Queens Bankruptcy Attorney Bruce Feinstein, Esq.
Clients can often get nervous before a meeting of the creditors because they don’t know what to expect; that’s where we come in to answer their questions and assuage any fears they may have about the court proceeding.
Queens, NY (PRWEB) August 26, 2013
When his clients are going through the bankruptcy process for a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 filing, Bruce Feinstein, Esq. knows that they will need to have a meeting of the creditors. As a seasoned attorney practicing in Queens, New York, Mr. Feinstein explains that this meeting, also called a 341 meeting in reference to section 341 of the Bankruptcy Code, can cause anxiety for his clients. So he has taken the time to outline the process, including common questions, protocol, and things to expect during the meeting.
A creditor’s meeting may be a person’s first time appearing in court, as it is the first meeting during a bankruptcy to be held in the courtroom. “Clients can often get nervous before a meeting of the creditors because they don’t know what to expect,” says Mr. Feinstein. “That’s where we come in to answer their questions and assuage any fears they may have about the court proceeding.”
This meeting is a time for the debtor, the debtor’s attorney, and the trustee or an appointed representative to get together and share information, and it’s required under the rules of the Bankruptcy Code. While some people may fear an inquisition, this meeting can be stress-free with the proper preparation. Mr. Feinstein may run through the meeting’s process with his clients to make them more comfortable in the courtroom. After being sworn in, the individual and the rest of the members of the meeting will go through the bankruptcy petition to discuss the information, ask questions, and clarify or fix any issues.
Some questions are required during this meeting, while other common questions are asked. These may include:
Are all your assets identified on the petition?
Have you filed for bankruptcy before?
Do you own or have any interest whatsoever in any real estate?
Are you entitle to life insurance proceeds or an inheritance?
Did you file your tax returns on a timely basis?
Individuals may not be asked all of these questions, and others may arise, but by going over the bankruptcy petition and possible questions with a bankruptcy attorney, this meeting can be a very smooth process.
And if the trustee asks to make any changes to the petition in question, this is not cause for concern. “Requests for amendments to a bankruptcy petition are commonplace, so people don’t need to feel that they have failed in some way if this occurs,” says Mr. Feinstein. People filing for bankruptcy in Queens and elsewhere may have subsequent meetings to resolve any issues that come up during the initial meeting, or the case can be confirmed. Either way, the client is on the path to completing a successful Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy and getting on the road to financial stability.
When faced with a meeting of the creditors, Mr. Feinstein recommends properly preparing all documents and reviewing the information with a bankruptcy attorney, as well as going over common questions asked by the trustee. And his most important advice is to be honest; the best answer is a true one and is helps the process move quickly.
Bruce Feinstein, Esq. and his team, located in Queens, New York, help clients who are filing for bankruptcy in Queens, Kings, and Nassau counties. Visit the Law Offices of Bruce Feinstein, Esq. at bfeinsteinesq.com or call (718) 514-9770 to reach his New York office.
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