More filing thoughts

I came home the other day feeling shaky and nauseated. I really wasn't ready to write about things and wanted to take a few days to process.

I think it comes down to the fact that every attorney, even if board certified in the same area, will have differing opinions based on their own experience with clients and trustees. What they both told me might be equally true. He made a good point, "it's ridiculous that how you do something is more important than the end result or the intention."

When my name was removed from my mother's account I "gave up my right to half of what was in the account on the day it was removed". Which means that I gave up quite a bit of money, and the fact that she spent it on other things doesn't mean a whole lot.

That said, they can't exactly go after her. They can, but because all that's in her account are her social security funds she's basically "judgment proof".

She should have written a check to herself for all but $20 in that account, opened a new account elsewhere, and then took my name off. I'd be "giving up" $10.

I discovered I'm under $1000, which is the FL allowed amount. (I also found out this amount was written into the state law years and years and years ago and that it's not been updated.) Prior to updating a few things on the list I was just a tad over, but now I'll be filing no asset.  Yay!

Likely they will not send someone to the house, he said, because it costs them to do so and chances are there's nothing about me that will set off the "I bet she's hiding a lot of stuff I could sell!" radar. It's not guaranteed, but he can't see why they would.

I had to claim 1/2 of everything we own jointly. It was my understanding that they could not take anything that we own jointly except up to the amount of joint debts, of which we don't have any. This is true, if they use a particular part of law that makes those items property of the marriage. He said that if I went over the $1000 then we'd invoke that, but if it's only $995, why draw attention and have it possibly challenged?

I felt like this guy was really competent. He'll be at my 341 meeting, and I feel like he'll do a good job.

I also paid the final $299, which was for the filing fee. My bankruptcy is officially 100% paid in full.

Final Paperwork

I met with the lawyer who will be at my 341 meeting. We went over every piece of paper piece-by-piece, talked about some possible complications (namely mom), and I signed and dated many times.

There were a few changes that needed to be made (which annoyed me--the paralegal had weeks to look over my very detailed paperwork and double-check her work) but nothing huge. He'll take it back to his main office, make the changes, and then file electronically either tomorrow, Thursday, or Friday.

I'll receive a notification from them and one from the state with a court date.


I have more thoughts, but I don't have time to get them down right now.

Finally! A Date!

After another longish period of time reviewing my paperwork, I have finally been given a date to meet with the other attorney and file. Yay!

Imported/Merged Blog

Way back in the day I wrote a blog called "Taking Control of Our Money". We were determined to get out of debt and I wrote a blog to help me focus.

I've imported these posts. The "Old Blog" tag will display these posts.

I hope you enjoy them. It's hard to look at these now, knowing how determined I had been and exactly how horribly we failed.

Thank goodness I opened it...!

Bank of America has a very distinctive envelope. I've been putting all my correspondance aside in case the lawyer or trustee needs to see it.

Luckily, however, I opened this one.

I didn't look too closely and so didn't notice it was addressed to my husband. He has a BOA card but we never use it. It was a $69.99 balance with $15 minimum payment.

SO glad I looked at it so I could pay it. We thought we canceled our Norton auto-bill but they still charged his credit card. I'm annoyed. However, it's a good idea to charge a few things occasionally (and pay them off in full immediately) so that the credit card keeps reporting. At least that's what I've read.

Waiting... Still waiting...

Ack. This is taking sooooo long.

I sent hubby to work last week with the stack of paperwork we needed. (The paralegal never responded to the email asking what would suffice since what she asked for doesn't exist.) He scanned it, sent me the PDF, and then I sent it to the paralegal. She confirmed receipt the same day and said she just needed to go through my paperwork one more time and then set a date for me to meet with the attorney again.

*tapping fingers on table*

*sighs*

Okay... any day now. Right? I can finally file, worry about the 341 meeting, and then join the 60 day club, and then be free from these bills?

Waiting

I heard from the lawyer's office last week on Thursday with a request for more documentation.

I replied, stating that some of it was not possible to provide, and clarifying what would be needed for others.

On Friday she replied. My paralegal would be out of the office until Monday. She'd forward my questions.

I still haven't heard.

I think I'm going to go ahead and get together what common sense tells me will be the most likely to be accepted items.

One request was for January and February bank statements for the new bank account. Well, we opened it in March, so those don't exist. That one's easy.

However, to prove we get a monthly gift from my mom... what do we need? I'm going to write a letter "from" her, print it out, and have her sign it.

They requested disability statements for the six months. Well, we don't get those. What we do get is a yearly benefit statement. I can copy that.

The last one was for a few extra pay stubs, which is easy-peasy.

I feel like the ball is in my court and that I'm the one holding everything up. I just don't want to do/send the wrong thing and delay further. It's a little stressful compared to when I'd given my big ol' stack of everything. That was a weight off my shoulders.