In bankruptcy, the attorney assigned to the case is responsible for making sure all information provided by their client is accurate. They usually do this before filing any and all paperwork. However, they often miss something and simply take their client's word for the truth. Once the case is filed, a bankruptcy trustee will go over all information supplied by the client, looking for inaccuracies or reasons to believe fraud may be involved.
The role of the trustee in bankruptcy is to protect creditors are treated fairly and to be sure all non-exempt assets are sold for the highest price. The money raised is then distributed to the creditors in accordance with their claims and the trustee in bankruptcy helps make this happen. They go to creditor meetings and can discharge debt if fraud is found on the creditor's end.
With a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing things are different. The trustee's job is more administrative. This is because there are no assets to liquidate. They make sure the court approves the new payment plan. The trustee will often accept payments from the client. They then distribute them to the creditors, according to the court approved payment plan.
Many people use bankruptcy because they need to be relieved from the financial burdens that they are unable to take care of now or in the future. Unfortunately, too many people may have taken advantage of the bankruptcy system, and in May of 2004, the Bankruptcy Legislation Amendment Bill was passed. This bill was designed to stop those that were using the bankruptcy system as a quick way out of paying their taxes, although they were financially able to pay them. There may have been very few people that were taking advantage of the ability to not pay their taxes; however, the ones that are taking advantage have had debts that were a considerable amount of money. Since the bill was unfair to those that were in actual financial debt, there was an amendment in December of 2005.
This amendment allowed for those that truly needed to be relieved of their burdens to conduct a means test, which would evaluate them to see if they were in true need of filing bankruptcy. This includes taking a debt counseling course, in which the filer must pay for themselves. If after completing these requirements you were considered unable to file for the Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you still have the option of filing for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Filing for Chapter 13 is more difficult, but can be a necessity if you are in desperate need of relief. With these new laws in effect, those that need help can still receive it, while those that are using it for avoidance, can no longer do so.
Filing for bankruptcy can be quite frightening. When filing for bankruptcy there are many rules you must follow exactly in order. If you don't, you won't correctly file your bankruptcy. In addition, you should completely understand each of the separate types of bankruptcy you can file, before your file. If you've had no experience with bankruptcy you may find yourself overwhelmed with the tasks of filling out the right paperwork. If your bankruptcy papers are not filed in the proper manner, you can end up with a bigger problem than you started with.
If you want to ensure you are doing everything the right way, you may want to consult with a bankruptcy attorney. The easiest way to contact a good bankruptcy attorney is to get in touch with a bankruptcy firm. A bankruptcy firm is actually a group that employs lawyers who specialize in the process of bankruptcy.
When you're dealing with something as sensitive as filing bankruptcy, you want to be sure you're doing it right. A bankruptcy firm can help you know what type of bankruptcy you qualify for and the proper steps you need to take to complete the process. In addition, the attorney can help prepare you if you need to go to court and can often help you protect some of your most precious assets (like your home and car). Overall, it is a prime idea to contact a bankruptcy firm before filing for bankruptcy.
