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It is rare that a bankruptcy trustee really investigates a debtor. There have to be a large amount of questionable assets or, like in a Chapter 11, types of assets that would send a trustee to your house. When they do, they look into bank accounts and physical assets such as furniture, houses, cars and even clothes.

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Q: How does a bankruptcy trustee investigate a debtor?
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When can a court appoint a trustee to review the debtor's finances in a bankruptcy proceeding?

If the court believes there may be adverse circumstances, such as possible fraud or other dishonesty or gross mismanagement, then it may appoint a trustee or examiner to review the debtor's finances.


Bankruptcy 341 hearing?

341 is the section of the bankruptcy code that provides for a meeting of creditors. Though creditors is the name of the meeting, it is rare creditors show for the meeting. Really what this meeting is a meeting with the bankruptcy trustee assigned to your case. The trustee reviews your papers and would liquidate any property that is not exempt. Typically, most people don't have any non-exempt assets and the case is a no asset case. The trustee at the 341 meeting asks questions to see if the debtor has any assets he would be interested in, that the debtor is telling the truth and the papers are done correctly. The trustee, if satisfied, will file a report with the judge who then signs off on the debtor's bankruptcy discharge.


What is a Motion for Abandonment?

It is in regards to property that the trustee has decided has a minimal value or would be less than the cost of liquidation. Any scheduled property that the trustee does not administer is deemed abandoned when the bankruptcy is closed.


What is a Chapter 13 trustee used for?

Chapter 13 trustee is an entity, generally an individual, with the responsibility of managing a chapter 13 bankruptcy estate. The Chapter 13 receives the debtor's monthly payments and then distributes those funds proportionally to the debtor's creditors.


How do I convert chapter 13 bankruptcy to chapter 7 myself What should be included in the motion to convert letter?

The debtor (or the debtor's attorney) can do this with a simple filing - usually an "Ex Parte Motion to Convert Chapter 13 to a Chapter 7." Providing the debtor's bankruptcy has not previously been converted already, the debtor/debtor attorney can do this without the permission or advance permission of either the bankruptcy judge or the Chapter 13 trustee that is managing the bankruptcy up until that point (hence, the "Ex Parte" part of the document). There are notice requirements - check with your local bankruptcy district to see who this needs to be mailed out to. Also, there is usually a small fee involved (it usually involves the debtor paying the difference in cost between a Chapter 13 and a Chapter 7 filing, but may be different - again, check with your local bankruptcy court). The debtor will be required to go through another 341 creditor's meeting with the new Chapter 7 trustee.


Can a bankruptcy trustee look back to a sale of an asset prior to filing for bankruptcy?

Yes. And, if the sale of the asset is deemed fraudulent, or just unfair, the trustee can seek to "avoid" (i.e. cancel) the sale and drag the asset back into the bankruptcy estate.For example, if the debtor sells his 2009 Chevy Corvette for $10 to his dad and then files bankruptcy, you can bet the trustee will seek to avoid that transfer as a fraudulent transfer and the trustee will grab the Corvette.Or, if someone sells the debtor a 1974 Ford Pinto with no transmission for $1,000,000 before the bankruptcy is filed, again the trustee will likely avoid the sale and go get the money back since the debtor was treated so unfairly.Please note that nothing in this posting or in any other posting constitutes legal advice; this is simply my understanding of the facts and law, which I do not warrant, and I am not suggesting any course of action or inaction to any person. Speak to a lawyer for specific advice. If you have any questions, please refer to a lawyer in your jurisdiction. Thanks!


What if the chapter 13 is dismissed?

By law, the debtor has a maximum of 30 days to begin the payments. Even if the plan is as yet unconfirmed by the court, the debtor must begin. If any adjustments to the plan occur later, the payments must be adjusted. Now, we come to the scenario: what happens if a payment is missed?The court can dismiss the petition. The debtor loses the automatic stay. The creditors can begin collection procedures. The creditors can foreclose on loans. The creditors can request account seizures.By law, the debtor can petition the courts to maintain the bankruptcy, or re-file (at debtor cost). But, as always, communication, communication, communication is the greatest tool a debtor has with his or her lawyer and the trustee. As soon as the debtor knows that a payment to the trustee is going to be missed or fall short in amount, the debtor must contact both the lawyer and the trustee. The debtor will do well to have a plan to catch up very quickly. Does the trustee have to accommodate the debtor? Not in the least. Might the trustee somehow accommodate the debtor? Yes. Debtors must realize that the trustee is obligated to the courts for exemplary execution of assigned tasks. The trustee is NOT on the debtor's side. Again, here is where the trust meets reality. The debtor submitted and agreed to the plan. Failure is really not an option.No Matches Found. Please try your search again.More On This TopicWhat happens if I get a raise at work during a bankruptcy?Will Social Security Disability benefits be considered income in a bankruptcy plan?How long do I have to live in my house after filing bankruptcy?Can I File a Civil Suit Against Someone Who Filed BankruptcyDoes Filing Bankruptcy Release You From a Small Claims Judgment?What is a Mortage Cram Down for Rental Properties?Can a Consent Judgment be Wiped Out in Bankruptcy?Are the fees I paid my bankruptcy lawyer and trustee tax deductible?When A Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Court Protection What Happens to the Stock?If a company files bankruptcy, will you be given unemployment benefits?Related Legal TermsCHAPTER 7, BANKRUPTCY, CHAPTER 13, INDEFINITE PAYMENT, CHAPTER 11, IMPUTATION OF PAYMENT, CHAPTER SEVEN, INVOLUNTARY BANKRUPTCY, ADJUDICATION OF BANKRUPTCY, CASE DISMISSED Writing Off or "Charging Off" Your Second Mortgage & Putting it into BankruptcyGetting a Large Personal Loan When Having Bad CreditComments are closed.Featuring Black's Law DictionaryBlack's Law Dictionary For MobileRelatedWriting Off or "Charging Off" Your Second Mortgage & Putting it into BankruptcyCan My Ex-spouse File for Bankruptcy After Our Divorce?Can a DUI Conviction Affect You After Moving to a Different State?How To File Taxes When Separated or DivorcedDoes Unemployment Income Count In a Bankruptcy Case?Getting a Large Personal Loan When Having Bad CreditDisclaimerLaw Dictionary: What Happens When Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is Dismissed for Non-Payment?


