Gambling And The 341 Meeting

[dumbpig]

1. Anyone who gambled actually asked to produce exactly where the money went? Anyone have gambling related 341 experiences?
2. I lost thousands at home poker games and at casinos while playing poker. I can't account for that
3. Could gambling losses and winnings from the internet cause me further legal problems when displaying them to the trustee.
4. I have a 5000 dollar deposit to my checking in July from a gambling website(firepay) that was a friends money. I wasn't planning on filing then. I gave the money to my friend whose money it was. How can I explain this if they ask
5. I am so scared about this whole situation as if they actually look i could see where they would be totally confused about my financial situatin.
6. with wife we could of kept our heads of above water but now I can't.

[StaciMM]

Regarding the $5k in June. Don't know if this would do any good, but if the trustee doesn't ask ahead of time for bank statements, just take 3 months worth to the 341? (July Aug Sept) I hear they don't always ask anyhow.

[dumbpig]

1. My lawyer as I have said before seems to think nothing is a big deal.
2. he states the trustee never asks for anything at all.
3.I am worried about seperation with wife as I have stated before a
4. i am worried about large withdrawls from credit cards and he said it doesn't matter
5. I am going to be glad when this is over no matter what
6. DO YOU THINK BRINGING PAPERWORK OTHER THEN THE DL AND THE SS CARD WILL RAISE A RED FLAG? ATTORNEY TOLD ME TO BRING ONLY THAT.
7. I READ THAT CHICAGO TRUSTEES ARE TAKING 65 CASES A DAY MAKING IT HARD TO PAY ATTENTION TO INDIVIDUAL CASES. ANYONE HEAR THAT?

[TatteredInTexas]

If you are represented by a lawyer, then I would only take what documents he has indicated, and any documents the court may have asked for (prior to your meeting).

It's your lawyer's job to handle any potential "situations" with the Trustee, afterall - isn't that what you are paying him for? If there are questions from the Trustee... let your Lawyer answer them for you, unless he (or the Trustee) indicates a response from you is required.

Yes, it makes sense that the Trustees are overburdened due to the increase in filings, thus perhaps a bit more lenient than normal. But, even that said - I would be prepared to explain any unusual circumstances, just in case.

Hope all goes well for you!

Best,
Ronnie
TattereInTexas

[StaciMM]

I've heard that many people take paperwork to the 341, most don't need it, but feel better having it just in case. If the trustee asks for something & you don't have it on hand, your case likely will be continued.

6. DO YOU THINK BRINGING PAPERWORK OTHER THEN THE DL AND THE SS CARD WILL RAISE A RED FLAG? ATTORNEY TOLD ME TO BRING ONLY THAT.

[FloridaGirl]

Let me tell you something that I've discovered about attorneys throughout my BK process. They can't possibly predict what will happen at the 341 meeting. Even if they seem to know what the trustee will want and what they won't want, it is still better to have everything with you. In my opinion, any attorney who tells a client that they only need a driver license and SS card isn't advising their client properly, and they are setting their client up to look unprepared. I know every trustee is different, but when I had my 341 meeting, every single person was asked for bank statement with their filing date on it. Every person was asked to produce car titles on vehicles they owned, and every person who had a financed vehicle was asked to produce a written pay off from their finance company.

You have to take care of yourself even if you have an attorney. I saw several people get into sticky situations with the trustee, and what do you think their attorney did to help? Nothing. They would only sit there with a dumb look on their face. Basically, the attorney is paid to file your petition, and to sit there with you. They don't really do anything more and I observed that time and time again at my 341. In fact, it wouldn't even surprise me if the attorney hadn't even seen the filers paper work before the day of the 341 meeting. Paralegals do most of the work nowadays and who's to say how much the attorney even familiarized himself with a particualr case?

So anyway. Please prepare yourself for your 341 because this is how I look at it. If you have anything your trustee could possibly ask for, she won't ask for it. But if you don't have anything she could possibly ask for, she will ask for it.

This is what you should take, and if anyone has anything to add, please do...

3 months worth of bank statements. If your 341 is in October, take July, August, and September statements. Just make sure you have the statement which shows your filing date. You can find your filing date at the top of the notice you got for your 341 meeting.

Any titles, as well as registrations, for vehicles you currently own. You also need to have a written appraisal for any vehicles you own outright. This way your trustee can see immediately what the car is worth. If she has to get her own appraisal, your case will drag out. You have to have an appraisal because the trustee is going to want to know if there is equity in the car.

Any registrations, as well as a written pay off amount of any cars you lease or otherwise finance. Trust me, they will probably want this. They want to see if there is any equity in the car. Just call your finance company and ask for a written pay off.

*Note about vehicles....make sure the VIN numbers are easily accessible and legible.

Tax returns for at least 2 years. Trustees don't usually ask for these, but there again, it's best to be prepared. Also, be ready to explain what happened to the tax refund you got this year, if you got any. If you used it to pay bills, you might want to have some receipts.

