Back from Lawyer's,worse than we thought

[MEA2]

Do you mean that you are $3K over the median income for your state, or you have $3K a month or $3K a year of disposable income?

I would recommend seeing several more attorneys for free consultations. If you wind up in a Ch 13, this person will be part of your life for 3-5 years and you need to feel comfortable with him or her.

Keep reading on here to make sure you're accounting for all of your expenses.

I learned a lot by downloading Best Case software. (http://www.bestcase.com/) I found it pretty intuitive--it's what lawyers use to fill out the forms and it comes with all the states exemptions and figures in it. It has a lot of helpful reminders of areas where you might miss something. It's intended for lawyers, not consumers. But there is a free download that prints Demo all over the forms.

I meant $3k over the median income for our state.Thanks for the info,i'll check it out

[FoolAndHisMoney]

I meant $3k over the median income for our state.Thanks for the info,i'll check it out

I've seen plenty of people much higher then 3k over the median and they came up minus on the means test. Right now you should forget about this attorney since he forgot about you and go attorney shopping in pacer. Compare your income and expenses to others in your area and see who there attorneys are. Go to some 341 meetings to see how these attorneys are in action. Make your decision based on that and not one attorney. A lot of work and even more stress but it's your family future we're talking about. Good luck.

[fellowpoorman]

You have alot more work to do on expenses, so be dillagent and you will probly find that 3000, hey you don't have the money right ? so its going somewhere. You still have work to do. just crunch #'s like you never have before. Litarally watch where every penny goes, you will be surprised. Keep a notebook with you and count where ever you spend a fricken penny!

[anonymuse]

Get all those receipts out and you'll find tons of little things. And then there's the once a year type of things you'll forget. A few people have posted their lists on here--they're really helpful to look at.

[JeepMom]

I was reading your posts, what about getting a second job since you failed by only a small margin, and not filing? Does your spouse work? If not, get her out there, It would be better than filing. Think of the personal satisfaction of accomplishment you would feel by not filing. Hard work pays off to those that do not take the easy path.

Me, I have a gambling addiction combined with a bad temper, so I can't help my problems, but you can.

Best wishes

YRUSODOUBM--Can you answer your own name?

They have a family of 6. That means if she goes out and gets a job she has childcare for at least 3(we know the 19 y/o doesn't go to a sitter). Have you ever priced out childcare? It would cost her more money to go to work and pay a sitter than she would make.

YRU-Yes you can get help but please, this isn't the place to be asking for a pitty party about your issues when you've treated, and continue to treat each and every one of us like crap. PS-Say hi to BM.

[FoolAndHisMoney]

Get all those receipts out and you'll find tons of little things. And then there's the once a year type of things you'll forget. A few people have posted their lists on here--they're really helpful to look at.

An, good advice as far as schedule J goes, but the means test is the gatekeeper that limits what one can claim on expenses. Everyone is different though. I happen to be higher then 3k over the median and the means test has me negetive every month. I have seen cases 20k to 30k over the median and are discharged doing the happy dance as I write this. This attorney is doing what sk & wen stated by forcing a chapter 13 to get more money to make up for lost business.
This post is all the proof we need that BAPCPA was a waste of time and money. You can keep 2 Vipers, your regular home and summer home and get a chapter 7 discharge and be forced to a chapter 13 if you have no car or mortgage payments.

[SinkingFast]

You're quick to point fingers at other people and tell them what they should and should not do. Without knowing the full story.

Take a look in the mirror first, Bud. And ask yourself, "How can I make myself a better person?"

Oh, but I forgot. We can just run right out and get jobs that will fix all our financial woes, but you cannot deal with your own issues. Isn't that right??

[$$only4ever]

We had to file a chapter 13 under the old laws, made too much money to file a chapter 7. I won't lie, I was not thrilled about the 13 but it has worked out okay so far. The trustee has been fair right along, the payment is well within our control. We were not comfortable at all about the payment being deducted and sent by the employer, but dh's boss has been great about it. No lecture, etc, etc, the payment is always sent 3 weeks before it is due and I don't have to run around getting a money order, sending it and hoping that it gets there. Good luck and I hope that everything works out for you.

[alh]

Just as a note, the IRS median income numbers are scheduled to go up in the next month or two so if you can wait, that may help you get under the median.

[SinkingFast]

Just as a note, the IRS median income numbers are scheduled to go up in the next month or two so if you can wait, that may help you get under the median.

I saw that at the DOJ, ALH. Sometime in August or September, the new numbers will be out.

[fellowpoorman]

I was reading your posts, what about getting a second job since you failed by only a small margin, and not filing? Does your spouse work? If not, get her out there, It would be better than filing. Think of the personal satisfaction of accomplishment you would feel by not filing. Hard work pays off to those that do not take the easy path.

Me, I have a gambling addiction combined with a bad temper, so I can't help my problems, but you can.

Best wishes

Jeez we haven't noticed your temper problems, get a grip not everyone is evil. I would bet that GAMBLING is not a disease, sorry to say it but your real problem is most likely DEPRESSION, so why don't you try to heal that instead of saying you have an untreatable problem, I hope you take my advice, you too have the hope of enjoying life my friend.

[FoolAndHisMoney]

Just as a note, the IRS median income numbers are scheduled to go up in the next month or two so if you can wait, that may help you get under the median.

Can you please post the link on this I couldn't find it? Are the median income numbers going up or all the expense standards changing as well? I thought this was done once a year usually January or February.
We have to be careful with these adjustments since some areas may actually go down. I always found that hard to believe. Other then home prices I never in my life saw anything go down. When home prices goes down rents shoot up.

[SinkingFast]

Here it is. Right at the top of the Median Income page at the DOJ:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/b...come_table.htm

"The following table provides median family income data reproduced in a format designed for ease of use in completing Bankruptcy Forms B22A and B22C. (The U.S. Trustee Program will apply this median family income data to all cases filed on or after February 13, 2006. This median family income data will be adjusted again in August/September 2006, shortly after the Census Bureau updates the data.)"

[anonymuse]

Jeez we haven't noticed your temper problems, get a grip not everyone is evil. I would bet that GAMBLING is not a disease, sorry to say it but your real problem is most likely DEPRESSION, so why don't you try to heal that instead of saying you have an untreatable problem, I hope you take my advice, you too have the hope of enjoying life my friend.

Gambling is sometimes a symptom of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder); however, gambling is not a disease in itself.

[anonymuse]

Here it is. Right at the top of the Median Income page at the DOJ:

http://www.usdoj.gov/ust/eo/bapcpa/b...come_table.htm

"The following table provides median family income data reproduced in a format designed for ease of use in completing Bankruptcy Forms B22A and B22C. (The U.S. Trustee Program will apply this median family income data to all cases filed on or after February 13, 2006. This median family income data will be adjusted again in August/September 2006, shortly after the Census Bureau updates the data.)"

Would be interesting to see if they also raise the expenses for transportation due to gas prices....