Update-will try to go Pro Se

[StaciMM]

Talked it over with spouse yesterday, and we are going to use the Form 7. He was nervous, as we understand if we mess up we won't have a 2nd chance before the Oct deadline. So, we're also going to look into the suggestion of having a paralegal look things over...

I have a little more research to do, hunting down info on old accounts, then we'll be finished with the forms.

Do you just look in the phone book for a paralegal?

Edited to add:

I made progress today. I called & obtained info (account #, mailing address, updated balance) on 3 accounts, and have requested info by email on a couple of others. I feel like I'm getting closer to 'ready'.

[freshstarter]

Talked it over with spouse yesterday, and we are going to use the Form 7. He was nervous, as we understand if we mess up we won't have a 2nd chance before the Oct deadline.

Well, you will still have a right to amend your petition after you file so that's sort of a 2nd chance. Or did you mean if they don't accept your petition??

We filed Pro Se, and filed amendments. At our 341, most (if not all) of the others there had lawyers.

Good luck!!

[StaciMM]

I guess what I mean is that if we do things wrong, then we really won't know until the 341 and that will be around or past the deadline. BUT, the form7 looks fairly simple, and we don't have anything complicated (no assets case, our property, etc. is well within exemption range, no charges at all in a year+.)

Well, you will still have a right to amend your petition after you file so that's sort of a 2nd chance. Or did you mean if they don't accept your petition??

We filed Pro Se, and filed amendments. At our 341, most (if not all) of the others there had lawyers.

Good luck!!

[Minera]

I filed pro se and have filed an amendment to my schedule f, and all has gone well so far it seems. No problems at all, and I just researched thoroughly. I am in the same boat, no real assets and everything covered under exemptions for the most part. I certainley wasn't going to pay a lawyer (I mean the whole reason I am in bankruptcy is because I cannot pay the bills, how am I going to pay a lawyer). I even figured out how to file to pay my filing fee in installments. The whole process so far has been quite easy.

[Whittio]

Why are you digging up account numbers and such? You can run your credit check for free (once a year), and get all your accounts that way?!

I did my mom's with the form7 software, it was pretty easy once I figured out some of the questions. I did have the paralegal look it over, and although I didn't NEED her to since everything was in order, it just felt safer knowing someone with experience had seen it.

Good luck..

[StaciMM]

The entire acct # isn't shown on the reports, and there are several things that I know about that aren't on the reports. (Such as some medical bills that we had ignored, a cell phone balance & term fee, and a collection from a company we rented a w/dryer from. Once we bought a set of our own, they didn't want it back-couldn't get them to come & get it then they charged me for them. They're still sitting in my garage. Those collections aren't being reported but I want to include them so they can't do anything to me later.)

I have the first 12 #'s of my husband's Providian card. That's the one I'm getting the most difficulty with, as its been sold & resold a few times. I can't even get anyone to talk to me about the account. Worst case scenario is I'll include the 12 #'s and XXXX.

He also had a judgement from an apartment, no longer showing on the credit report but I know its out there. I figure as long as we list the apartment complex by name & address with an approximate balance the obligation will be discharged and he should be covered (I know judgements can be renewed).

Last, I know there is one medical bill out there in my name for my daughter's speech therapy that I've requested info on.

I also noticed an inquiry from a CA on my report that I don't know about for 'collection purposes' in 6/05 so I'm calling them on my lunch break to see what they're collecting for. Its likely a duplicate of something else, but no harm in finding out.

Otherwise, all my research is done!!

Why are you digging up account numbers and such? You can run your credit check for free (once a year), and get all your accounts that way?!

I did my mom's with the form7 software, it was pretty easy once I figured out some of the questions. I did have the paralegal look it over, and although I didn't NEED her to since everything was in order, it just felt safer knowing someone with experience had seen it.

Good luck..

[freshstarter]

The creditor's addresses are more important than account numbers. Sounds like you've got it covered.

[StaciMM]

Thanks! I have ALMOST all of what I need. For the apartment judgement, there are 2 listed in the yellow pages with similar names, and the one I think is right closed at 4:30 today. I know what my husband's address was when he lived there, just need to call them tomorrow and find out if that is one of their addresses.

On the last medical account, for my daughter's speech therapy, when I called them today I had a hard time getting a direct answer. She couldn't seem to find info on a balance, but I know they sent me a bill-which I tossed. I will include them, just to be careful! The CA from my credit report was for an account I've already considered, so I'll add them to my sch. F.

I didn't get a hard time in calling around. I hesitated at first on telling the real reason I was calling, but leading them to believe I was going to send a payment made them try to get me to do a phone payment, so I went the honest route. They were almost pleasant, surprisingly.

And, I've started researching the court rules where I'll be filing, found out I need to turn in 3 copies of everything.

The creditor's addresses are more important than account numbers. Sounds like you've got it covered.

[Whittio]

I thought if anything came back in the future, that ALL your debts (at the time of filing) were covered? Hummm.. and now you're making me nervous about these debts that are no longer ON your credit report.

The reason I am asking, I had a couple questions of things that my mom thought might be on her report.. we pulled her reports, and they weren't there, so we only listed the two credit cards. Are you saying that they could still come after her in 10 years?? Nobody ever came to her about collecting it. It was a mistake made by the cell phone company. The only reason mom knew it once was on her report is because when she moved into an apartment years ago, it was on there. But it's not now. The cell phone company has since been bought out by Verizon.. maybe it won't be a problem then??

[StaciMM]

Regular accounts - I don't know about. I've heard that if there are no assets (meaning they would have got nuthin' anyhow) and you inadvertently left them out, then they can't do anything. Don't know much about that though.

Judgements, though, I understand can be renewed. I remember him getting the paperwork on it, and that would have been '98 but he had moved out of the apartment a year + earlier so DLA is clearly over 7 years ago. Regarding his apartment complex, it isn't likely they would ever bother-I'm guessing they've changed property managers 5-10 X since he lived there. But, since we're filing, I want to be sure and include it.

I thought if anything came back in the future, that ALL your debts (at the time of filing) were covered? Hummm.. and now you're making me nervous about these debts that are no longer ON your credit report.

The reason I am asking, I had a couple questions of things that my mom thought might be on her report.. we pulled her reports, and they weren't there, so we only listed the two credit cards. Are you saying that they could still come after her in 10 years?? Nobody ever came to her about collecting it. It was a mistake made by the cell phone company. The only reason mom knew it once was on her report is because when she moved into an apartment years ago, it was on there. But it's not now. The cell phone company has since been bought out by Verizon.. maybe it won't be a problem then??