Menu

Understanding Legal Battles


About Me

Understanding Legal Battles

After struggling for years to wrap my head around the legal drama in the news, I was faced with a pretty big challenge of my own. My son was accused of a crime that he swore he didn't commit, although I was a little less than convinced. However, after evaluating the facts, I could tell that he was telling the truth, so we hired a professional lawyer who could help us through the challenge of fighting the charges. The lawyer worked hard to make things right, and within a few short months, my son was in the clear. Read more about legal problems in this blog.

Categories

Latest Posts

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Filing a Workers' Compensation Claim
1 October 2024

When you’re injured at work, the last thing you ne

What to Know Before Hiring a Criminal Defense Lawyer
25 July 2024

When facing criminal charges, hiring the right def

The Importance of Estate Planning Law: Protecting Your Legacy
29 May 2024

Estate planning law may not be the most exciting t

The Value of Hiring an Estate Planning Lawyer
3 April 2024

Navigating the legal intricacies surrounding one's

What to Know About Pedestrian Injuries and When to Hire an Accident Attorney
8 February 2024

Pedestrian injuries from car accidents are common

Your 341 Bankruptcy Meeting

Most people think that, at some point in their bankruptcy proceedings, they will have to appear before a judge in a courtroom. In fact, this is somewhat of a misnomer. The only appearance that most bankruptcy filers will need to face is the 341 meeting, named after the number of the bankruptcy code. This meeting is far less intimidating than a courtroom appearance, and it is seldom as scary as it sounds. Read on to learn more about the 341 meeting.

Prepare ahead of time: Your appointment letter will give you detailed instructions on when and where your meeting will be held. Make sure you know where to park and get there well ahead of the start time of the meeting. You will need to show your Social Security card and government issued photo identification and you will also need to bring a copy of your bankruptcy paperwork with you. These meetings are usually held in a federal building, but that is not always a courtroom. Additionally, instead of a judge, in most states a bankruptcy trustee presides over the meeting.

Prepare to wait: You may be surprised to find that many other people have been give the same appointment time as you and that you will be waiting in a large room. In this room you are privy to hearing the other bankruptcy filers as their names are called to be sworn in, questioned and then dismissed. Leave your children at home, since you have no way of knowing exactly how long you will need to wait, particularly if your last name starts with "Z".

Prepare to share your bankruptcy attorney: If you are represented by a bankruptcy attorney, like Hawkins  Bingham &  Miller, you may not spend the entire meeting by their side. Your attorney may have other clients at the meeting, or may have other meetings to attend elsewhere. Once you are called, however, your attorney will likely be by your side when you answer the questions. These questions will be the exact same for most every bankruptcy filer, and usually include:

  • Is your bankruptcy petition a true statement of your financial situation?
  • Is that your signature on the petition?
  • Have you ever filed for bankruptcy?
  • Have you completed your taxes?

Be prepared for any creditors that show up. Another name of the 341 meeting is the creditor's meeting. If any creditor wishes to challenge their inclusion on the petition, they will be present at the meeting. Usually, you will know about this ahead of time, and you can count on your attorney to assist you in dealing with the creditor's issue. Most commonly, the creditor will complain that you have misused credit for frivolous purposes before filing. If you can show that your recent use of credit just before you filed was for an important reason, such as a car repair, the bankruptcy will proceed to it's final disposition.