I am considering filing for Ch. 7. What doumention

[hootown]

should I get ready? How many year's worth of tax returns do I need to have? How about bank, IRA and credit card statements? How many year's worth do I need . I live in Ohio and are the requirements different for each state?

[razorguns]

you're not using a lawyer?

r

[hootown]

I haven't decided yet if I will file BK. Still hoping things turn around. Just want to get my ducks in a row if things don't work out .

[SinkingFast]

4 years of income taxes

6 months of pay stubs or payment advices as the Code calls it

You'll need at least 2-3 months of bank statements, utilities and other routine monthly bills, plus CC's statements. You'll also need copies of bills that only come once or twice a year. Like auto insurance, life insurance, and such.

Information on any major assets, like a house or car, that you've sold or transferred in the last year. If you've sold stuff to stay afloat, have those receipts handy too.

Our attny asked for copies of our insurance policies. Life, auto, renters.

You'll need proof of any bank accts that you've closed in the last year.

Copies of any lease agreements you have. Cell phone, apt rental, auto, etc.

Do an inventory of your household goods. If you're filing State, that will be common use areas and your personal BR and such. Federal Exemptions is the whole house, kids' things and all. Use appropriate replacement values. If you have an 8 year old couch, use garage/sale or 2nd hand store values.

If you haven't started, you should save receipts from all of your purchases. Just in case you're asked to verify expenses at a later date. Plus too, you'll get a feel for where you're money is going. You'll need to know how much you spend/mo for food, cleaning, auto maint, personal care, etc.

I'd strongly suggest, even if you do decide to file Pro Se, you schedule at least 3 Consults with attnys. Generally, Consults are free and you'll learn a lot. Each attny will give you a list of docs and info he/she wants to have on file for your case. You'll learn what you need to have on hand thru those visits.

[FilingOnMyOwn]

I filed with last 2 pay stubs, nothing else.

[hootown]

Are the receipts for means testing and determining if I can file for Ch 7 ? How many month's worth should I try to have ?

[SinkingFast]

Are the receipts for means testing and determining if I can file for Ch 7 ? How many month's worth should I try to have ?

Some people posting here have been asked to prove various expenses by their Trustee. Especially when they are claiming an expense amount that's higher than average for their area or if the Trustee thinks something is fishy.

Lrprn is going thru that right now. Their Trustee thinks they are double dipping on 401K loans that they are paying back. They've got a meeting scheduled to sit down and hash that all out with the Trustee.

As an Expenses Example,.......... Our paralegal told us about 2 other clients our attny has filed for where they've had to prove expenses.

A married couple drives 70 miles each, each way to work. They spend way more for gasoline than most filers here. The Trustee asked for proof of their gasoline expenses.

Another client has had some "legal" issues. The paralegal didn't say exactly what they were. But that client's legal fees, not counting attny fee to file BK, averaged out to $600/mo over the last year. The Trustee wanted proof of the sizeable legal fees.

Just as a cautionary measure, if you're even thinking it's likely that you might file BK, hang onto receipts of any kind. You never know what the Trustee may or may not ask for.

[jbr12]

If we pay for everything via debit card from our checking account, if they ask us for proof of expenses, would my bank statement be adequate for proof? My questions is because we haven't been keeping receipts, but our statements generally say where the money is going

[SinkingFast]

Some things on the bank statement would be obvious.

Like Shell or BP is gasoline, and Osco or Walgreens could easily be prescriptions.

But then there's places like Wal-Mart/K-Mart/Target where you could have puchased a mix of things. Groceries, cleaning supplies, clothes, Money Orders to pay other bills, you name it. That's where saving your receipts would come in handy.

[razorguns]

odd. i filed for bk and showed no receipts of anythiung. Just listed my exp's. Just showed paycheck, that's it.

If your exp's are pretty straight foreward (ie: you don't list cable bill at $300) you shouldn't have a prob.

r

[hootown]

How many month's worth of credit cards should I have?

[FilingOnMyOwn]

How many month's worth of credit cards should I have?

None that I know of. Unless you have questionable large purchases or cash advances in the past 6 months.