Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Timeline
Once our bankruptcy attorney, Daniela Dimovski, has determined that you qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, she will give you a list of documents to provide us. She can then get your bankruptcy case prepared. Once the bankruptcy papers are prepared, Daniela will have you verify the information and have you sign your bankruptcy papers. We will then electronically file these papers with the Federal Bankruptcy Court. You will also receive a Chapter 13 bankruptcy case number. You will be assigned a Judge and Trustee (the person appointed by the Court to collect the money you send in each month and distribute payments to your creditors). Once you receive a case number, you are officially protected from lawsuits, creditor calls, repossessions, etc.
Bankruptcy Court Dates- now being done virtually
The first payment to your bankruptcy Trustee is due 30 days from the date you filed your case. The Court will send you a notice with 2 court dates. The first court date is the 341 Meeting of Creditors. That court date is MANDATORY. This is an informal phone or zoom hearing where the Trustee or any of your creditors can ask you questions about the information you provided in your case and your financial affairs. Your bankruptcy attorney, Daniela Dimovski will appear at this hearing with you.
The second court date is called your confirmation hearing. This court hearing is also MANDATORY unless we tell you otherwise. Again, Daniela Dimovski will appear at this hearing with you. At the confirmation hearing, the Court either confirms or dismisses your case.
To confirm your bankruptcy case means your bankruptcy case is accepted by the bankruptcy Trustee, your creditors, and the Court. To have your bankruptcy case confirmed, it is important that you make ALL of your payments to the Court. If you don’t pay the bankruptcy Trustee, the Trustee cannot pay your creditors. When you fail to make your payments to the Court, your bankruptcy Trustee or your creditors will ask the Court to dismiss your bankruptcy case. This means you will lose all bankruptcy protection.
Once your bankruptcy case is confirmed, you have a duty to keep in touch with Daniela Dimovski and her office. it is important to keep us informed of any changes to your financial situation, good or bad, so that we may inform the Court.