very high probability that you pledged your personal property and signed a personal guarantee as collateral for the loan. Also, if your business owes your landlord back rent, you are probably personally liable for the debt. Sole proprietors and business partners are automatically personally responsible for this type of debt. Most small business corporations and LLCs usually get bound to this type of debt by personally guaranteeing and signing for the lease payments. You can check your lease and other agreements to see if you signed a personal guarantee.

Unfortunately for small business owners, often times creditors require personal guarantees before they approve a lease or extend credit to a business. What this means is that the owner agrees to hand over his or her personal assets if the business cannot pay its debt and its assets are not worth enough to cover the debt. These are the kinds of issues that we frequently help clients out with in our initial consultations.

If your business owes suppliers, you will be responsible for this type of debt if you operated the business as a sole proprietorship or a partnership. Suppliers of goods usually have the right to take the goods back and they can also come after you personally for the unpaid amount which is why filing Chapter 13 could help you organize a payment plan. However, filing a Chapter 7 when the business is beyond being saved and reorganized is usually the best option. If your business is a corporation or an LLC, you may not be liable for this type of debt as it is often unsecured and usually not personally guaranteed. Therefore, if your corporation has only unsecured business debt that you did not sign personal guarantee, then there may be no need to file a personal bankruptcy.

 

Filing for a Business and Business Bankruptcy Eligibility

Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, Organized Partnerships and other types of organized businesses can file for a Chapter 7 or a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. However, proprietorships are an extension of the owner which means that they cannot file for bankruptcy alone. In this case, the owner may apply for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 if the debt limits are met. Corporations, Limited Liability Companies and Organized Partnerships are legal entities separate from their shareholders or partners, which means that they may file Chapter 7 or Chapter 11 bankruptcy in their own right. These entities usually do not get a discharge on their debts but a bankruptcy filing may provide an orderly liquidation of assets under a trustee’s direction.


As a court approved debt relief agency, we help people file for bankruptcy relief under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. This statement is required under the United States Bankruptcy Code pursuant to Section 528(a)(4).