341 Meeting for Bankruptcy, Glad its over but my trustee was an ***. Gave instructions but I need help (ProSe)

Question

I had my 341 meeting today and Im so glad that this is over with. My trustee was a local bankruptcy attorney that advertises WAY too much and my neighboorhood, and he kida looks like skeletor.

Anyways he was particullary found of me since I filed bankruptcy ProSe(By Myself) I had a few tiny problems and he wouldnt be specific on how to fix these problems and am hoping someone can help me and tell me what I have to do

#1 I had lost my wallet a few months ago it had my social security card and everything in it. I went to the SSA builing and filed a replacement card application. I had told the lady at the counter I have a meeting coming up where I need to show proof of my social. She told me " This reciept is all you need to show" I did and the trustee rejected it. I have to get him something with my social

#2 I was told before the 341 meeting that I needed to drop off paperwork to his office. I needed to drop off my bank statements, Paystubs, Income Tax Returns. (SEE MORE BELOW)

And a copy of my Petition. I had a copy of my petition saved on a CD and I had thought that the State Bankruptcy office would have given him a copy. But just to be safe I had printed out a copy of the original petition and handed to his office. He ****** an attitude on me again saying," How am I suppose to verify your signature" i had told all my signatures was on the original and this was a duplicate. I dont remeber him saying anything else needed on this end. But just to be safe


#3 On My list of assets he said I have to amend my return to say the details of my car which Im claiming an exemption on. I wrote "debtors Personal Vehicle" but he wqants I think the make year model etc. And also I claimed my checking account as an assett which only had a hundred and he says I need to put an exemption on that. He wants me to amend schedule C i think it was

He ended it by saying quote"DO NOT CALL MY OFFICE FOR ADVICE ON HOW TO FIX THIS" (SEE MORE)

I remember him saying I had till the 28th two weeks from now. Do I just have to get all my paperwork together and can I mail it to his office or something else? I'm really in the dark and wish I had hired an attorney. PLEASE no smart *** remarks about ohhh you should have gotten an attorney. If I could have afforded the fees I would have. Thanks

Answer 1

I practice bankruptcy law in San Diego, CA.

1. Our local court Chapter 7 trustee guidelines list the following as acceptable proof of your SSN: social security card, medical insurance card, pay advice (pay check stub), W-2 Form, IRS Form 1099, and Social Security Administration Statement. Get one of those things and present it to the trustee at the next hearing.

2. I can't tell if you need to do anything about this or not. Each court has guidelines on information regarding what documentation that needs to be provided prior to the hearing. You will need to contact the trustee to see if anything additional is needed.

3. Although bankruptcy is a federal law, state law determines what property you can keep despite the bankruptcy. The trustee's duty is to take all nonexempt property and sell it for the benefit of creditors. If you fail to claim the property as exemption, you may lose it.

Bankruptcy attorneys use software that helps us track your exemptions. When we input the data for Schedules A & B, we can tell the software what property we want to claim as exemption on Schedule C. It sounds like the trustee wants you to amend Schedule B to be more descriptive such as the make, model and VIN for the vehicle and wants you to list your exemption claims on Schedule "C".

You can mail copies of the amended paperwork to the trustee's office and file the originals with the bankruptcy court.