Filling pro se, Lehigh valley pa help

[madmac13]

I am thinking of filling Pro Se. I have no assets, a very simple case. I have the Nolo book, but I am a little confused about the local rules. It says in the Nolo book to call or write to the court for the proper filling procedures. Will they give you this info, or not be to helpful. Is there any one on here that filled Pro Se from my area. There is a section on the court i will be filling with on Pro Se all the Forms but no info on how they will be filled or the copies needed. When do you give your tax return and bank statements also, at the 341 meeting. Any help will be helpful.

[kdcforlife]

Are you planning on having a lawyer review your papers before you go, or accompany you to the 341? This is what I am contemplating right now.

I am thinking of filling Pro Se. I have no assets, a very simple case. I have the Nolo book, but I am a little confused about the local rules. It says in the Nolo book to call or write to the court for the proper filling procedures. Will they give you this info, or not be to helpful. Is there any one on here that filled Pro Se from my area. There is a section on the court i will be filling with on Pro Se all the Forms but no info on how they will be filled or the copies needed. When do you give your tax return and bank statements also, at the 341 meeting. Any help will be helpful.

[rfassett]

You can go to the web-site for your district court and the local forms should be there. Also, call the clerk's office and explain what you are doing and ask them to tell you exactly what they expect to see when you file. As to the tax returns and bank statements, shortly after you file you should contact the trustee assigned to your case and inquire as to what you need to supply to him/her and when.

[madmac13]

I do not know if a lawyer will look over the papers, if they would do that i would do that, but I think they either want to do the whole case or just give you advice in a free consultation. Most likely they will try to talk you out of it I believe so you will file with them. If i am wrong and they will look over your papers let me know, if anyone on here knows. I have gone on my courts website and they have the forms on there. I will contact them to see what they need to file, I just hope I don't get someone who is no to keen on Pro Se filers. I have heard there could be clerks and trustees like that.

[madmac13]

As to having a lawyer accompany you to the 341 hearing I have heard it is useless to have a lawyer there, They can not say anything in the hearing any way. And if I am correct you are responsible for what is in the paper work even if a lawyer filled them out, am I not right?

[kornellred]

Word on the street is that pro se filers are more successful in Chapter 7 filings, and hardly ever successful in Chapter 13 filings. While the requirements for each Chapter are clear-cut, there is a lot of gray area when it comes to qualifications. It's not as simple as "just do the math".
Most trustees file objections to confirmation of a Chapter 13 plan as a matter of routine - BK attorneys expect this and quite often use this fact as a bargaining chip in the litigation process.
For a pro se filer - if there is even a hint of dishonesty - the trustee will come at you with guns blazing. That goes for procedural or typographical errors as well. After all, the trustee is taken to task for poor performance. They are good a protecting their reputations.

[madmac13]

I would be filling Chapter 7. As I said I have no assets and my case should be easy, I just want to be clear on the procedures of filling. I will be calling the court to find out. Has any one had experience in calling the court, are they helpful?