Does this seem like OVERKILL from my lawyer???

[debtmonster]

Virtually EVERYONE hates me because I speak my mind. I don't care what other people think anymore. I have become numb to other people's opinions about my comments. In 90 days we will find out if I am right or wrong all this time in regards to my advice on here.

[bkmaggster]

People hate me because I speak my mind sometimes, you're about to become one of them.

I like your no-bs posts.

[debtmonster]

My attorney allowed me to use zillow.com for a rough estimate of property value, as I was not close to the exemption amount. You might want to ask about that. Also, with the utilities I only gave a number (after calling the utility companies and getting the dollar amount I spent in the previous year)

Zillow is currently estimating my house to be worth nearly twice what it is in reality. The builder who built my house built 3 other houses just like it in 2005 and he hasn't been able to sell ONE SINGLE HOUSE since 2005. And 2010 is right around the corner. Those houses have been vacant all this time. He's been paying the property taxes on all of the houses all these years.

The thing is, Zillow is making my case look bad. In reality, I'd be lucky to sell my house for $80,000 to $100,000 and Zillow is showing it at over $180,000. The trustee could think I was a liar after seeing this. Zillow is not using the correct comparables for my house. The other houses brand new, never lived in have been for sale for less than $180,000 and they aren't moving at all. Nobody wants to live in the boonies.

I've been researches houses in South Florida. If I couldn't afford a home up north, I REALLY can't afford a house down here. The property taxes on many of the single family homes is like $5,000/yr. here. That's INSANE! I don't know how people can afford to pay all that on top of all of the other taxes they are paying in life.

[tinfoilhat]

a bunch of posters on here were discussing what online course they took and how much it cost, and I just couldn't find it for the heck of me !! I was hoping someone else would find the thread that I somehow couldn't .

People hate me because I speak my mind sometimes, you're about to become one of them.

Find a different lawyer, this guy seems clueless from the info you provided.
He should have provided you with this also.

My first course was paid by my lawyer and was through consumer credit counseling. http://www.cccsatl.org/index.jsp
Second course I paid for here: http://www.solidstartfinancial.com/

[LDL]

Thanks so much Luci!!!

That was ONE piece of the puzzle that I was looking for!!! And believe it or not, I spent several hours yesterday "Googling" for this info and doing searches on this forum (besides the fact that I already checked my state's BK site).

But I know that a bunch of posters on here were discussing what online course they took and how much it cost, and I just couldn't find it for the heck of me !! I was hoping someone else would find the thread that I somehow couldn't .

LDL:

Here is the website for your bankruptcy classes:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm

If you State has more than one district, 'Google' (my best friend) your city,state and add bankruptcy on the end. Google should bring up your District/State's website.

In Arkansas, we have two districts...Eastern and Western.

Luci

[LuciluS]

LDL:

Here is the website for your bankruptcy classes:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/ccde/cc_approved.htm

If you State has more than one district, 'Google' (my best friend) your city,state and add bankruptcy on the end. Google should bring up your District/State's website.

In Arkansas, we have two districts...Eastern and Western.

Luci

[aces67]

Our lawyer asked for all that also. Sounds right to me!

[frogger]

Thanks for that list. I haven't seen the attorney yet, but this is helpful in my preparation.

[LDL]

Okay, I feel much better now knowing that others were asked for the same list of info

Thank you again for all your replies! I guess it just hit me how quickly that I have to file (>3 wks) and I'm not ready . I thought that my home would sell or the foreclosure date would get pushed or that I would land a job (all possibilities due to interested buyers and a job interview in the works), but so far, everything has fell through and now here I am in a crunch .

I didn't like any of the lawyers in my area that seem to specialize in BK, but I'm also somewhat leary of a 'newbie' to practicing BK law. Each lawyer that I spoke to seemed to contradict one another and this new lawyer just seemed to match my personality.

Fortunately, my case is not complicated (no asset and/or exempt) and I definitely pass the means test for a 7. I'm in a non-disclosure state and Zillow doesn't have a Zestimate for my home, so I hope that a BPO will suffice and just maybe I can get an agent to do it for free !

Hmmmmmm???? Now if I could just find that link to all the online BK approved counseling classes or the posts where everyone tells who they used and how much they cost ?????

[StartingOver08]

Your list is about half of what I had to provide! It is not overkill...

[tinfoilhat]

I can see some of the stuff, but to me it looks like OVERKILL and I'm not in the mood with all that I've got going on right now. I'm starting to think that I may have to file Pro Se .
]

File pro se, miss one piece of info on that list and you might be back to square one. Are you going to be in the mood for that?

Yes it's a lot of questions and hunting down info, but I'll bet a very small percentage of people actually need everything on that list.
Thats not your lawyers request for information, thats the required list for everyone who files bk.

I didn't fill out one piece of that paper work, my lawyer did it all, he asked and most was N/A.
Then he gave me a hand written list of my peticular paperwork to bring back.

So yes, this is an edit BTW, it does look like overkill, but if it doesn't apply to your situation list it as N/A.
Ok another edit. Might make you feel better. Look at the list and delete everything that doesn't apply to your case. The list might get shorter. You might cut the list in half, then you can look at it and it won't seem so bad.

[SocalBroke]

That's pretty much the same list of things to bring that my lawyer sent me. The 6 months of credit card and banking statements were pretty easy as I just downloaded them from online (once you file, they cut off your access so get anything you need now.)

[LSUTiger32]

As far as the real estate valuations, I have a bunch (real estate is how I got into this mess) she asked me what they were worth and told me that if necessary we would have to get a BPO (broker price opinion) which can be easily done by any real estate agent for a between $50-100 per property. She recommended a few around here and I have called and gotten their prices in the event that I need them. She only does BK and she has been doing them here for 20 years so I feel confident that she knows what she needs and doesn't. Hopefully, I slide though without having to spend the extra money.

[NoMoreCards]

both my husband and my dad were told that zillow was fine for a general appraisal. However, both were abandoning their homestead property, so that may make a difference. I would definitely discuss this with the attorney at your first meeting.

Thankfully, I am not abandoning my property in the Chapter 7. But the equity I have in it was small enough for it to not matter.
Good advice to discuss this with the attorney, but I would not pay for a appraisal.

[2Bshinyandnew]

both my husband and my dad were told that zillow was fine for a general appraisal. However, both were abandoning their homestead property, so that may make a difference. I would definitely discuss this with the attorney at your first meeting.