How closely do they look at bank accts etc

[Doghouse]

Doghouse, what county are you in, if I may ask?

I am in Sacramento County under Eastern district of California.

Met with my lawyer today as I will finally be filing next week. Once again she said bank statements are not required or being asked for by the trustees in this district. I only need to provide my bank balance as of filing day.

[jb1231]

Doghouse, what county are you in, if I may ask?

[spidge]

I was wondering about some of this to as I have a couple meals out on the debit card. I also withdraw a $100 here and there for general expenses like lunch money.
So is this stuff frowned upon or is it considered axeptable as long as it is within the budget?

[nervousss]

It really depends on the trustee. Your lawyer would know what those in your district are like more than anyone on here would.

According to my lawyer, the trustees in my district usually don't ask for any bank statements at all, but when mine saw on my schedule an engagement ring, she asked for 60 days worth to make sure my finances were not tied with my fiance, that I wasn't exchanging money with him and hiding assets, etc. Which is understandable. She didn't even bring the satements up, even though I was very nervous about some of the transactions on there (ie getting my hair done, going out to dinner, the movies on occasion)

Edit: I'm in Western Missouri district btw

[MichiganMan]

No statements for me

Western Michigan. I asked, she said no, only if the trustee ask and usually they only ask rarely or if you are getting audited. She said well over median or barely pass means and way off on exspences would possibly cause them to inquire further. But not the norm.

All she does in BK in my district, so I would hope she is correct. I am one of 20 some she filled the same day so our 341 will be the same day. She does that so she can just spend the day in court. "Lucky Her"

[jennordhavn]

I will be filing next week and my attorney says NO bank statements are needed. None. Nada. Not for one month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or infinity. None. I had to ask several times if she was sure because I was reading otherwise online. She's been filing in my county for more than 4 years and says the trustee's just not been asking for them in this jurisdiction.

It must depend on the district because I was not asked to provide bank statements either. I filed pro se and the trustee asked for only last year's tax returns (state & federal) and my paystubs.

[Iamtoobroke]

Same here. The only bank statement my attorney says I need is the one showing my balance on the day I filed. My attorney looked at my last 3 months of statements before I filed, but he did not copy them and he gave them back to me. I am far below median, though. Of course, the trustee could request them. I have not had my 341 yet. But my attorney said she probably won't. (Southern Ohio District - Dayton)

[Doghouse]

I will be filing next week and my attorney says NO bank statements are needed. None. Nada. Not for one month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, 2 years or infinity. None. I had to ask several times if she was sure because I was reading otherwise online. She's been filing in my county for more than 4 years and says the trustee's just not been asking for them in this jurisdiction.

[momxx5]

So, am I understanding this right?


They would like clear answers on deposts and checks paid out. They may question who the checks were written to and why.

They want to know where the money going in is coming from.

Is that correct?

How about an overdrawn account? How is that viewed? Returned checks? How do they see them?

I understand seeing all the cc statements to see history of when & what was purchased to avoid the "presumption of abuse" Thankfully all our debt is old debt that just kept growing like a bad weed, so nothing charged, just mounting interest each month and high min payments due. With a large decline in income, we just could not hold it all together anymore.

[AfraidOfBK]

I provide 6 months of bank statements to my attorney. The trustee asked for 3 months worth going backward from the day of filing. The trustee also wanted explanations for any withdrawals over $600 on those statements.

Do you mean a one time withdrawal of $600 or a bunch of withdrawals that totaled $600.

I ask because I purchased a few big ticket items (told they were justifiable by attorney - bunk bed, computer, etc) with my tax return so those are big chunks taken out via debit purchases.

I also withdraw cash every weekend....on my husband's days off, we are out and need spending money, etc, but I don't always use the debit card...Is this bad? Will they think I am hiding cash, or do I need to save every receipt (Hope not cuz I already haven't been saving any )

How closely do they look at amounts like 100 or 200 cash back at the store when I know were going out to grab food with the kids or something?

[StartingOver08]

Yes they look at cc statements. It appears that if you are over median the lookback period is a little longer than if you are under median income.

For me they looked at 2 yrs bank statements and 2 yrs cc statements 4 yrs tax returns etc etc.

[realitybites]

Do they look at CC statements?

[exhausted]

DH and I had to give 6 months of bank statements. I don't know if was that the attorney wanted that many months or if it was the trustee. I never asked. I tried to not ask too many questions that weren't all that relevant. Knowing me if I had know that it was the trustee, I would have worried myself sick and obsessed over 'why'?

[TEW]

If you don't mind my asking, what were the amount sizes of deposits that peaked your trustee's curiousity? Largest & Smallest?

Thanks.

it's more where it came from and where did it go then the size.

[TEW]

we will be converting from a 13 to a 7 in Illinois in the next month or so.
How long back do they look at checking/savings accts?

I had to go back 6 months.