Should I be worried?

[Dawn1970]

My lawyer seems like he doesn't know whether to scratch his clock or wind his rear end sometimes. I do not mean that as a slam against lawyers in general, by the way. Just him. My creditors' meeting was 09/27 and just today he called and asked me for my last 3 months' pay stubs and my 2002 tax returns, ASAP. Previously all he had asked for was my 2003 tax return. I said "Why does the court suddenly want this now, so far after my creditors' meeting? Is this something I should have produced back then that you forgot to tell me about?" He basically said "Just give the court what they're asking for and don't worry about why" and then had the audacity to add "I've had a LOT going on lately," while sighing heavily. Do they customarily require 2 years' tax returns and 3 months' pay stubs when filing a Chapter 7? I've heard it said that they do but was wondering why my lawyer waited so late in the game to ask for mine. I hope he is not making the court believe that I am being uncooperative in giving up this info. The truth is he just failed to tell me it was required, so I didn't know! Oh well, hopefully it will be all right. . . . .

[robivi3]

I had to supply 6 mos. bank statements, 2 year tax returns. They want to look for large cash items typically. They asked for that later in the game. The Trustee probably just wants to see if you've gotten an increase or moved cash. I included an explanation and proof for items I thought he might question.

It sounds like he just wants to see if you got any increases or you may work in sales. Don't be surprised if he asks for Bank Statements, don't panic either, it's normal.

We put a lot of faith in our Attorneys not realizing that we have to cross our T's and dot I's ourselves, especially when it comes to matters like a BK. Everyone thinks an Attorney should know his case tight down to the tittle and do alot peripheral research prior to filing. It's a clients job to input the information. We could argue that point all day, but it wouldn't change our representation. If you got a large salary increase you may also wish to demonstrate that say, your Insurance went up or some such thing. If you gave your father $600.00 at one point you would want to show why with proof. Those little things go a long way but your Attorney likely doesn't have time to go over every jot and tittle.

Please no emails from everyone about how your Attorney should do this and that and how insensitive I'm being. I'm not arguing for Attorney's. Simply telling you that after 45 years of living, one large lawsuit buy me, one minor lawsuit against me, four years of probate involving my Dad, a gazillion traffic tickets fought and one (ALL) and a wife who was a Paralegal (she left that profession altogether), I have a little and I do mean little experience with Attorney's. Your omissions, lack of knowledge of "your flocks and herds" do not affect your Attorney's sleep, they can only hurt you.

[Dawn1970]

I would have gladly supplied the pay stubs and old tax return and any other 'input' long ago if he had told me they were needed. I was just wondering why he didn't ask for them until the last minute right before discharge; that's all. I was concerned it might mean the court was singling me out for some reason.

Bank account statements won't be a problem if they ask because I haven't had a checking account in over a year due to some overdrafts that I was never able to take care of!

Thanks for responding, Robivi.