6 months worth of pay stubs It's unlikely that she will want these, but it's still a good idea to have them. You never know what she will ask for.

Get an appraisal on any property you own, and take deeds with you. It's the same scenario as the vehicles. The trustee wants to see what your property is worth. Don't make her have to arrange for any appraisals because it will make your case drag on and on.

Take any reciepts or documentation of expenses you think may be questioned. If you have proof of high expenses in front of the trustee, they can't very well question it later, now can they?

Take documentation of any assets, such as stocks, or bonds, or anything else the trustee may want to see.

I know this is a long list, but it's so much better to have what may be asked for. It is only a headache to leave the 341 with a list of things you have to provide to the trustee.

Make sure you DO NOT voluntarily give any information to your trustee. Let them ask for what they want. Don't take any originals, take copies of everything.

[dumbpig]

I Just Got A Response From Him Via Email. He Called Me A Detective And To Not Worry So Much. Go To The Meeting And Smile Nothign Will Happen.

[invest1choice]

So did my attorney actually. Or I should say the assistant. thats all I have talked to since after the consultaion. Have not had any onther words with the attorney . I called to see if everything is okay but I was told everything is great just bring s/s id.. She said since they had a copy of all that I do not need it. So I guess they are saying they have everything handled just hope they bring a copy , BUT since I just read this thread I will have a copy for myself just in case thanks for the HEADS up.. Is it only up to the date you file they ask for? or up to current meeting date? I filed on Aug 25th. Which come to think about it they do not have up to that date filed since it took us time to pay off to file. So again thanks ..

[sunshine08]

I tend to agree with Floridagirl. Have the documentation handy, if nothing else in your car. Wish their was more to help you not panic. let us know how it all turns out.
Have your documentation ready. try not to act overly anxious. let your lawyer earn his "big bucks". I know this is easier said than done, but many of us have already been this route and we are still alive, out of jail and on the road to financial recovery. It just takes some longer than others to learn from mistakes. Mind you, I am not saying it was all mistakes or bad judgement, sometimes it is the unexpected things that put us over the edge. MSN's home page have a blurb on being too poor to file bankruptcy today.
Again good luck. Calm down and breathe. Go to your local dr. get some valiuum if thats what it takes.
Also, answer your own questions, back them up with documentation. Have your friend that the money belonged to write you a notorized statement. (don't provide it unless asked). I really don't think you will need it. But going through your questions and providing answers will keep you occupied.
Remember, breathe.

[dumbpig]

Thanks for everyones support I feel like a little kid who doesn't know what to do. I appreciate everyones help. The lawyer called me perry mason and don't me to relax

[sobroke]

Gambling was one of the reasons I filed. I listed a net loss of $20K last year and was so stressed out about the 341. I took my driver's license and ss card and that was it!! if the trustee needs other documents, they will give you so much time to turn those in. Don't go crazy over this (although I did-lol) The trustee never mentioned one thing about the gambling. I think during the meeting, they are only looking at schedule I and J. Just learn from your mistakes like I did. Good luck to you.

[FloridaGirl]

"if the trustee needs other documents, they will give you so much time to turn those in."

That's the whole point I'm trying to make. Why not just take all documents and have them with you in a folder? Then if you are asked, all you have to do is whip it out and you are done. You are going to want to leave your 341 with a feeling of relaxation. You won't feel this way if you have to go home and scramble for papers you then have to make copies of in order to mail to the trustee. Plus, if you go to your 341 without necessary documents, the trustee may get annoyed with you. Who's to say she won't put a red star by your case number to alert her to further scrutinize it just to try and find something she can use against you? She can't complete your case if you have to mail in forms, right? It's just more work for her in the long run and it just looks better to be prepared.

If all you want to take is your driver license, and SS card, that's your choice. I'm just trying to make it easier on you by sharing what I have seen.

[dumbpig]

I will have everything ready to go except for car title as I don't know where it is. The lawyer thinks IM a nut because I worry about bad info its crazy. Thanks for everyones help.

[sobroke]

FloridaGirl, I guess we have two different outlooks. Mine is that you shouldn't stress over things until you are forced to. It also depends on the trustee (of course). My point is that the trustee isn't going to dismiss your case just because you forget some paperwork. My trustee didn't ask for anything from anyone except for a d.l. and ss card. It comes down to being prepared in your petition. If your petitions are organized and you are prepared, then you shouldn't worry about it unless you have to. That is why I paid for a lawyer.

[sunshine08]

I have to disagree because I will be the forst to say that is what your attorney is for BUT we saw SEVERAL cases that the attorney's or those filing pro se that the trustee had many "flag" and was not happy with the answers he received. He did give them time (always was 2 weeks from that day) if you have to request paperwork that you can't find it may take more than two weeks. We had the best attorney, but I can' t say the same for almost everyone else there that day.
Many of the attorney's were not prepared for the cases, it was extrremely obvious that they weren't very familiar with the people or the cases.
So, it is easier to be prepared that sweat it out at the meeting when you see case after case of cases continued or information requested.
Just my 2 cents worth.