Approaching Discharge. What to Expect?

[happyending]

Not sure why I haven't taken advantage of this forum before! I am desperately looking for information on Chapter 13 discharge. I have about 6 months left on my 60-month plan. I have not heard anything from my lawyer or trustee. I am a little nervous about what to expect. I hear there is an audit and that all the creditors have to sign off. Can someone please describe the process in detail? Will I be required to provide any paperwork such as tax returns or paystubs prior to discharge? I am just so nervous; I want to be prepared and try to expedite things. Thanks.

[Flamingo]

Sounds like you have been doing everything just fine so far and making all payments on time. If there were problems or issues, either you would have had to contact your attorney or he/she would have been in contact with you. When a Plan runs smoothly, it can be quite a while before you need to hear from your attorney or contact him/her. We too had a 60 month plan but had some inheritance and an early buy out situation that shortened our plan but during the middle part of our plan did not hear a peep from anyone except to get our semi-annual payment/distribution document from the Trustee.

When you make your last payment, contact your attorney. You should not have to provide any further documentation. After you make your last payment you will hear from your Trustee via letter (may not be that fast and you may have to make an additional payment - your attorney will advise you) who will advise you that he/she has received your last payment, the audit that will be done, final distributions made to creditors who have to return a signed document to the Trustee that they have received what they are supposed to receive, and when that is all complete you will receive your discharge papers. Expect it to take 90 days, give or take. That's basically it in a nutshell but please communicate with your attorney when you reach the end of your Plan as to payments.

[happyending]

Thanks Flamingo. Very helpful information. I suppose the discharge process is basically the same regardless of where you live, with the exception of how quickly your trustee handles the paperwork? It's funny that over the course of the last 4.5 years I have been able to be so patient. Now that the end is finally approaching, I am so anxious and restless!

[rrockinggramma]

have you tried to log into the 13network or the 13datacenter to see if your case is there? It can give you a lot of information and details and let you know where your case is at.