Will I need to go to court when I file bankruptcy?

As part of bankruptcy procedures, every client who files has to attend a short (5-10 minute) meeting in a court hearing room, a less formal environment than an actual court room. Your attorney from Kent & Wittner, P.S., will attend this meeting with you. 

Meetings are run by the bankruptcy trustee, a third-party mediator who assists with the negotiations between debtor and creditor. Creditors may attend the hearing and ask questions, but rarely do. 

In Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the trustee must determine whether you have any non-exempt items. The trustee will focus on your financial obligations and assets, not why you need to file bankruptcy, so you do not need to worry about discussing personal topics. This is an opportunity for the trustee to ask about anything that was not clear in your original submission of documents.

In a Chapter 13, you file a plan through which you pay your debts based on your ability to pay and the value of your assets. The questions asked generally relate to those issues. 

We will schedule a secondary bankruptcy meeting in front of a judge. Your attorney handles this meeting and your attendance is not required. 

Call our Seattle or Tacoma Law office today to schedule a one-hour consultation with one of our experienced attorneys.