Trustee Faqs

Please email all documents to our office, if possible. Send documents for the meeting of creditors to Lisa Tuel-Ahlgren, Paralegal, at lisa@ahlgrenlaw.net. Please send two files, one file with the tax returns and pay information and the other file with all other information (mortgages, vehicle titles, etc.).

Please email all other documents to the person making the request.

Do not send original documents unless specifically requested.

Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 521(a)(1)(B)(iv), each debtor must provide 60 days of payment advices (usually, paystubs) for the 60 day period IMMEDIATELY prior to filing date. Each payment advice is required, and the relevant time period is 60 calendar days, not two months. For example, if a case was filed on April 15, 2007, the debtor must produce payment advices for the period February 14 – April 15. If the debtor received unemployment, please inform the trustee as to when the debtor started receiving unemployment income and provide unemployment stubs for the applicable period. If the debtor receives social security disability income, workers compensation income, or some other form of disability income, please inform the trustee as to when the debtor started receiving it and provide benefit letter or bank statements showing deposits. The debtor must provide payment advices from all jobs.

Each debtor must provide proof of income for the six FULL calendar months prior to filing case (the period covered by the means test form). The relevant time period is six full calendar months, beginning the month before the month of filing. For example, if the case was filed on April 15, the debtor must provide proof of income for October 1 – March 31. It is not necessary to provide every single stub during the six month period, provided the debtor’s payment advices list year-to-date information. For example, the debtor may provide the first stub received in October which shows year-to-date income and the last stub received in March showing ytd income. When the MTF period straddles two calendar years, such as a February 15 filing (with a MTF period of August 31-January 31), the debtor must also provide a stub showing year-end information for December 31.

The debtor must provide proof of income for all income used to prepare the MTF. If the debtor had more than one job during the MTF, then proof of income from all jobs must be provided.

In addition, if the debtor selects box c. or d. under Part II of the Means Test Form, the debtor must also provide six months of means test income support for non-filing spouse.

Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. § 521(e)(2)(A)iv), a debtor must provide the last filed federal tax return to the trustee. This means that the debtor must provide the last tax return filed, even if the debtor last filed tax returns 10 years ago. Please also include all supporting W2s, 1099s, tax forms and schedules.

The following documents may be required in conversion cases:

1. Amended Schedules I and/or J which reflect the change in circumstances which presumably led to the conversion should be filed where appropriate.
2. Three paystubs for each debtor supporting the amended Schedule I, if filed, should be provided to the trustee.
3. A Chapter 7 Means Test Form, if the Chapter 13 case was filed after October 17, 2005 and the case meets the requirements for this form set forth in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (BAPCPA), must be filed. Please note this form must be filed even if a Chapter 13 Means Test Form was previously filed.
4. Income information which supports the Chapter 7 Means Test Form must be provided. Note that the six months of income in support of the means test period is for the six FULL months prior to the ORIGINAL petition date, NOT the conversion date.
5. Payment advices must be provided for the 60 day period immediately prior to ORIGINAL filing date, not conversion date.

There are two forms available that allow an attorney or the debtor to obtain a copy of a vehicle title, whether or not the title is still in the debtor’s name.

If the title is still in the debtor’s name, you may request the debtor’s records from the state.

If the title is no longer in the debtor’s name (title is usually transferred to the creditor shortly after repossession), you will request “another’s” records from the state.

On either form, request a “partial title history” and write in a date when it is known that title was in the debtor’s name. You may write “ownership to cover June 1, 2007.” You do not need to list the owner name or address.

Acceptable picture identification includes the following: (1) valid driver’s license, (2) a government ID, (3) a state picture ID, (4) a student ID, (5) a US passport, (6) a military ID or (7) resident alien card. Any other form of identification must be approved by the Office of the U.S. Trustee.

Acceptable proof of social security number includes: (1) a social security card, (2) a medical insurance card, (3) a pay stub, (4) a W-2 form, (5) an IRS form 1099, or (6) a Social Security Administration report. Any document must be an original and include the complete social security number. Any other form of proof must be approved by the Office of the U.S. Trustee.

With the chapter 7 trustee’s consent, a debtor may appear for the meeting of creditors by telephone where appropriate (for example, the debtor is in the military out-of-state or in prison).

The debtor’s attorney (or the debtor, if the debtor is not represented) must arrange for an independent third party (usually a notary public) to verify the debtor’s identity and state the social security record for the record. The person performing these tasks must also complete a declaration of oath form and mail it to the trustee. Conact the trustee if you have any questions regarding who may serve in this role.

The debtor must also have a copy of the signed petition which can be referenced during the telephonic meeting.

No. Those times are for control purposes only and no meeting will actually be held. If the debtor and attorney are required to appear again, a new meeting will be set between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. and the debtor will be mailed a paper notice.

Make all payment forms (checks, money orders, etc.) payable to Erik A. Ahlgren, Trustee or Estate of X (where X is the name of the bankruptcy estate).

Please be sure to reference the case name on the payment form if you are not the debtor.

No. The discharge is the order which states that you are no longer legally responsible for certain debts. The court must still generate an order closing the case, which will take another few weeks, at a minimum. Depending on whether yours is an asset case or there is litigation, or for other reasons, it may take years for your case to actually close.

Not without the trustee’s consent. All of the debtor’s property is now the property of the bankruptcy estate. Until the case is closed, the trustee is responsible for the administration of all of the debtor’s property (house, cars and all other property the debtor owned before the bankruptcy). Until the case is closed, the debtor cannot sell, refinance, or further encumber any of that property, unless the trustee has abandoned the property or there is an agreement with the trustee.