will this nightmare ever be over?

[adaughter]

We are in the process collecting paperwork/ waiting for the lawyer to get started-actually he pretty much has everything now....I cant wait till the day he files...it feels like its going to be forever right now :-/ I think I am going to be a nervous wreck until that 341 meeting is over for my parents.

how long did your filings take?

[AngelinaCat]

'Hub and I probably aren't the best ones to reassure you about filing, as we had an extremely bad lawyer. We hired her in August 2006. We were trying for a C13, and knew there was a lot of paperwork to be done and that most likely we wouldn't be ready to file before the first of the year. The problem there was that in January we get a stipend from a trust fund, and knew we would have to wait until at least July 2007 to file, so that this stipend would drop off the radar.

Meanwhile, attorney got a new assistant, and *fair* service became *poor* or NO service. After we started being sued, and I lost my FT job, making us have to switch to a C7, we had to DEMAND that she file our paperwork by December 28, 2007, or we would have to wait out the stipend again, and we didn't want the judgments we knew were coming. So it took 17 months for us to file.

Our attorney made very little attempt to educate us in BK matters, and we did every possible wrong thing we could in the months BEFORE we filed--which we are now paying for. If we had found this forum FIRST, we would have been far better educated and prepared, and know now that we could have waited until this July to file and would have been far better off.

Just know that it DOES eventually get better.

[parsoc48]

Actually, the day we retained the attny. and could forward collections call to him was the BEST day! Filing was good and 341 was good, too....but once the wheels started turning was like a huge weight was lifted.Good luck to you, and yes, it DOES get better!

[adaughter]

yeah I know everyone else on this site has gone through so much too...I sure hope our lawyer situation doesn't turn out that way but only time will tell. I'm just really frustrated because after we signed the lawyer the only one who is providing service is his secretary who said she would call me back shortly today and did not it kind of makes me mad...and he was like call me anytimeeee all the times we have met with him-to bad we cant even get through to him ever its ALWAYS his secretary. I just really do need this process sped up bec I need to go back to school and get my life back on track without having to worry about my parents!

But I am definitely so thankful for the support I get on this site without it I don't know what I would do so I really appreciate your replys

[WoodSprite]

the other extreme

Well, after hearing the worst-case scenario, now I feel like I have to chime in so you can get some sleep!

My attorney and everyone in his office was totally efficient and focused on what was best for me. I had my free consultation last November or December, I think. Once I had finally followed all his advice about getting my affairs in order, selling my car, etc., I met with him again to be sure we were all ready. I took every scrap of paper relating to my financial life with me to that meeting, and his staff filled in the paperwork that day. We could have filed that day, but he thought I should spend my tax incentive check, and also another large payment I was expecting. I was stunned - I expected to lose all that money. He advised me very carefully about what to spend it on, and how to document everything.

By the time all this happened, we had gone into a new month, which meant the blasted paperwork had to be re-done, since the six month lookback period had changed. His office re-did it online, and I drove down, READ IT CAREFULLY, talked it over with him, made a few changes and then signed it, all on the same morning.

Then they sat on it until I phoned them and told them I had received a payment I'd been waiting for, had spent it (on exempt assets!), and had emptied my bank account. They filed electronically within minutes of that phone call, since by that time I was fairly panicked about the prospect of a lien happening. We filed in time, and I guess the rest of the story is in my signature. Did the pre-filing and post-filing counseling counseling, and counted the days.

Despite the long string of events, there was absolutely no drama (except the goings-on in my own head). This was clearly a business transaction, not some sort of trial or punishment. Everything went exactly as he'd predicted, and we both very much enjoyed his final "told you so" the last time we met.

When you're in the middle of it, obviously it's the biggest, most terrifying thing that ever happened to you. Once you come out on the other side (or spend enough time here reading other people's stories), it all starts to make sense. Come to think of it, maybe a bit like childbirth...? There ARE horrendous complications possible, and it's the worst pain you ever imagined, but mostly, you're in the hands of professionals, and lots of people go through it every day and come out better and much happier for it.

[AngelinaCat]

Hi Woody. BTW not to hijack the thread, but where in upper NY are you? My paternal GP was from Wappinger's Falls.

[Cali]

I filed June 5th and I was discharged September 9th.

[JRScott]

My case went fairly quickly.

I retained the lawyer. Took home a package. Brought back the package in 2-3 weeks at the next appt. Then had an appt 2-3 weeks later where we did the signing and he had it filed that week if I recall correctly.

[WoodSprite]

Hi Woody. BTW not to hijack the thread, but where in upper NY are you? My paternal GP was from Wappinger's Falls.

I PM'd you...

[BROKENN]

Once you come out on the other side (or spend enough time here reading other people's stories), it all starts to make sense. Come to think of it, maybe a bit like childbirth...? There ARE horrendous complications possible, and it's the worst pain you ever imagined, but mostly, you're in the hands of professionals, and lots of people go through it every day and come out better and much happier for it.

Great explanation!
When I filed... I called my lawyer a handful of times (I was lucky, I have his cell and he answers!) and the last call was calm down! I freaked over whether it was done correctly. I kept reading here and calmed down...

Now I'm in my "second trimester" hanging on each day until my 341 next week. Counting the slow days and re-reading the 341 tips. Its worse because I can't work a lot right now and I had counted on that earlier.

So I guess the 60 day club would be the "last trimester"?!

Hey adaughter, hang in there! You did a good job getting all the data and getting the ball rolling. This place has been a place for me to keep the mind busy because on some occasions I cannot get rid of "BK Brain" but I can be out of my own stuff here at the same time. Plus the people are nice

[bal_ny]

Mine was pretty textbook. Once I decided to file (in early April) it took a couple of months to pay the lawyer in full. I PIF in early June, filed on June 13, had my 314 on July 11 and was discharged on 9/18.

The hardest part was pre-filing. Once the lawyer was paid and my case was filed, the stress was mostly gone