Low total unsecured debt - issue? / Include very old CC debt?

[debrouillant]

Hello - I am considering filing Ch 7 on my own. Does anyone have any experience or comments about a relatively low unsecured debt total? I only owe about 15000 in unsecured debt, maybe even less than that. I do have priority tax debt of about 8000, and student loan debt (also low, about 6000). I am concerned that due to my low amount of dischargeable debt, I may be under additional scrutiny to convert to a 13, even though my real DMI is nonexistent (under median income). My fear is that I have been living a cash-only lifestyle for a while and very little documentation (receipts) to support my expenses.

And, a somewhat related question: I had some CC debt more than ten years ago that was long charged-off, doesnt show on my credit report and no collection activity in over 7 years. Do i still include that debt? I have very little supporting documentation (dont even know if i have account numbers, just name of the banks...)

Thanks all.

ETA: most of my unsecured debt is low-limit credit cards (highest balance is 1k) and several payday loans from 6-7 months ago (9 or 10, if i recall) , if that makes a difference.

[justbroke]

I wouldn't worry about documentation of expenses in a under-the-median income case unless they are "special" expenses (like medical). The United States Trustee (UST) hardly reviews under-the-median income cases.

Yes, you'd include every single thing that you can think of on the schedules. Even a 20 year old account. LOL

[scorpion35]

Hello - I am considering filing Ch 7 on my own. Does anyone have any experience or comments about a relatively low unsecured debt total? I only owe about 15000 in unsecured debt, maybe even less than that. I do have priority tax debt of about 8000, and student loan debt (also low, about 6000). I am concerned that due to my low amount of dischargeable debt, I may be under additional scrutiny to convert to a 13, even though my real DMI is nonexistent (under median income). My fear is that I have been living a cash-only lifestyle for a while and very little documentation (receipts) to support my expenses.

And, a somewhat related question: I had some CC debt more than ten years ago that was long charged-off, doesnt show on my credit report and no collection activity in over 7 years. Do i still include that debt? I have very little supporting documentation (dont even know if i have account numbers, just name of the banks...)

Thanks all.

ETA: most of my unsecured debt is low-limit credit cards (highest balance is 1k) and several payday loans from 6-7 months ago (9 or 10, if i recall) , if that makes a difference.

its best to include EVERYTHING

[frogger]

List everything and everybody!

[tcreegan]

Hi debrouillant,

If your income and expenses leave you w/ neg. DMI, Ch7 is where you should be, no conversion to Ch13 There are two places to figure DMI; the means test and Schedules I&J If both of these give you neg. DMI, you should be OK for a Ch7

You might already know this, but if not I will be the bearer of bad news, student loans aren't discharged in a BK

As the others have said, throw everything and the kitchen sink into the creditors matrix......

Good luck with this,

Tom in Colo