What Steps Do I Need to Take After the 341 Meeting of Creditors?
Many individuals who file for bankruptcy under Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 begin to think about the 341 meeting of creditors once all of the initial forms and documentation have been filed with the bankruptcy court. This meeting of creditors, which is also known more casually as the “341 meeting,” is a requirement in the bankruptcy process whether you are filing for a liquidation or reorganization bankruptcy. For some debtors, the time leading up to the 341 meeting can be stressful since creditors can show up and ask questions about your debt, assets, and other information you submitted in your bankruptcy materials.
Generally speaking, when you are working with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer in Florida on your case, the 341 meeting is nothing to be worried about excessively. It is likely to be held remotely, and no judge will be present — as the US Trustee Program emphasizes, it is not a court hearing. Nonetheless, many debtors focus on this date in the bankruptcy process. Yet there is still more to come after the 341 meeting. Once your 341 meeting has concluded, what else do you need to do in order to move forward with your bankruptcy case?
Make Sure the 341 Meeting Was Concluded
When you have a bankruptcy lawyer, your lawyer will ensure that the 341 meeting went according to your plans and that the trustee officially concluded the meeting, but it is important to consider this step since you could be required to provide additional information if not. Was your 341 meeting officially concluded? If so, now you can move onto the next steps in your bankruptcy case.
Complete Your Debtor Education Course
The next step, and a crucial one, is completing your debtor education course. This is one of two required education classes that a debtor must take when filing for personal bankruptcy. The first course, credit counseling, was required prior to your bankruptcy filing. As such, you have already (or certainly should have already) completed that requirement. The debtor education course is different.
Depending on the type of bankruptcy you have filed, this course must be completed within 60 days from the 341 meeting of creditors if you filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, or by the time you make your final payment in your Chapter 13 bankruptcy repayment plan.
File Your Debtor Education Certificate
Just like you filed your certificate to show completion of credit counseling, your debtor education certification — to prove completion of this requirement — must be filed with the court.
Contact Our West Palm Beach Bankruptcy Lawyers Today for Assistance with the Bankruptcy Process in South Florida
The specific process in your bankruptcy case will depend on the type of bankruptcy you are filing for, as well as particular details concerning your debts and your general circumstances. Yet regardless of some of the distinctions in different types of bankruptcy filings for individuals, you should expect to have a 341 meeting of creditors followed by additional steps and responsibilities. To ensure that all stages of your bankruptcy case move forward according to the requirements set forth under US bankruptcy law, you should get in touch with one of the experienced West Palm Beach bankruptcy attorneys at Kelley Kaplan Delaney & Eller, PLLC. It is important to have a bankruptcy lawyer on your side throughout the case, and our firm is here to assist you. Contact us to learn more about the bankruptcy services we provide to individuals and businesses in South Florida.
Source:
law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/11
