What Can Go Wrong With Your Chapter 7 Case

Although most Chapter 7 cases move smoothly through the procedures established by the Bankruptcy Courts of the Middle District of Tennessee, sometimes problems do arise.  At Clark & Washington, we will stand behind you if a problem arises.  Our best strategy, of course, is to avoid problems in the first place.

You can help us avoid most Chapter 7 problems by providing to us a full and complete disclosure about your assets, income and recent financial actions.  Most Chapter 7 problems arise when a debtor (bankruptcy filer) forgets to tell us about events involving money.  Examples of the type of "money events" that may create problems include:

• a recent raise
• a one-time bonus you received in the last year
• money that someone owes you
• a personal injury, workers comp, Social Security or other claim that you are pursuing
• an injury claim that your spouse or someone else who lives with you is pursuing
  any transfer of a house, car or other asset to a friend or relative within the past year
• a repayment of a loan to a friend or relative in the last year
• someone else owns property, but your name was added to a bank account or deed for estate planning purposes
• you co-signed a loan for a friend or relative and forgot about doing so

Some of the problems arising from money events like the ones listed above can be solved easily - simply by disclosing the event.  In other cases, we may have to look at converting your case to a Chapter 13 or allowing your case to be dismissed

Remember that as your law firm, anything you tell your Clark & Washington lawyer or paralegal is privileged.  You should be completely open and honest with us. If there is a problem that would prevent you from receiving a discharge in a Chapter 7, we are better off discussing that problem before we file rather than afterwards.

It should go without saying that you should never try to engage in fraudulent behavior while in bankruptcy.  Examples of fraud include filing a case using a false Social Security number or name, or quitclaiming property back and forth to stop a foreclosure.  Those types of activities are criminal and can land you in prison.

As noted above, most Chapter 7 cases wind their way through the bankruptcy system without any problems at all.  As long as you extend your best efforts in providing us the information we ask you for, there is a very good chance that you will be very happy with the results of your Chapter 7 case.

Clark & Washington, Attorneys, 237 French Landing, Nashville, TN 37228 - (615) 503-1399