Are You Prepared for Your Court Date?

First Meeting of Creditors or 341 Hearing – Chapter 7 & 13

In both Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy proceedings, the first scheduled court date that you will have is called your First Meeting of Creditors or 341 Hearing. In Chapter 7 cases, this will be your only scheduled court date. The most important things to remember to bring to this hearing are your driver's license(s) and your Social Security card(s). If you do not have these two specific forms of identification, it is possible that your hearing will be temporarily cancelled. This means that you will have to make another trip to court, possibly incurring additional attorney fees.

It is important that you arrive at least fifteen minutes early to your hearing. For all Chapter 7 cases, you will need to have read and reviewed the Bankruptcy Information Sheet. Also, some Chapter 7 Trustees have an additional questionnaire form for you to fill out before your hearing. For Chapter 13 cases, there is a Supplemental Statement that will need to be completed just prior to your hearing. It is imperative that you are adequately prepared, which is why it is so important for you to discuss your case with a Michigan bankruptcy lawyer before your court date approaches.

Confirmation Hearing – Chapter 13 Only

In a Chapter 13 case, the notice that you will receive from the court will have a second court date; this is the date of your Confirmation Hearing. This is the time where your Chapter 13 plan is accepted or confirmed by the court if all objections have been resolved and all payments that are due have been made to your Chapter 13 Trustee. If there are minor issues that still need to be resolved, it is possible that your Confirmation Hearing may be adjourned to a later date.

However, if payments have not been made, it is possible that your case may be dismissed. It is very important to bring proof of all payments made to the Chapter 13 Trustee to your Confirmation Hearing. This may mean the difference between your case being confirmed or dismissed. To ensure that all of your paperwork is in order before attending the Confirmation Hearing, it is highly recommended that you move forward under the experienced advisement of our firm.

Prepare for Your Day in Court with Hensel Law Office, PLLC

Unless you have previously filed for bankruptcy, it is normal to feel confused. Appearing in court for the first time can seem like a daunting experience, which is why the legal team at the Hensel Law Office, PLLC encourages you to let us take the reins. Our firm has helped countless individuals to successfully navigate their way through the bankruptcy process, so you should not hesitate to let us do the same for you.

All you have to do is give us a call today at (888) 258-0651 to get started.