Chapter 7

How to File Bankruptcy Chapter 7 in MA

Chapter 7 bankruptcy helps debtors in financial difficulty who do not have the ability to pay their existing debts. In Chapter 7 cases, we seek to eliminate (discharge) your debts, while allowing you to keep your assets. The theory behind Chapter 7 is to give honest debtors a “fresh start.”

Deciding to file a Chapter 7 bankruptcy is one of the more difficult decisions you can face. With the wounded pride many debtors feel upon filing, the choice is not an easy one. Learning about the process, however, can help you to make a choice that is best for you.

Qualifying for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

The first step in the Chapter 7 bankruptcy process, assuming you decide you can no longer afford to pay their debts, is to ensure that you qualify for the relief requested. In 2005, the bankruptcy laws changed so that debtors have to qualify from a financial standpoint in order to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Specifically, you must have a gross income over the previous six-month period prior to filing bankruptcy that is at or below the median income of an equivalent household size. If you meet those basic requirements, you automatically qualify for Chapter 7 (assuming you haven’t received a bankruptcy discharge in the previous eight years) and can begin the process.

If you do not meet those basic requirements, you must pass “The Means Test.” This test gives you a chance to lower your monthly disposable income by allowing for different necessary expenses, as deemed by the court. Some examples of necessary expenses include:

• housing and utility costs
• costs associated with transportation
• income tax deductions
• health insurance
• child care

Let’s say that after including those necessary expenses, your disposable income lowers to a level the court deems acceptable. in that case, you will pass the means test and qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

Valuing Assets

Upon qualifying, the next step is to value your assets. Assets include:

• homes
• vehicles
• furniture
• electronics
• jewelry
• clothing
• stocks
• retirement accounts
• various other items you own

Once you value your assets, you can then claim the allotted exemptions for the assets in order to protect the assets.

An example of this process is: You own a vehicle outright. The vehicle is worth $3,000 and your motor vehicle exemption is $5,000. The motor vehicle exemption protects the asset in this situation and you will not owe any money to the court.

In another example, your motor vehicle exemption is only $1,000 and as a result, your vehicle is over-exempt by $2,000. In that situation, you would have to either pay the $2,000 to the bankruptcy estate, or would have to surrender the vehicle to the bankruptcy estate. It is very important that you understand the exemption process prior to filing to ensure that you can protect your assets. While the court allows you to rid yourself of large amounts of debt, you also have an obligation to ensuring the creditors receive something from you if you have assets that are not exempt.

Education

Prior to filing, the court requires that you take a pre-filing bankruptcy course. In addition, you will have to take a second bankruptcy course after filing in order to receive their discharge.

Documents

Prior to filing, you or you attorney will fill out a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition with all the pertinent information the court will need to process the bankruptcy. Some pertinent information includes your:

• name
• Social Security number
• address
• personal belongings and property
• a full list of all creditors you owe money to
• a breakdown of your income and expenses
• a document called Statement of Financial Affairs, which lists numerous questions related to your finances

Upon completing the petition and the necessary documents, the case can be filed.

Meeting of Creditors

Upon filing, the next step is for the court to schedule a 341 meeting of creditors. The trustee holds this meeting. The court appoints the trustee to represent the interests of the creditors. The meeting takes place around 4-5 weeks after filing at the bankruptcy courthouse. Generally,the meeting is five to ten minutes and consists of questions designed to find assets for seizure and distribution.

It is important to understand some of the hot button issues that can come up at the meeting such as:

• inheritances that have just been received or will be received during the Chapter 7 or six months thereafter
• any pending lawsuits where you are a plaintiff in or a potential lawsuit that you haven’t filed yet
• any property you sold within two years prior to filing the bankruptcy
• if during tax season, there will be questions related to your potential tax refund

Any negative situations associated with the questions previously raised can be resolved or planned around.

Creditor Objections

After the conclusion of the meeting, the Chapter 7 bankruptcy case will stay open for a period of sixty days. The creditor has up until after the sixtieth day to object to the discharge of their debt. All debts, excluding student loans, the majority of taxes, child support, and alimony, are discharged after the last day to object unless the debts have been reaffirmed by the court. Normally, the only debts allowed to be reaffirmed are mortgages, vehicles and other secured loans. These agreements must be filed prior to the discharge to be valid, otherwise those debts will be discharged as well.

Contact a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Lawyer Today

Filing for Chapter 7 is an arduous process that entails thorough preparation. If you properly prepare for this big decision, it could be one of the best financial choices you make.

The purpose of Chapter 7 is to obtain discharge of your existing debts. If, however, you committed certain kinds of improper conduct described in the Bankruptcy Code, the court may deny your discharge. Call now to determine if Chapter 7 is right for you.