What do you do with property that has been unclaimed in a bankruptcy?

It depends. Depending on the interest of the Trustee in Bankruptcy, and whether or not they have abandoned the property, will determine whether or not the debtor in Bankruptcy will be permitted to take the property if the creditor has abandoned the property. Bottom line is that it depends on the facts, contact your Bankruptcy attorney or a reputable Bankruptcy attorney to get more information.


Clear title on a vehicle that has a bankruptcy against it in California?

Bankruptcy affects debts and creditors, not vehicles. A debtor owning a vehicle exempts it or the equity in it if there is a car loan. The debt is reaffirmed. This is all part of the public bankruptcy record. If the vehicle is not exempted, the trustee takes and sells it as part of the bankrupt "estate." If there is a chapter 13, and the debtor wants to sell the vehicle, s/he will have to get the court's permission. Either the trustee or the debtor would ask the court to sell free and clear of all liens. There are a number of potential problems if you are the buyer or the bankrupt seller, so get a lawyer.


What is a stipulation in bankruptcy?

It's basically an agreement between the debtor and creditor on how the debtor is to pay the creditor that arises when debtor has filed bankruptcy.


What Are Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Exemptions?

Although most debtors keep all their property after filing a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, debtors must file exemptions when applying for this type of bankruptcy just like they do when they file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Filing exemptions in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is for the benefit of creditors rather than the debtor himself. The exemptions inform the creditor of how much she is entitled to and allows her to compare the settlement of the case with the settlement the creditor would receive if the debtor filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead.Best Interest of Creditors TestU.S. bankruptcy law requires Chapter 13 bankruptcy applications to pass the "best interest of creditors test." Creditors involved in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy must receive at least as much from the bankruptcy as they would if the debtor filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy instead. The bankruptcy trustee performs this test by deducting the debtor's exemptions from the full value of the estate to determine how much the estate would be worth if the debtor filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Creditors may receive more from Chapter 13 than they would from Chapter 7, but they may not receive less from Chapter 13.Determining Payment AmountChapter 13 exemptions, or more specifically, the best interest of creditors test, are also used to determine how much the debtor must pay over the lifetime of the plan. To make this determination, the bankruptcy trustee compares three numbers. The best interest of creditors test, or the non-exempt value of the estate minus administrative costs, is one of these three numbers. The total amount of priority claims, such as alimony, child support and back taxes owed, is another number the bankruptcy trustee looks at, as is the debtor's disposable income, or income after payroll taxes each pay period. The bankruptcy trustee takes the biggest of these numbers and divides it by the life of the plan to determine how much the debtor must pay each month.ConsiderationsChapter 13 bankruptcy may be attractive to some debtors because debtors are at low risk of losing their property through this arrangement and there are no income limitations on this type of bankruptcy. However, debtors cant file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy if they have such large exemptions that the bankruptcy will fail the best interest of creditors test. In addition, Chapter 13 bankruptcy negatively affects the debtor's credit for seven years and requires debtors to pay the bankruptcy trustee on a monthly basis.


Are all assets frozen when declaring bankruptcy?

At the moment the court receives the petition, and gives it a docket number, all the debtor(s)' assets are "frozen" as they become property of the bankruptcy estate, administered by the trustee. In a Chapter 7, if the trustee files a finding of no assets, which mean the trustee accepts all exemptions claimed by the debtor(s) and there are no assets to be sold to satisfy the creditors, the property is available once more to the debtor. In a chapter 13, the freeze continues until the plan is approved except for regularly occurring payments for utilities, food, etc. In both cases, if the case is dismissed, the property is also unfrozen.