QUESTIONS ASKED AT THE HEARING

Please note you most likely will be asked the following questions by the Trustee at your creditors’ meeting after you have been sworn in:

  1. Name
  2. Home address
  3. Home phone
  4. You will be shown a document you have signed and you will be asked whether the signature is yours.
  5. You will be asked for 2 forms of ID: a photo ID and another with your name and security number on it, such as a medical card, social security card or W-2 form. You may not use a tax return to prove your social security number.
  6. Have you read the bankruptcy petition and is everything contained in it true and accurate?
  7. Have you ever filed bankruptcy before?
  8. Have you owned any real estate in the past 4 years?
  9. Why did you file bankruptcy? You may be asked why or how you accumulated the debt. The must usual answers are health, loss of job, home repairs, divorce, and etc.
  10. Do you presently own any real estate? Has anybody put your name on their home?
  11. You will be shown Schedule B of your petition and asked if the items listed represent all your assets, and if you have any other assets you forgot to list.
  12. Does anyone owe you money?
  13. Do you have any personal injury claims pending?
  14. Have you injured yourself in an accident in the past 3 years?
  15. Where do you work?
  16. How much do you take home from your employment every pay period?
  17. You will be asked about your income whether you receive TDI, Social Security, Workman’s’ comp and how much.
  18. Will you receive and inheritance from a will or trust in the next 6 months?
  19. If you have listed any secured debt such as a car loan or a mortgage you may be asked if you are going to keep the car or house.
  20. Did you receive an income tax refund? How much did you receive or will you receive?
  21. Have you given away anything worth $1,000.00 or more to anyone in the past 2 years?
  22. Have you given any money to family members in the last 12 months?

The above is a list of the most likely but not necessarily all the questions that will be asked. The most important advice is to answer all questions truthfully but briefly.

The interview will be conducted by a lawyer acting as a Trustee on behalf of your creditors. As your bankruptcy attorney, I will be in attendance with you and we will all be seated at a table.

There almost always are no creditors present and the entire matter will take no longer than 5 to 10 minutes.

The Meeting of Creditors usually takes about four minutes and it is unusual for any creditors to be present. Here is a video of how that meeting usually proceeds:

BANKRUPTCY IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD

It may be the beginning of a new life. Contact the law office of Rhode Island bankruptcy attorney John Simonian to start the process today.