Congrats! Your bankruptcy has been filed and now you are getting ready for your creditors’ meeting. Below are seven important things you need to know before your creditors’ meeting.

First, you should have already made your first payment to the Trustee. If you have not done that, you must make that payment immediately and bring the receipt to the Creditors’ Meeting. If you cannot make the payment the Thursday before your creditors’ meeting, you should bring a certified check or money order in the amount of your payment to the creditors’ meeting. Make sure your check has your name printed on it, along with your case number. The check should be payable to the “Chapter 13 Trustee.” Call us immediately if you have any questions about that.

Second, if you haven’t already completed the financial management (Abacus Financial Management) you need to do that ASAP. Just email us verifying you have completed the course and we will make sure we have the appropriate certificate, etc. – you would just need to bring the financial management fee of $15.00 in a certified check or money order made out to Duncan Law, LLP. We need to have all of that information before the creditors’ meeting on Friday.

Third, you will need to be at the location for the creditors’ meeting at 12:45 PM sharp, if not a few minutes before hand, unless you hear different from me. You just want to make sure you’re not late! I may not be there right at 12:45 PM, don’t panic – I’m on my way. The creditors’ meeting is located on the first floor at 601 W. Fourth Street, Suite 100 in Winston-Salem, NC. There is NO free parking at this location. Therefore, you need to be sure to bring some change for parking and also give yourself plenty of time to find for parking.

Fourth, you will need to make sure that you leave everything other than your financial management fee, driver’s license and social security card and any other paperwork that you need in the car. No cell phones or smartwatches; they won’t let you bring them in as you go through security. 

Fifth, they are going to ask you a handful of questions. If you are there early you can get a good idea of the types of questions that they will ask. Generally, they will ask your name, where you live, if you’re employed and where, whether you have any domestic support obligation (child support and alimony), whether you are expecting a big inheritance and whether you reviewed your paperwork (that’s what we did in the signing appointment). They could ask you a few other questions specific to your case but those are the most common questions that they will ask. Of course, I’ll be there if you have any questions or concerns. Also, I’ve included some pictures of what the inside of the creditors’ meeting room looks like that way you have a better idea of what to expect.

Sixth, wear whatever you would wear on a typical day. You don’t need to get dressed up. 

Seventh, check out the following link about what to expect at your creditors’ meeting. These are different blog posts that we have written about creditors’ meetings. Many of your other questions are likely to be answered within these blog posts. Of course, you can always contact us if you have any questions as well.

Finally, don’t stress over this. You put in the work getting us everything that we needed and we put in the work to make sure your bankruptcy was well put together for the Trustee. Since we together put in the work – everything should go smoothly. I look forward to seeing you on Friday afternoon!