I just wanted to give a brief summary of what happened to me in case there are any other Arkansas filers worrying out there. I agonized, filed, read every post on this forum, kept records like crazy, assembled spreadsheets, scanned and backed up all my documents multiple times, ran the means test on myself probably 100 times if my paycheck changed a nickel, obsessed over every detail, and generally made this as difficult as possible.
I was over median income, passed means test based on secured debt payments of mortgage and two cars. I sold a car and bought a newer one before I filed. I stopped paying my unsecured debt in November, filed at the end of January. My attorney was so lazy I swear he slept through most of our conversations. He lost a few things, etc. but was so laid back that I thought I was screwed. Because of his lack of any sense of urgency, my case was made more complicated by nonexempt assets because we ended up filing right after a payday. That made my tax return nonexempt by about $1300.00, which could have been avoided by filing the right day. It turned out in my case that my attorney was not so bad, and he just knew that I was making a mountain out of a legal molehill. The trustees at the 341 were very kind, didn't make a big deal of anything but outright fraud, and my case sailed through the system without any of my tax return being taken. Apparently it costs too much to divide a measly sum amongst 8 creditors to be worth the effort. (Thank you...I really needed the $!) Also, I had some worries that an AP would be filed...never heard a thing. I didn't charge anything luxurious, but one of my cards was used almost exclusively for living expenses and the balance grew amazingly in the six months before a 60 day pause at the end. No, I didn't plan it...life was busy throwing me some major lemons!
My summation is: don't commit fraud, don't lie, and file on the appropriate date. You want to sail through without calling any attention to yourself if at all possible. If you've done all of those things, just wait out your deadlines and don't sweat it. I've read some horrendous stories on here in other districts, but my case was pretty simple. PM me if you're in this district and have any questions.
I was over median income, passed means test based on secured debt payments of mortgage and two cars. I sold a car and bought a newer one before I filed. I stopped paying my unsecured debt in November, filed at the end of January. My attorney was so lazy I swear he slept through most of our conversations. He lost a few things, etc. but was so laid back that I thought I was screwed. Because of his lack of any sense of urgency, my case was made more complicated by nonexempt assets because we ended up filing right after a payday. That made my tax return nonexempt by about $1300.00, which could have been avoided by filing the right day. It turned out in my case that my attorney was not so bad, and he just knew that I was making a mountain out of a legal molehill. The trustees at the 341 were very kind, didn't make a big deal of anything but outright fraud, and my case sailed through the system without any of my tax return being taken. Apparently it costs too much to divide a measly sum amongst 8 creditors to be worth the effort. (Thank you...I really needed the $!) Also, I had some worries that an AP would be filed...never heard a thing. I didn't charge anything luxurious, but one of my cards was used almost exclusively for living expenses and the balance grew amazingly in the six months before a 60 day pause at the end. No, I didn't plan it...life was busy throwing me some major lemons!
My summation is: don't commit fraud, don't lie, and file on the appropriate date. You want to sail through without calling any attention to yourself if at all possible. If you've done all of those things, just wait out your deadlines and don't sweat it. I've read some horrendous stories on here in other districts, but my case was pretty simple. PM me if you're in this district and have any questions.
341 3/2/11 
Waiting for discharge........
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