WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR CASE IS FILED?
Once your case is filed with the bankruptcy court, the following steps are required in order for you to stay on course throughout the progression of your case. The steps are in the order that they occur.
Remember - Always keep an eye on your email for important information from Robert Flessas.
FILING FEE PAYMENT INFORMATION
If you applied to the Court through your bankruptcy petition papers to pay your filing fee in installments, the Court will always grant your request.
Within a day or two of your filing date, the Court will issue an “Order Approving Application to Pay Bankruptcy Filing Fee in Installments”.
We receive the Order from the Court, then immediately email the Order to you. You will also receive a copy sent to you directly from the Court via US Mail delivery.
The Order will contain the specific payment dates, the method of payment (Money Orders Only – no personal checks), and the mailing address to send your payments. Always mail your payments to the Court at least 4 days prior to the deadline.
You will NOT receive a billing statement for your installment payments.
[You can also make a cash payment if you visit the Courthouse in person. Go to the clerk's office to make your payment. But, you still must follow the payment deadlines.]
Make sure that you follow the Order carefully. If you miss a payment, the Court will dismiss your case. If you need more time, then you must contact us immediately to obtain the approval of the Court for an extension.
You can pay-off the entire filing fee amount at or before any installment deadline.
COMPLETE YOUR SECOND COUNSELING COURSE ASAP
Completion of a second counseling course is required before you receive the discharge of your debts. This course is commonly referred to the Financial Management Course or Debtor Education Course.
The best practice is to complete the course as soon as possible, preferably prior to your creditor meeting.
This course takes approximately 2-hours to complete. When you register, provide our email address and the course provider will email a copy of your completion certificate to us and we will file your certificate with the Court.
There is no need to have them deliver the certificate to us via fax.
Some providers will charge extra if you try and take the course on a smart phone or tablet. You can select any provider.
Below, find suggested providers with reasonable rates. Prices are subject to change.
ONLINE:
Debtor CC – Cost: $14.95 per household whether you filed individually or jointly. Your certificate will be emailed to us. No need to pay the faxing option.
BothCourses.com: Cost $11.99 per household whether you filed individually or jointly. USE ATTORNEY CODE: FRRF553 and we will receive your certificate via email. They offer a chat line for questions. Their business hours are M-F to 10 PM, Saturdays to 8 PM, and Sundays to 9 PM.
BY PHONE:
Offered by PreBK.com. Call (844) 378-2961. Cost: $25.
Offered by BothCourses.com. Call (844) 378-3059. Cost: $20 (Additional $10 is charged for joint filers)
Other Providers: Go to this link for a list of statutory approved agencies provide by the US Trustee's website.
CREDITOR MEETING
About 1 month after the filing of your bankruptcy petition, you are required to attend a meeting with the bankruptcy trustee administering your case. We will attend with you.
You can listen to an audio excerpt from a real creditor meeting by watching a video on our YouTube page. You’ll also see Robert Flessas standing in the rain! Click here.
Another audio sample of a creditor meeting is available by clicking this link.
On the day that your case is filed, or shortly thereafter, you will receive advance notice of the date and time of your meeting in advance in order to coordinate this important meeting with your calendar. All meetings are conducted via Zoom. Login credentials will be contained on your meeting notice.
You will have plenty of time to adjust your schedule to attend. It is very difficult to reschedule the meeting. The meeting is mandatory for individual and joint filers.
If you fail to attend, your case will be dismissed. If you filed jointly with a spouse, both of you must attend.
The creditor meeting provides your bankruptcy trustee the opportunity to determine if your paperwork is accurate, if there are any non-exempt assets that the trustee could possibly sell to pay unsecured creditors, and to determine if you have committed bankruptcy fraud (i.e. – concealed assets, making false statements, etc.).
Most debtors do not have any property that the trustee can take and sell for the benefit of creditors.
Creditors usually do not appear at the meeting. Over the course of about 10 minutes, you will be asked a series of questions by the trustee. Click here to view a list of questions that the trustee may ask.
Also present at the meeting will be others who have filed bankruptcy who are waiting for their case to be called.
You are required to provide your photo ID and social security card to us. Click here to learn about other acceptable forms of ID. If you fail to provide your identification, you will be required to return and produce that documentation to the trustee.
Please be online at least 15 minutes prior to your hearing time to listen to the questions that the trustee will be asking of others. You will be asked basically the same questions. While you are listening, you should answer the questions in your mind so you are ready when it’s your turn.
You are required to read a document that provides a general description of the bankruptcy law. That document was provided to you by us prior to filing your case. The trustee will ask you if you read it.
Most of the questions require Yes/No answers. The trustee is not attempting to fool you by asking trick questions. They are required under the bankruptcy code to make inquiry of your specific case.
You should call us a few days in advance of your hearing date to discuss what you can expect. (262) 821-5533.
AFTER YOUR CREDITOR MEETING
At this point, you should have completed your second credit counseling course. If you haven't, you should immediately complete this course. Otherwise, you won't receive your discharge of your debts.
If you have remaining filing fee installment payments, make sure you complete the installments. If you fail to make an installment payment, your case will be dismissed.
If you have completed all of the tasks listed on this page, then all you need to do is wait about 60 more days after the creditor meeting.
There is a waiting period that provides creditors the right to object to the dischargeability of any of your debts (this rarely happens).
If there are no objections filed with the Court, then the Court will grant a Discharge Order.
You will receive a copy of the Discharge Order from us via email. You will also receive a copy via the US Mail delivery.
Once your Discharge Order is issued, your case is completed.