What do I need to start a Chapter 7?
INTERNET INTERVIEW PROCEDURE
Things you will need to email to me before your internet interview (email to marcshuger@aol.com) All emails must be in PDF format.:
- The Certificate(s) of Counseling you received from www.personalfinanceeducation.com (copy and paste in browser address bar)
- Last two year’s tax return
- Proof of all income for the last six months. This includes paystubs, statements for unemployment benefits, and bank statements if you have child support, or other benefit payments deposited directly into your account. Here is a chart of months you need to send depending on the month your case will be filed:
- The Certificate(s) of Counseling you received from www.personalfinanceeducation.com (copy and paste in browser address bar)
- Last year’s tax return
- Proof of all income for the last six months. This includes paystubs, statements for unemployment benefits, and bank statements if you have child support, or other benefit payments deposited directly into your account. Here is a chart of months you need to send depending on the month your case will be filed:
- If you file during: email proof of income for these months:
- January July of previous year through January
- February August of previous year through February
- March September of previous year through March
- April October of previous year through April
- May November of previous year through May
- June December of previous year through June
- July January of current year through July
- August February of current year through August
- September March of current year through September
- October April of current year through October
- November May of current year through November
- December June of current year through December
- Any collection letters, attorney letters, lawsuits and medical bills (no duplicates).
- Mail two money orders as follows:
$650.00 (attorney fees)
$335.00 (court filing fee) both money orders made payable and mailed to:
Marc S. Shuger, Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 239
Michigan City, Indiana 46361-0239
1. After I receive your documents and money orders, I will send you the following documents via email:
-Signature pages for Bankruptcy Petition
-Acknowledgment (2 pages)
-Contract for Legal Services
-Certification of Debtor Education Course (Form 23)
Please do not sign or date these documents until we discuss them at our interview.
2. We will meet either by Skype or telephone
3. We will prepare your bankruptcy documents during our interview
4. During our Interview, your Bankruptcy petition, schedules, credit report and other related documents will be emailed to you for your review.
5. After you review the documents for accuracy, you will give me your authorization to file your case.
6. I will file your case!
7. I will email you your case information.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER OUR INTERVIEW?
1. About four or five weeks after you file your case, you and I will attend your creditor meeting at the Federal Dirksen Building, 219 South Dearborn Street, Room 800, Chicago, Illinois. In addition to my informational email about your case and meeting date, you will receive formal notice of the meeting from the Bankruptcy Clerk.
2. You will go to www.personalfinanceeducation.com (or any other provider you choose that is approved for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division) and obtain your Debtor Education Certificate. Use your case number to obtain that certificate. YOU MUST OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE NO LATER THAN 45 DAYS FROM YOUR FIRST CREDITOR MEETING DATE! Once you obtain your Certificate(s), you must notify me so I can get it filed in a timely manner. If you don’t get this done in time, you will not receive a discharge.
3. If your Certificate has been filed on time, and there have been no objections or continuances, you should receive your discharge order within 60 days of your creditor meeting. You will receive only one copy of your discharge order in the mail from the Court, so keep it in a safe place. That is the document that you would send to any creditor of a discharged debt who initiates any type of collection procedure, including telephone calls.
4. That is it! Congratulations, your case is complete!
You will have experienced the future in the delivery of legal services. I want to thank you for choosing me to help you through this difficult time, and I am grateful for your choice. You have taken a substantial step to achieving financial security, and I wish you well on your journey.
I look forward and am honored that you may choose me to assist you with your bankruptcy .
IN-OFFICE INTERVIEW PROCEDURE
When you come to my office you will need the following:
1. A pre-filing Certificate of Counseling. You must have completed a pre-filing counseling session. This is an informational session given over the Internet or by telephone (telephone rates are higher than internet). You can get your certificate by going to InCharge Education Foundation at www.personalfinanceeducation.com and click on “pre-filing credit counseling”. For the $30.00 payment, InCharge will accept debit cards or a third party credit card. If you are filing with a spouse, be sure to tell them that you will have a joint case and the charge will remain $30.00 for both certificates. Answer all of their questions, when you finish, you may either open a chat session with them from their website or call them on their toll free number 866-729-0049. You will be asked a few more questions, and then InCharge send your certificate via email. And, you may either give InCharge my email (mss@411onbankrputcy.com) or type code1234 in their access code field and InCharge will automatically email your certificate to me.
2. Copies of last two year's Federal and State Tax returns (your 1040 Federal and State tax returns);
3. Proof of all income for the past six (6) months. This includes income of any kind. If you have direct deposit, bring in the past 6 months bank accounts. Here is how you determine which months to bring in:
If you file during: Bring in proof of income for these months:
January July of previous year through January
February August of previous year through February
March September of previous year through March
April October of previous year through April
May November of previous year through May
June December of previous year through June
July January of current year through July
August February of current year through August
September March of current year through September
October April of current year through October
November May of current year through November
December June of current year through December
4. Collection letters, attorney letters, lawsuits, or medical bills that you may have;
5. Fees and court costs that we have discussed by telephone.
6. Call to set an appointment. You must call me the day before you would like to set your appointment. Even if you want to come in on a Monday, you can call me on Sunday, I will return your call, and we can set a time for Monday.